Merck & Co. Stock Rises on $400 Million Oncology Deal

Merck & Co.'s stock price has reached $144.30 on the NYSE as of October 2, 2026, after a global oncology license was agreed upon for SPR2015, a preclinical KRAS G12D inhibitor.

The deal, worth $400 million upfront, has a potential aggregate value of $2.13 billion, including development, regulatory, and commercial milestones.

Merk also reported that the transaction will create a $400 million pretax charge, or $0.13 per share, in third-quarter 2026 GAAP and non-GAAP results.

In related news, Merck's second-quarter revenue reached $16.61 billion, beating a consensus estimate of $16.37 billion, while adjusted EPS was a loss of $0.13 versus an expected loss of $0.26.