SHANGHAI, September 28th, 2026 — SciBrunch
Therapeutics ("SciBrunch"), a Hankang Capital portfolio company, has entered
into a landmark licensing agreement with MSD for SPR2015, its internally
discovered KRAS G12D(ON) inhibitor. SciBrunch will receive a $400 million
upfront payment along with substantial near-term milestone payments, and is
eligible for additional milestone payments that could bring the total deal
value to $2.13 billion, setting a new global record for the licensing of a
preclinical-stage drug asset. The deal underscores SPR2015's global
competitiveness and validates Hankang's early conviction in the RAS
opportunity, the founding team, and the asset's differentiated potential. Hankang
led SciBrunch's angel round and doubled down in the Pre-A, emerging as its
largest outside investor.
“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,” said Tao
Hu, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of SciBrunch. “This agreement
with MSD 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 MSD, a global leader in oncology, will
take SPR2015 forward.”
Under the agreement, SciBrunch has granted
MSD exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize SPR2015
worldwide. SciBrunch will receive an upfront payment of $400 million and is
eligible to receive payments associated with the achievement of certain
milestones related to development, commercialization and other activities
across multiple indications. The total potential aggregate value of the
transaction, including the upfront payment, is $2.13 billion. The transaction
has closed.
“Evidence continues to accumulate for the
therapeutic potential of targeting the KRAS pathway, a well-characterized
factor in tumor cell growth," said George Addona, senior vice president,
discovery, preclinical development and translational medicine, MSD Research
Laboratories. “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.”
About SPR2015
SPR2015 is a potent and selective novel
investigational preclinical molecular glue KRAS G12D (ON) inhibitor that has
demonstrated nanomolar antiproliferative activities in various KRAS G12D-mutant
cell lines while maintaining good selectivity over KRAS wildtype cells. KRAS
G12D is the most common oncogenic RAS mutation in human tumors which results
from a substitution of glycine with aspartate at position 12. This change
leaves KRAS active and continuously signaling for cell proliferation and
survival. In addition, SPR2015 has demonstrated compelling antitumor efficacy
as a monotherapy across multiple in vivo cell-derived and patient-derived
xenograft (CDX/PDX) models, as reported in preclinical data presented at the 2026
AACR Annual Meeting.
About SciBrunch
SciBrunch Therapeutics Co., Ltd., founded
in late 2024, is a clinical-stage biotech driven by iterative innovation in
small molecule oncology therapeutics, headquartered in Shanghai. Founded by
serial entrepreneur Dr. Tao Hu together with seasoned medicinal chemist Dr.
Yang Zhang, the company leverages novel scientific insights to unlock the
potential of clinically validated targets and applies forward-looking,
differentiated product design strategies. Guided by its philosophy of “doing
the right thing, going deep, and pursuing excellence,” SciBrunch aims to build
globally competitive products. For more information, visit https://www.scibrunch.com.
About MSD
At MSD, known as Merck & Co., Inc.,
Rahway, N.J., USA in the United States and Canada, we are unified around our
purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives
around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity
through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be
the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and
today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health
solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and
animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate
responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all
people and communities. For more information, visit https://www.msd.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) LinkedIn and YouTube.
