Merck has entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement with SciBrunch Therapeutics for SPR2015, an investigational preclinical oral KRAS G12D (ON) inhibitor, in a transaction with a total potential value of $2.13 billion.
Under the agreement, SciBrunch has granted Merck exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize SPR2015. SciBrunch will receive an upfront payment of $400 million and is eligible for additional development, commercialization, and other milestone payments across multiple indications. The transaction has already closed.
Merck will record a $400 million pre-tax charge, or approximately $0.13 per share, in its GAAP and non-GAAP third-quarter 2026 results related to the transaction.
SPR2015 is a potent and selective investigational molecular glue KRAS G12D (ON) inhibitor designed to target one of the most common oncogenic forms of KRAS found in human cancers. Merck said the licensing agreement expands and diversifies its pipeline of precision-targeted oncology candidates.
KRAS G12D results from a mutation in which glycine is replaced by aspartate at position 12, causing KRAS to remain active and continuously signal pathways associated with cell proliferation and survival.
In preclinical testing, SPR2015 demonstrated nanomolar antiproliferative activity across several KRAS G12D-mutant cell lines while maintaining selectivity over KRAS wild-type cells. The candidate also demonstrated antitumor efficacy as a monotherapy across multiple cell-derived and patient-derived xenograft models.
Preclinical data for SPR2015 were presented at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. The candidate is being investigated for potential applications across cancers including pancreatic, colorectal, lung, and other malignant tumors.
SciBrunch was founded in late 2024 and is headquartered in Shanghai. The biotechnology company was founded by Tao Hu and Yang Zhang and focuses on small-molecule oncology therapies targeting clinically validated pathways.
Support: BofA Securities served as SciBrunch’s exclusive financial advisor on the transaction.
KEY QUOTES:
“Evidence continues to accumulate for the therapeutic potential of targeting the KRAS pathway, a well-characterized factor in tumor cell growth. This agreement complements and diversifies our expanding pipeline of precision targeted candidates with SPR2015, a potent engineered inhibitor for one of the most prevalent mutant forms of KRAS found in human cancers.”
George Addona, Senior Vice President, Discovery, Preclinical Development and Translational Medicine at Merck Research Laboratories
“Since our founding, SciBrunch has remained focused on advancing innovative therapies targeting the RAS pathway and is committed to delivering transformative treatment options for patients with pancreatic, colorectal, lung, and other major malignant tumors. This agreement with Merck not only validates the R&D strength of our platform but also underscores the potential of SPR2015 in addressing longstanding unmet medical needs in oncology. We are excited that Merck, a global leader in oncology, will take SPR2015 forward.”
Tao Hu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of SciBrunch Therapeutics
