Amgen has acquired cancer drug developer DarkBlue in a deal worth up to $840 million, aiming to further expand its oncology portfolio. UK-based DarkBlue is a privately held company focused on developing a class of drugs known as “protein degraders,” a field that has become a hot target for pharmaceutical giants such as Novartis and Gilead Sciences. DarkBlue’s most advanced compound has not yet entered clinical trials but holds promise as a novel therapy for acute myeloid leukemia. Jay Bradner, Amgen’s executive vice president of research and development, said in a statement: “This acquisition strengthens and expands our research in the areas of targeted protein degradation and leukemia treatment, advancing our strategy of early investment in emerging targets.”