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24 Jun 2026

Wilson Sonsini Advises Saturnus Bio on Strategic Collaboration with Merck KGaA and Versant Ventures

"Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Saturnus Bio on a research-stage, build-to-buy collaboration with Merck KGaA and Versant Ventures to launch Saturnus Bio. Merck will provide a $50 million upfront investment, take a minority equity stake, fund research and support development through success-based preclinical milestones, and holds an exclusive acquisition option with additional earnouts."

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Saturnus Bio in its strategic collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Versant Ventures. On June 23, 2026, Merck KGaA announced a strategic collaboration with Versant Ventures to launch Saturnus Bio, a next-generation precision cardiology company that leverages targeted gene modulation to address rare mono-genetic cardiomyopathies with significant unmet need. Wilson Sonsini advised Saturnus Bio on the transaction. The research-stage partnership is structured as a build-to-buy deal. Merck KGaA will make an upfront payment of $50 million to fund Saturnus Bio’s research activities and will secure a minority equity stake in the company. The agreement also provides for additional success-based preclinical milestones to support the development of novel drug candidates for patients with genetic cardiomyopathies. Merck KGaA holds exclusive rights to acquire Saturnus Bio for a pre-determined option payment, together with success-based earnouts. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati represented Saturnus Bio with a team composed by: Mergers & Acquisitions: Jason Breen, Dennise Martinez, Yifeng Li; Corporate: Karen Deschaine, Phil McGill, Tamara Labanowski, Erin Wolter; Technology Transactions: Miranda Biven, Nellie Brutocao, Colin Bosch; Tax: Myra Sutanto Shen; Patents and Innovations: Lou Lieto, Mengmeng Zhang; Employee Benefits and Compensation: Brandon Gantus, Gregory Hughes; Employment Law: Matt Gorman; Antitrust and Competition: Michelle Yost Hale, Kimberley Biagioli; Data, Privacy, and Cybersecurity: Matthew Staples, Michael O’Brien; Regulatory: Eva Yin.
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