$3.9 billion deal boosts Merck’s pipeline as it faces patent expiries

Merck signage in Darmstadt

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The deal brings Merck 2 approved drugs, as well as pipeline projects

Germany’s Merck KGaA has agreed to buy SpringWorks Therapeutics, adding the US biotech’s portfolio of cancer and rare disease therapies to its pipeline. Merck will pay $47 per share of SpringWorks, making the deal worth $3.9 billion (£2.9 billion), or $3.4 billion accounting for SpringWorks’ outstanding cash and debt.

SpringWorks has two drugs approved in the US. Ogsiveo (nirogacestat) is a selective gamma secretase inhibitor for treating rare desmoid tumours, approved since November 2023; Gomekli (mirdametinib) is a kinase inhibitor approved since February 2025 for treating the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis type 1. Both drugs are under review in Europe.

The deal gives Merck a combination of immediate revenue and a pipeline top-up. Both will be welcome, as the company has experienced recent failures of some of its experimental therapies, and faces imminent expiry of patents on its multiple sclerosis treatment Mavenclad (cladribine), beginning in 2026.

As Business editor, Phillip's aim is to highlight to readers the exciting and innovative chemistry going on in the commercial sector, as well as keeping them abreast of trends and developments in the world of chemistry businesses.View full profile

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