Amgen announced the acquisition of Dark Blue Therapeutics, a private biotech firm based in Great Britain.[1][2][3] The transaction is valued at up to $840 million, including an upfront payment and future milestones.[1][2][3] Dark Blue Therapeutics is developing first-in-class protein degraders targeting small molecules in oncology.[1][3] The acquisition adds to Amgen's portfolio an investigational small molecule that targets and degrades two proteins driving certain types of acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), a fast-growing blood cancer.[2][3][9] Amgen plans to integrate Dark Blue Therapeutics into its existing research organization, strengthening early oncology discovery efforts.[2][5] Dark Blue's flagship program, a MLLT1/3 degrader, is in development as monotherapy and in combination for patients with AML and solid tumors.[3] Acute myelocytic leukemia is one of the most difficult cancers to treat.[2] The main shareholders of Dark Blue were Oxford Science Enterprises, Bristol Myers Squibb and Evotec.[3]