CD388 is an investigational long-acting, strain-agnostic antiviral agent currently in Phase 3, designed to prevent influenza infection in individuals at higher risk of influenza complications Acquisition aligns with Merck’s science-led business development strategy, diversifying and expanding the company’s pipeline Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, and Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDTX) (“Cidara”), a biotechnology company developing drug-Fc conjugate (DFC) therapeutics, today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck, through a subsidiary, will acquire Cidara for $221.50 per share in cash, for a total transaction value of approximately $9.2 billion. “We continue to execute our science-led business development strategy, augmenting our pipeline with CD388, a potentially first-in-class, long-acting antiviral designed to prevent influenza in individuals at higher risk of complications,” said Robert