Merck, known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada, and Shanghai-based SciBrunch Therapeutics announced on September 28, 2026 an exclusive global license agreement for SPR2015, an investigational preclinical oral KRAS G12D (ON) inhibitor. Under the deal, SciBrunch grants Merck exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize SPR2015; the transaction has already closed.
George Addona, Senior Vice President, Discovery, Preclinical Development and Translational Medicine at Merck Research Laboratories, said: “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.”
The Terms
SciBrunch will receive a $400 million upfront payment, plus milestone payments tied to development, commercialization, and other activities across multiple indications; total potential deal value, including the upfront, reaches $2.13 billion. Merck will record a pre-tax charge of $400 million (roughly $0.13 per share) in its Q3 2026 GAAP and non-GAAP results tied to the transaction. BofA Securities acted as exclusive financial advisor to SciBrunch.
Tao Hu, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of SciBrunch, said: “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.”
A “Molecular Glue” Targeting Cancer’s Most Common RAS Mutation
SPR2015 is described as a potent, selective molecular glue KRAS G12D (ON) inhibitor, showing nanomolar antiproliferative activity across KRAS G12D-mutant cell lines while sparing KRAS wild-type cells. KRAS G12D — caused by a glycine-to-aspartate substitution at position 12 that locks the protein into a continuously active, proliferation-driving state — is the most common oncogenic RAS mutation found in human tumors, showing up frequently in pancreatic, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancers. SPR2015 has demonstrated antitumor efficacy as a monotherapy across multiple in vivo cell-derived and patient-derived xenograft (CDX/PDX) models, with preclinical data presented at the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting.
About SciBrunch
SciBrunch Therapeutics, founded in late 2024 and headquartered in Shanghai, is a clinical-stage biotech focused on small-molecule oncology therapeutics targeting the RAS pathway. The company was founded by serial entrepreneur Dr. Tao Hu alongside medicinal chemist Dr. Yang Zhang.
About Merck
Merck, known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada, is a research-intensive biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey, with more than 130 years of history developing medicines and vaccines.
