Merck said it is giving the FTC more time to review the acquisition, but the shift also gives the company leeway to convince any reluctant Acceleron shareholders to trade their shares for cash.

Public Company Edition: 2020 started with two $200m-plus initial public offerings plus five health care-focused special purpose acquisition corporations IPOs. Also, a Pfizer initiative backs three public companies, Fate’s $432m offering led recent FOPOs and Biocon Biologics receives more investment. 

Public Company Edition: The former Allergan CEO is taking a special purpose acquisition corporation public to generate $460m for deals in familiar biopharma niches. Also, IPOs are expected to keep up a robust pace in the fall and Albireo raises $160m on the success of its drug for pediatric liver diseases.

New York biotech is partnering with researchers at Columbia, Kansas State and Southern Research to address the pandemic.