Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
GSK plc acquired clinical-stage oncology company IDRx, Inc. for up to $1.15 billion ($1.0 billion upfront plus a $150 million success-based regulatory milestone), announced January 13, 2025 and completed February 24, 2025. The deal centers on IDRX-42 (GSK6042981; proposed INN velzatinib), a highly selective, broad-spectrum KIT tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed to cover both primary and secondary KIT mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) — the resistance gap that limits existing TKIs, where ~90% of first-line patients develop resistant mutations. IDRX-42 holds FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations; GSK is also responsible for milestones and tiered royalties owed to Merck KGaA. Following close, GSK advanced the asset into the Phase 3 StrateGIST 3 trial (NCT07218926), evaluating IDRX-42 versus sunitinib in second-line GIST after imatinib with progression-free survival as the primary endpoint (recruiting since December 2025), alongside an ongoing first-line Phase 3 program.