Merck Drops $400 Million on SciBrunch's KRAS G12D Inhibitor
Merck has paid SciBrunch Therapeutics $400 million upfront for an oral KRAS G12D (ON) inhibitor called SPR2015. The deal could reach a total of $2.13 billion with milestone payments.
This is not the first time Merck has shown interest in SciBrunch's technology. In 2023, AstraZeneca paid Tao Hu's previous company $24 million upfront for a KRAS G12D drug at a similar stage of development.
However, SPR2015 takes a different approach to inhibiting the KRAS G12D mutation. It binds to cyclophilin A and then locks onto the mutant residue with a covalent bond. This mechanism is similar to that used by Revolution Medicines' zoldonrasib, which has shown promising results in clinical trials.
The design of SPR2015 was key to Merck's decision to pay such a large upfront fee. While AstraZeneca dropped its own KRAS G12D inhibitor due to portfolio prioritization, SPR2015 has already demonstrated strong preclinical data and has the potential to address unmet needs in colorectal cancer.
Merck is looking to expand its pipeline of precision-targeted candidates with this deal. The company's existing KRAS drug, calderasib (MK-1084), targets the G12C mutation but has limitations in other cancer types. SPR2015's focus on colorectal cancer sets it apart from Merck's current portfolio.
The patent clock and China's rising prices also contributed to Merck's decision to pay a premium for SPR2015. With Keytruda's key US patent set to expire in 2028, Merck is looking to diversify its pipeline with new assets and technologies.