Merck enters R&D funding agreement with Blackstone Life Sciences

Merck (MRK) announced that the company has entered into an agreement to receive funds managed by Blackstone Life Sciences for the development of sacituzumab tirumotecan, an investigational antibody-drug conjugate targeting trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2, a protein found on the surface of various cancer cells. Merck is currently evaluating sac-TMT in 15 global Phase 3 clinical trials spanning six tumor types, including breast, endometrial and lung cancers. Under the terms of the agreement, Blackstone will pay Merck $700M (which is non-refundable, subject to termination provisions provided for in the agreement) to fund a portion of the development costs for sac-TMT expected to be incurred throughout 2026. In return, Blackstone is eligible to receive low-to-mid single-digit royalties on net sales of sac-TMT across all approved indications in Merck’s marketing territories contingent upon receipt of regulatory approval in the U.S. for first-line treatment of triple-negative-breast cancer based on findings of the TroFuse-011 clinical trial. Sac-TMT is being developed as part of an exclusive license and collaboration agreement with Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a holding subsidiary of Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd., which is unchanged by this agreement with Blackstone. Merck will retain decision-making authority and control over the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of sac-TMT; Blackstone will not receive any rights to sac-TMT.