US drugmakers turn to China for licensing deals
MRK•MRK•MRK•MRK•Merck agreed to pay Chinese biotech SciBrunch Therapeutics $400 million upfront for global rights to experimental cancer drug SPR2015, with potential payments bringing the deal to up to $2.13 billion. The deal adds to a series of licensing agreements between US drugmakers and Chinese biotechs.
Merck agreed to pay SciBrunch Therapeutics $400 million upfront for global rights to SPR2015, an experimental cancer drug. The agreement could reach up to $2.13 billion in total value.
Other listed deals include Pfizer’s May 2026 agreement with Innovent Biologics for 12 early-stage oncology programs, with $650 million upfront and potential value of up to $10.5 billion, and Bristol Myers Squibb’s agreement with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals for 13 programs, with $600 million upfront and potential value of up to $15.2 billion.
Chinese biotechs often retain domestic rights and license their drugs overseas in exchange for upfront and milestone payments as well as royalties.
