Revolution Medicines: Merck’s Maybe, AbbVie’s Definitely Not

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Right. Monday wasn’t terrible for the market, generally. But let’s be honest, ‘generally’ is just a polite way of saying ‘someone else’s good day.’ And today, that ‘someone else’ wasn’t Revolution Medicines (RVMD 16.76%). Down nearly 17%. Ouch. It all stems from a little weekend reading, apparently. A report, you see, and I’m starting to suspect the media just enjoys watching us all panic.

Buyout Blues (or, the Art of Speculation)

So, The Wall Street Journal decided to drop a bombshell on Sunday: Merck’s apparently lost interest in acquiring Revolution. Lost interest. As if corporate courtship is a perfectly reasonable thing to track. Honestly, the market acted like they’d cancelled their favourite show. The rumor mill, of course, had been working overtime, whispering about a deal worth… well, a lot. Billions, darling. Billions. It’s always billions, isn’t it?

The Journal cited “people familiar with the matter.” Oh, those mysterious people. Always lurking, always knowing, always conveniently anonymous. They claim the talks stalled over price. Price! As if that’s ever a surprise. It’s like going on a date and being shocked when they ask you to pay. Still, the sources were quick to add that this isn’t necessarily the end. ‘Could resume,’ they say. As if ‘could’ pays the bills.

And Merck isn’t the only one who’d been sniffing around. Apparently, AbbVie was also in the mix. Or, at least, they were until they very publicly denied it. Which, frankly, just makes me wonder what they were really doing. Denials are always the most interesting part, don’t you think?

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A Prized and Pricey Asset (or, Why Everyone Wants a Piece)

Look, I’ll wager my lunch on this: there’s truth to the multiple suitor speculation. Revolution isn’t just building castles in the air. They’re developing oncology drugs. Oncology! That’s where the real money is, obviously. It’s a hot, high-interest segment, and everyone wants a piece. Especially when you’re talking about a leading drug candidate – daraxonrasib – currently in Phase 3 trials for pancreatic and non-small cell lung cancer. Serious stuff, with serious potential.

So, even if Merck wanders off, I genuinely think Revolution will still fetch a handsome premium. Someone will come along. They always do. Which brings me back to today’s reaction. Honestly, the panic felt… excessive. Overblown. Like everyone forgot how these things work. It’s a negotiation, people. A messy, complicated, often infuriating negotiation. But it’s rarely, if ever, the end of the story.

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2026-01-27 03:22