Power Alley: Merck Open To "Tens Of Billions" In M&A Scale: CEO Davis, At JP Morgan Health Care Conference Yesterday...

And the current rumor mills have it that Rahway is circling the waters, with Revolution Medicines in its sights.

That may be accurate -- and the rumored price would be around $32 billion. For his part, the CEO of Revolution, Mark Goldsmith, said it would take "over $30 billion" to get them -- while taking a firm "no comment" on any specific talks (that might be pending).

Here is the latest on all that (subs. req.) -- but Merck could use some new bolt-on capapbilities that might come online around 2030 -- and that fits nicely into Revolution's expected timelines, for its RAS(ON) inhibitors, like daraxonrasib and elironrasib:

. . .Investors attending the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference packed themselves into a hotel meeting room Monday to hear Revolution Medicines CEO Mark Goldsmith explain why Merck -- or some other pharma buyer -- should pay $30 billion or more to acquire the developer of targeted cancer drugs.

Goldsmith didn’t specifically address the media reports of an imminent deal, of course. It was the subtext of his remarks, delivered in a dry, matter-of-fact style, that spoke much more loudly. . . .

The wry smile said it all -- indeed. Onward resolutely, very proud of Minneapolis -- and of my Chicago -- standing up to. . . evil incarnate.

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