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Merck Lands $2.13 Billion Deal for Preclinical Cancer Treatment
Merck & Co has made another significant move in its search for successors to its blockbuster cancer treatment Keytruda. The company has signed a licensing agreement worth up to $2.13 billion with Chinese biotech firm SciBrunch Therapeutics, giving Merck global rights to the preclinical cancer drug candidate SPR2015.
Signed on September 29, 2026, the deal marks another major step in Merck's efforts to maintain its dominance in the cancer treatment market. The KRAS protein is a key target for cancer research, with certain mutations leading to uncontrolled cell growth and survival.