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Day One to Acquire Mersana in Backloaded Deal Worth Up to $285 Million

The backloaded structure ties payouts to ACC-1 milestones to manage clinical risk.

Overview

  • Mersana shareholders will receive $25.00 per share in cash upfront, valuing the equity at about $129 million.
  • Contingent value rights could add up to $30.25 per share, including $4 at the start of a pivotal ACC-1 trial, $9 upon FDA approval, and the remainder tied to further clearances and $300 million in annual sales by 2037.
  • Day One plans to prioritize emiltatug ledadotin, a B7-H4–targeting antibody-drug conjugate, for adenoid cystic carcinoma type 1 after prior focus on triple-negative breast cancer.
  • Mersana’s board unanimously approved the transaction, which is expected to close by the end of January 2026.
  • Mersana shares jumped more than 200% on the announcement as Day One shares fell modestly, and Day One reported $451.6 million in cash alongside growing Ojemda revenue to support development.