Industry

Merck licenses SciBrunch’s preclinical KRAS G12D cancer drug candidate

Merck paid $400 million upfront for worldwide rights to SciBrunch’s preclinical KRAS G12D inhibitor, with milestones that could raise the deal to $2.13 billion.

Reported by 3 outlets Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Gloved hands pouring liquid in a laboratory — Photo: Public domain, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Merck has licensed worldwide rights to develop and commercialize SciBrunch Therapeutics’ preclinical cancer drug candidate SPR2015, designed to inhibit KRAS G12D, a mutated form of the KRAS protein. MedCity News reported that the deal has closed.

Merck paid $400 million upfront, and milestone payments could bring the deal’s total value to $2.13 billion, according to MedCity News and Fierce Biotech. Fierce reported that Merck said SPR2015 showed nanomolar antiproliferative activity in KRAS G12D-mutant cell lines, with selectivity over KRAS wildtype cells. MedCity reported that preclinical data presented in April showed anti-tumor efficacy against colorectal cancer when the drug was given alone.

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