Cidara Therapeutics Inc (CDTX) News & EventsCDTXNews & EventsCidara Therapeutics Inc

Merck Completes Cash Acquisition of Cidara

Merck (MRK) announced the successful completion of the cash tender offer, through a subsidiary, for all the outstanding shares of common stock of Cidara Therapeutics (CDTX). Merck intends to complete the acquisition through a merger of Merck's wholly owned subsidiary with and into Cidara, with Cidara being the surviving corporation, in which all shares of common stock not tendered into the offer will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive cash equal to the $221.50 offer price per common share, without interest and subject to deduction for any required tax withholding. After the completion of the merger, Cidara will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck and the common stock of Cidara will no longer be listed or traded on the Nasdaq Global Market. The acquisition is expected to be accounted for as an asset acquisition, resulting in a charge that will increase 2026 research and development expenses by approximately $9B or approximately $3.65 per share, included in GAAP and non-GAAP results. Additionally, GAAP and non-GAAP EPS are expected to be negatively impacted by approximately 30c per share in the first 12 months, representing costs associated with advancing CD388 and costs of financing.

Cidara Therapeutics Achieves Enrollment Goal for Phase 3 ANCHOR Trial

Cidara Therapeutics has reached target enrollment in its Phase 3 ANCHOR trial of 6,000 participants across clinical trial sites in the US and UK. The trial is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CD388, a non-vaccine preventative of seasonal influenza, in populations at high-risk for complications of influenza. These populations include individuals who are immune compromised, have certain comorbidities, or are over 65 years of age. ANCHOR is a global, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CD388 administered as a one-time 450-milligram subcutaneous dose in adults and adolescents. The study will include an interim analysis in the first quarter of 2026 to assess the trial size and powering assumptions and determine the potential need for enrollment during the Southern Hemisphere flu season. Results from this single Phase 3 trial, if successful, are expected to be sufficient for potential BLA approval in the high-risk populations represented in the Phase 3 trial.