Merck Inks $2.13 Billion Deal for KRAS Cancer Drug Candidate

Pharmaceutical giant Merck has entered an exclusive global license agreement with SciBrunch Therapeutics for its preclinical oral KRAS G12D inhibitor, SPR2015. The deal is worth up to $2.13 billion, including a $400 million upfront payment.

The agreement gives Merck worldwide rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize SPR2015, which targets the KRAS pathway in cancer cells.

Merck's senior vice president of discovery, preclinical development, and translational medicine, George Addona, said that evidence continues to accumulate for the therapeutic potential of targeting the KRAS pathway.