U.S. biotech giant Amgen has agreed to acquire Oxford-based Dark Blue Therapeutics in a deal valued at up to $840 million. Marking the first pharmaceutical M&A of 2026, this move signals Amgen’s renewed focus on bolstering its early-stage oncology pipeline after a period of limited dealmaking.
Strategic Focus: Protein Degradation for Leukemia The acquisition grants Amgen full access to Dark Blue’s oncology assets, specifically:
-
Lead Candidate DBT 3757: A targeted protein degrader designed to destroy MLLT1 and MLLT3 proteins, which drive specific forms of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
-
Novel Mechanism: DBT 3757 offers a differentiated approach from currently marketed therapies, aiming to overcome treatment resistance and enhance the durability of remission. The asset is currently in IND-enabling studies.
Expanding Oncology and Obesity Frontiers Following the Dark Blue takeover, Amgen also secured a $618 million licensing deal with Germany-based DISCO Pharmaceuticals to advance novel cancer surfaceome-targeted therapies.
Beyond oncology, Amgen is aggressively advancing its phase 3 MARITIME program for MariTide (maridebart cafraglutide). Positioned as a strong challenger to Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk in the obesity market, MariTide’s key differentiator is its long-acting profile, requiring only monthly or even less frequent dosing, significantly reducing the treatment burden compared to current weekly injectables.