Viscient Biosciences offered to merge with Organovo.

Viscient Biosciences, a San Diego-based biotechnology company, offered to merge with Organovo, an early-stage medical laboratory and research company. Financial terms were not disclosed. "There remains tremendous opportunity to unlock the power of Organovo's proprietary technology. Viscient has built a powerful NASH drug discovery platform to a value of tens of millions of dollars in a very short period of time, with strong internal efforts coupled with contract research performed by Organovo. Having already established the paradigm for drug discovery in 3D tissue in liver, Viscient now has the potential to efficiently use the other tissues in Organovo's portfolio to develop drugs for additional high-value indications. After reviewing the recent deal landscape, it is clear to me that a Viscient/Organovo combined entity could be valued in the hundreds of millions over the next couple of years as we hit preclinical and clinical milestones for drug candidates, unlocking significant value for all stakeholders." Keith Murphy, CEO, Viscient Biosciences.