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Merck licenses a KRAS G12D inhibitor for $400M upfront

Merck entered an exclusive global license agreement with Shanghai-based SciBrunch Therapeutics on September 28, 2026, to develop the preclinical oral KRAS G12D (ON) inhibitor SPR2015. The deal includes an upfront payment of $400 million and total potential payments reaching $2.13 billion through milestones. Merck now holds worldwide rights to manufacture, develop, and commercialize the candidate. The move expands Merck's precision targeted pipeline by focusing on one of the most common mutant forms of KRAS found in human cancers.

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⚡ Key Developments & Real-Time Context
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  • ✓ Merck paid SciBrunch Therapeutics $400 million upfront for the license.
  • ✓ The total value of the agreement can reach $2.13 billion.
  • ✓ SPR2015 is an investigational preclinical oral KRAS G12D (ON) inhibitor.
  • ✓ The agreement grants Merck exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize SPR2015.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 14 independent reporting domains (100% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

Merck acquired exclusive global rights to the preclinical drug candidate SPR2015 through a deal valued at up to $2.13 billion.

Live updates

  1. Merck licenses preclinical KRAS G12D inhibitor SPR2015 from SciBrunch

    Merck entered an exclusive global license agreement with Shanghai-based SciBrunch Therapeutics on September 28, 2026, to develop the preclinical oral KRAS G12D (ON) inhibitor SPR2015. The deal includes an upfront payment of $400 million and total potential payments reaching $2.13 billion through milestones. Merck now holds worldwide rights to manufacture, develop, and commercialize the candidate. The move expands Merck's precision targeted pipeline by focusing on one of the most common mutant forms of KRAS found in human cancers.

    Why it matters

    The KRAS pathway is a known driver of tumor cell growth. This acquisition follows the approval of Revolution Medicines' pancreatic cancer treatment, Rasonque, and places Merck in competition with other firms like Verastem Oncology and BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics.

    What is confirmed

    • Merck paid SciBrunch Therapeutics $400 million upfront for the license.
    • The total value of the agreement can reach $2.13 billion.
    • SPR2015 is an investigational preclinical oral KRAS G12D (ON) inhibitor.
    • The agreement grants Merck exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize SPR2015.
    • The deal was announced on September 28, 2026.
    • SciBrunch Therapeutics is based in China.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Merck stock slipped 1.5% following the announcement of the $400 million payment.
    • The deal follows a previous $24 million payment to the same founder for a different KRAS G12D drug.

    What to watch next

    • Transition of SPR2015 from preclinical stages to human clinical trials
    • Regulatory filings for SPR2015 with the FDA or other global health authorities
    Sources used for this update (16)
    1. endpoints.news — Merck licenses a KRAS G12D inhibitor for $400M upfront
    2. Reuters — Merck licenses SciBrunch cancer drug in deal worth up to $2.13 billion
    3. Fierce Biotech — Merck pens $2.1B deal with China’s SciBrunch to chase KRAS G12D
    4. Business Wire — Merck Enters into Exclusive Global License Agreement with SciBrunch Therapeutics for SPR2015, an Investigational Oral KRAS G12D (ON) Inhibitor
    5. BioSpace — Merck inks up to $2.13B deal to dine with SciBrunch, gain rights to preclinical KRAS inhibitor
    6. Reuters — US drugmakers turn to China for licensing deals
    7. www.pharmexec.com — Merck Licenses Preclinical KRAS G12D Inhibitor from SciBrunch
    8. www.merck.com — Merck Enters into Exclusive Global License Agreement with ...
    9. allsci.com — Merck strikes USD 2.13bn deal for China-origin preclinical ...
    10. www.fiercebiotech.com — Merck pens $2.1B deal with China’s SciBrunch to chase KRAS G12D
    11. guavy.com — Merck Licenses KRAS G12D Inhibitor SPR2015 for $400M Upfront
    12. medcitynews.com — Merck Pays $400M for Cancer Drug Prospect From China-Based ...
    confidence 100%
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