Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, and Verona Pharma plc (“Verona Pharma”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on respiratory diseases, today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck, through a subsidiary, will acquire Verona Pharma for $107 per American Depository Share (ADS), each of which represents eight Verona Pharma ordinary shares, for a total transaction value of approximately $10 billion. Through this acquisition Merck will add Ohtuvayre^® (ensifentrine), a first-in-class selective dual inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 (PDE3 and PDE4), to its growing cardio-pulmonary pipeline and portfolio. Read more.