Merck Licenses SciBrunch's SPR2015 for $400M Upfront, Upside to $2.13B

Pharmaceutical giant Merck has entered into an exclusive global license agreement with SciBrunch Therapeutics Co., Ltd. for SPR2015, a preclinical oral KRAS G12D (ON) inhibitor. The deal grants Merck rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize SPR2015 worldwide.

Under the terms of the agreement, SciBrunch will receive an upfront payment of $400 million, as well as potential additional payments tied to development, commercialization, and other milestones across multiple indications, totaling up to $2.13 billion.

SPR2015 has demonstrated nanomolar antiproliferative activity in various KRAS G12D-mutant cell lines while maintaining good selectivity over KRAS wildtype cells. It has also shown compelling antitumor efficacy as a monotherapy across multiple in vivo cell-derived and patient-derived xenograft models, according to preclinical data presented at the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting.

Merck's senior vice president, discovery, preclinical development, and translational medicine, George Addona, said 'Evidence continues to accumulate for the therapeutic potential of targeting the KRAS pathway.' He added that the agreement complements and diversifies Merck's expanding pipeline of precision-targeted candidates with SPR2015.

SciBrunch's founder, chairman, and CEO, Tao Hu, stated that the agreement validates the R&D strength of their platform and underscores the potential of SPR2015 in addressing longstanding unmet medical needs in oncology.