Drugmaker Merck divests stake in vaccine-maker Moderna

World+Biz

Reuters
02 December, 2020, 07:20 pm
Last modified: 02 December, 2020, 07:25 pm
Merck did not disclose the details of the sale proceeds but said it expects to record a small gain from the sale in the fourth quarter of 2020
FILE PHOTO: The Merck logo is seen at a gate to the Merck & Co campus in Linden, New Jersey, U.S., July 12, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

US drugmaker Merck & Co said on Wednesday it has sold its equity investment in Moderna Inc, after benefiting from a surge in the stock price of the vaccine developer this year.

Merck did not disclose the details of the sale proceeds but said it expects to record a small gain from the sale in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Moderna's shares have risen more than seven-fold this year, valuing the company at $55.80 billion as of Tuesday's closing price.

Moderna is one of the front-runners in the race to develop a coronavirus vaccine, and on Monday filed for US emergency use authorization of its vaccine.

Merck, which had invested $50 million in Moderna in 2015, said it would retain exposure to the company indirectly through its investment in venture funds.

Related Topics

Moderna / Merck

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