Merck Secures Global Rights to SciBrunch’s KRAS G12D Inhibitor in $2.13B Deal

Key points

• Merck paid $400 million upfront for exclusive global rights to SPR2015, with additional milestone payments potentially raising the deal’s total value to $2.13 billion.
• SPR2015 is an oral molecular glue inhibitor targeting the KRAS G12D mutation, which is prevalent in pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers.
• The asset has shown nanomolar antiproliferative activity in preclinical models and is expected to begin human trials by late 2026.
• SciBrunch, founded in late 2024 by Tao Hu and Yang Zhang, has raised $65 million and is currently conducting a Phase 1/2 trial for a separate PARP1 inhibitor, SPR1020.
• Merck recorded a pre-tax charge of $400 million, or approximately 13 cents per share, in its third-quarter 2026 financials related to this transaction.

Background

This acquisition follows a broader industry trend of targeting KRAS mutations, which were previously considered undruggable due to lack of binding pockets. Recent successes with KRAS G12C inhibitors, such as Merck’s calderasib and Amgen’s Lumakras, have spurred interest in other variants like G12D. Earlier this year, Bayer also signed a $1.3 billion deal with Kumquat Biosciences for a similar preclinical asset. Additionally, Johns Hopkins researchers reported in August 2026 that a KRAS-targeting drug showed promise in preventing pancreatic cancer in high-risk individuals, further validating the therapeutic potential of this pathway.

How outlets are covering it

Endpoints News highlights the entrepreneurial trajectory of Tao Hu, noting that he previously sold a KRAS G12D inhibitor to AstraZeneca in 2023 before founding SciBrunch. Fierce Biotech emphasizes the strategic diversification of Merck’s pipeline, contrasting the new G12D bet with its existing G12C program and noting the deal’s alignment with Merck’s need to bolster its portfolio ahead of the 2028 patent cliff for Keytruda. BioSpace focuses on the financial mechanics, detailing the immediate pre-tax charge Merck recorded and the potential total deal value, while also contextualizing the move within Merck’s recent regulatory setbacks, including the withdrawal of an accelerated approval request for the antibody-drug conjugate ifinatamab deruxtecan.

Why it matters

The deal underscores the intensifying competition for KRAS G12D inhibitors, a target critical for treating pancreatic cancer, which has high mortality rates. For Merck, it diversifies its oncology pipeline beyond Keytruda and calderasib, while for SciBrunch, it validates its early-stage platform and provides substantial capital to support its ongoing clinical programs. The transaction also signals continued investor and pharma interest in molecular glue technologies for previously undruggable targets.

What to watch

SciBrunch is expected to initiate human trials for SPR2015 by the end of 2026. Merck will likely integrate the asset into its broader oncology development strategy, potentially combining it with other targeted therapies. Investors will watch for early clinical data and any subsequent milestone payments, while SciBrunch may leverage the deal’s credibility to secure further funding or partnerships for its other candidates, including the PARP1 inhibitor SPR1020.