Merck & Co. has signed an exclusive global licensing agreement with Chinese biotech firm SciBrunch Therapeutics for its experimental cancer drug, SPR2015. The deal is worth up to $2.13 billion. Merck will pay $400 million upfront, with additional payments tied to development and commercial milestones.
Merck gains worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize the preclinical oral drug. SPR2015 is designed to inhibit KRAS G12D, a mutation found in several difficult-to-treat cancers, including pancreatic and colorectal cancer.
The deal expands Merck’s precision oncology pipeline as the company prepares for the eventual patent expiration of its blockbuster cancer drug, Keytruda.