Silence Therapeutics more than doubles on $1.3 bln Merck KGaA buyout deal

** U.S.-listed shares of Silence Therapeutics SLNCF.PK, rise 126% to $19.62 premarket

** Merck KGaA MRCG.DE to acquire Silence Therapeutics in an all-cash deal valued at about $1.3 billion

** Merck will pay $20 per share for Silence, representing a premium of 130% to the stock's last close

** The buyout gives Merck ownership of Divesiran, a late-stage trial ready siRNA therapy for polycythemia vera, a rare blood cancer

** The companies expect the deal to close in Q1 2027

** As of last close, SLN up 42% YTD