Merck Seals $2.1B Deal for Cancer Treatment Candidate
Pharmaceutical giant Merck has entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement with Chinese biotech company SciBrunch Therapeutics. Under this deal, Merck obtained worldwide rights to develop and commercialize SPR2015, a preclinical oral KRAS G12D inhibitor.
The transaction's total potential value is $2.13 billion, including the upfront payment of $400 million. In return for the license, SciBrunch will receive additional milestone payments associated with development and commercialization across multiple indications.
Merck's existing pipeline of precision oncology candidates has just expanded with this new addition. SPR2015 is designed to target one of the most common cancer-driving KRAS mutations, creating potential opportunities for treatment in various cancers.