# Keytruda Type: Product Source: GetYourBrief — https://getyourbrief.com/entity/keytruda Canonical HTML page: https://getyourbrief.com/entity/keytruda ## Timeline - **2028**: Keytruda Patent Expiration — The primary patent for Merck's blockbuster drug Keytruda expires, opening the door for biosimilars. - **2028**: Keytruda Patent Expiry — Merck faces biosimilar competition for its top-selling immunotherapy drug. - **2028**: Keytruda Patent Cliff — Merck faces the loss of exclusivity for its top-selling cancer immunotherapy. - **2028-01-01**: Keytruda Patent Cliff — Expected loss of exclusivity for Merck's top-selling cancer drug, Keytruda. - **2027**: Pipeline Integration — Merck integrates Terns' small-molecule oncology candidates into its global R&D infrastructure. - **2027**: TERN-701 Data Readout — Key clinical milestones for the leukemia candidate are expected to drive valuation. - **2026-Q4**: Expected Closing — Anticipated completion of the acquisition following regulatory and shareholder approvals. - **2026-Q3**: Expected Closing — The deal is anticipated to close following regulatory approvals and Terns shareholder vote. - **2026**: Expected Closing — Anticipated completion of the acquisition following regulatory reviews. - **2026-03-25**: Acquisition Announced — Merck and Terns Pharmaceuticals announce a definitive $6.7 billion merger agreement. - **2026-03-25**: Acquisition Announced — Merck and Terns Pharmaceuticals sign a definitive agreement for a $6.7B buyout. - **2026-03-25**: Acquisition Announcement — Merck announces definitive agreement to buy Terns for $6.7 billion. - **2026-03-25**: Terns Acquisition Announced — Merck agrees to buy Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion to acquire TERN-701. - **2024**: Clinical Progress — Terns Pharmaceuticals advances TERN-701 through early-stage clinical trials for CML. - **2023-04-16**: Prometheus Acquisition — Merck buys Prometheus Biosciences for $10.8 billion to bolster its immunology pipeline. ## Recent coverage (7 stories, network-wide) ### Merck Strikes $6.7B Terns Acquisition to Counter Keytruda Patent Cliff 2026-03-25 19:20:53 · Sector: startups · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2 Merck has agreed to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion, securing a late-stage leukemia candidate to diversify its oncology portfolio. The deal provides Merck with TERN-701, a promising treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia, as it prepares for the 2028 patent expiration of its blockbuster drug Keytruda. Full story: https://getstartupbrief.com/story/merck-acquires-terns-pharmaceuticals-6-7b ### Merck to Acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals in $6.7B Hematology Push 2026-03-25 19:19:17 · Sector: finance · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2 Merck has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion, securing a high-potential leukemia treatment. The deal is a strategic move to diversify Merck's oncology portfolio as it prepares for the 2028 patent expiration of its top-selling drug, Keytruda. Full story: https://getfinancebrief.com/story/merck-terns-pharmaceuticals-acquisition-leukemia ### Merck to Acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7B to Bolster Oncology Pipeline 2026-03-25 19:18:13 · Sector: bio · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2 Merck has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion, securing a promising allosteric BCR-ABL inhibitor for leukemia. The deal is a strategic move to diversify Merck's oncology portfolio as it prepares for the 2028 patent expiration of its blockbuster drug, Keytruda. Full story: https://getbiobrief.com/story/merck-terns-pharmaceuticals-acquisition-6-7b ### Merck Bolsters Oncology Pipeline with $6.7B Acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals 2026-03-25 19:17:39 · Sector: health · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2 Merck has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion, securing a promising Phase 2 leukemia treatment. The cash deal is a strategic move to diversify Merck's oncology portfolio as it prepares for the 2028 patent expiration of its blockbuster drug Keytruda. Full story: https://gethealthbrief.com/story/merck-acquires-terns-pharmaceuticals-leukemia-deal ### Merck Acquires Terns for $6.7B to Hedge Against Keytruda Patent Cliff 2026-03-25 16:35:43 · Sector: finance · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2 Merck has agreed to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion in cash to bolster its oncology pipeline ahead of the 2028 patent expiration for its blockbuster drug, Keytruda. The deal centers on TERN-701, a promising leukemia treatment that positions Merck to compete directly with established players like Novartis. Full story: https://getfinancebrief.com/story/merck-terns-acquisition-oncology-pipeline ### Merck to Acquire Terns for $6.7B to Mitigate Keytruda Patent Cliff 2026-03-25 16:35:08 · Sector: bio · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2 Merck has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion in cash, a strategic move to diversify its oncology pipeline. The deal centers on Terns' promising leukemia candidate, TERN-701, as Merck prepares for the 2028 patent expiration of its blockbuster immunotherapy, Keytruda. Full story: https://getbiobrief.com/story/merck-terns-acquisition-oncology-strategy ### Merck to Acquire Terns for $6.7B to Fortify Oncology Pipeline 2026-03-25 16:34:35 · Sector: health · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2 Merck has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion, a strategic move designed to diversify its oncology portfolio. The acquisition comes as Merck prepares for the impending patent expiration of its top-selling cancer immunotherapy, Keytruda, later this decade. Full story: https://gethealthbrief.com/story/merck-terns-acquisition-oncology-strategy --- This page is a machine-readable summary. Sentiment measures the directional read of each development for this entity, not the tone of the reporting; impact weights consequence, not syndication reach. See https://getyourbrief.com/guides/methodology for the full editorial methodology.