(This Feb. 10 story has been refiled to say 'LOEs (loss of exclusivity),' not 'LOEs (levels of evidence),' in paragraph 13) By Sabrina Valle and Patricia Weiss NEW YORK/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Merck KGaA,

Stamford-based SpringWorks Therapeutics, a commercial-stage biotech company developing treatments for rare diseases and cancer, is in “advanced talks” to be acquired by Germany’s Merck, according to Reuters.

Merck KGaA said it’s in advanced talks to purchase SpringWorks Therapeutics Inc., sending shares of the US cancer and rare diseases drugmaker soaring.

Merck KGaA, the German healthcare and technology group, is in advanced talks to acquire U.S. cancer and rare diseases drugmaker Springworks Therapeutics, according to people familiar with the matter.