Bio-Techne Shareholders Approve Merck KGaA Acquisition Plan

Bio-Techne (TECH) shareholders approved a merger with Merck KGaA. The deal, expected to close by early 2027, requires regulatory approvals. Bio-Techne reported $1.2B in net sales for fiscal 2025. The transaction aims to combine life sciences operations and deliver cash value to shareholders.

A phase 3 trial found that a combo of pembrolizumab, chemotherapy, and olaparib improved progression-free survival in advanced ovarian cancer patients. The study, funded by Merck, showed a 37% risk reduction in disease progression or death for certain patients. Pembrolizumab alone did not show significant benefits. The findings were published in The Lancet Oncology.

Merck (MRK) received FDA approval to update the label for WINREVAIR, adding efficacy and safety data from the Phase 3 HYPERION trial. The trial showed a 76% reduction in clinical worsening events for PAH patients compared with placebo. The update includes new warnings and monitoring advice for healthcare providers.

Merck (MRK) announced FDA approval for a label update of Winrevair, a drug co-marketed with Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) for pulmonary arterial hypertension, recognizing its benefits for earlier patient use.

Merck (MRK) received Japanese approval for KEYTRUDA QLEX, a subcutaneous version of its cancer therapy KEYTRUDA. The new formulation allows for faster administration compared to intravenous infusion. This approval is part of Merck's broader effort to offer more convenient cancer treatments, potentially expanding its market opportunity in Japan.

Moderna's shares rose 9% after its Phase 3 melanoma study was selected for a Presidential Symposium at the European Society for Medical Oncology congress. Merck and BioNTech also saw gains. The stock is trading at $167.90. No new data was released, but the high-profile presentation is seen as a positive signal.