Published on 19 Nov 2021 on Zacks via Yahoo Finance

Novo Nordisk (NVO) Set to Acquire Dicerna for $3.3 Billion

Novo Nordisk A/S NVO announced a definitive agreement to acquire Massachusetts-based biopharmaceutical company, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. DRNA, for a total equity value of approximately $3.3 billion. The transaction is expected to close later in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Per the agreement, Novo Nordisk will begin a cash tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Dicerna’s common stock for $38.25 per share in cash. The transaction will be debt financed.

With this acquisition of Dicerna, which also includes its ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) platform, Novo Nordisk is looking to boost its research within RNAi and expand the usage of the RNAi technology. The acquisition looks like a great strategic fit to Novo Nordisk’s existing research technology platforms across all therapeutic areas.