Merck licenses SciBrunch cancer drug in deal worth up to $2.13 billion
MRK•Merck said it will pay up to $2.13 billion for global rights to develop, manufacture and sell SciBrunch’s experimental cancer drug SPR2015. The deal includes a $400 million upfront payment and up to $1.73 billion in milestone payments.
1. Deal terms
The deal has closed and gives Merck access to SPR2015, an oral drug candidate targeting KRAS G12D, a cancer-driving mutation found in pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancers. Merck said the transaction will result in a $400 million pre-tax charge, or about 13 cents per share, in its third-quarter 2026 results.
2. Drug development
SPR2015 is in preclinical development and has not entered human testing. Preclinical data presented earlier this year showed reduced tumor growth in laboratory and animal models of KRAS G12D-mutant cancers, the companies said.
3. Pipeline context
The deal underscores Merck’s efforts to broaden its cancer drug pipeline as it prepares for patent expirations on Keytruda, its top-selling immunotherapy, later this decade.
