Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is in advanced talks to acquire drugmaker Acceleron Pharma Inc. (NasdaqGM:XLRN), the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. A potential deal could help Merck, which sells the blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda, to add drugs for rare diseases to its pipeline. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Acceleron focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutics to treat blood-related disorders.

It had a market capitalization of $10.89 billion, as of its last close. A Bloomberg report on September 24, 2021 said Acceleron was in talks to be acquired for more than $11 billion. Bloomberg had reported that several drugmakers including Merck's rival Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, which owns 11.5% of Acceleron's stock, were seen as potential suitors.