Merck has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Harpoon Therapeutics. Strategically, this acquisition allows Merck to further diversify its oncology pipeline by integrating Harpoon’s proprietary TriTAC and ProTriTAC T-cell engager platforms. The rationale for the deal centers on the potential of the lead candidate, HPN328, which targets DLL3 in small cell lung cancer and neuroendocrine tumors, providing Merck with a highly complementary asset for its existing immunotherapy portfolio. This move is a classic example of a "platform-driven" acquisition where a large-cap pharmaceutical player secures innovative R&D capabilities and preclinical assets to reinforce its therapeutic leadership. From a transaction facts perspective, the deal will be accounted for as an asset acquisition, with a non-GAAP charge of approximately $650 million expected upon closing.

HARPOON THERAPEUTICS, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2022, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, a level to compare with the average currently observed in the Healthcare & Pharma sector (13.3x).

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