12:00 PM EST, 11/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Merck ( MRK ) is anticipating a commercial opportunity of over $5 billion from the experimental flu drug CD388 of immunotherapy developer Cidara Therapeutics ( CDTX ) , Reuters reported Monday, citing Merck ( MRK ) executives during a company call.

Merck ( MRK ) also said it does not expect the drug, which is currently in phase 3 trial, to require a review by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory panel before launch as it is not a vaccine, according to the report.

Merck ( MRK ) said Friday it has agreed to acquire Cidara for about $9.2 billion and expected the transaction to close in Q1 of 2026.

The company said it plans to manufacture the drug at one of its US facilities in the long term, the report said.

Merck ( MRK ) did not immediately reply to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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