Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

Merck & Co. Inc. / Taiho Pharmaceutical / Astex Pharmaceuticals

2020 · Licensing/Option · $2.5B · Complete

Outcome grade pending — assessed 5 years post-close.

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The coverage arc

Jan 06, 2020 BioPharma Dive Bullish

Merck is the latest big drugmaker to take aim at KRAS, signing a $50 million upfront, $2.5 billion biobucks deal Monday with Taiho and Astex for small molecule…

Jan 06, 2020 Fierce Biotech Bullish

Merck has signed a research collaboration with Taiho Pharmaceutical and Astex Pharmaceuticals worth up to $2.5 billion in milestones for small-molecule…

Jan 08, 2020 Endpoints News Bullish

Merck's $2.5 billion biobucks deal with Taiho and Astex announced Monday officially makes KRAS the hottest oncology BD target of 2020. Amgen leads with AMG…

Source summaries from our enrichment pipeline; follow links for originals.

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Merck entered an exclusive worldwide research collaboration and license agreement with Taiho Pharmaceutical and Astex Pharmaceuticals for small molecule inhibitors against several drug targets including the KRAS oncogene. Taiho and Astex received $50M upfront and are eligible for up to ~$2.5B in milestones plus tiered royalties. Taiho retained co-commercialization rights in Japan and an option to promote in parts of Southeast Asia.

Key facts

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
Merck & Co. Inc. / Taiho Pharmaceutical / Astex Pharmaceuticals (this deal)2020$2.5B
Merck & Co. Inc. / Acceleron Pharma Inc.2021$11.5B90
Merck & Co. Inc. / Peloton Therapeutics Inc.2019$2.2B88
Merck & Co. Inc. / AstraZeneca PLC2017$8.5B87
Merck & Co. Inc. / Moderna, Inc.2022$250M86
Merck & Co. Inc. / Moderna, Inc.2016$250M84
Merck & Co. Inc. / Eisai Co., Ltd.2018$5.8B83

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