Merck announced on March 25, 2025, a licensing deal with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals worth up to $2 billion. This agreement grants Merck access to HRS-5346, an investigational oral small molecule lipoprotein(a) inhibitor.
Merck will make an upfront payment of $200 million to Hengrui Pharma, with potential for an additional $1.77 billion in development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, plus royalties on sales. HRS-5346 is currently in a Phase 2 study in China for the reduction of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), a genetic risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
This strategic acquisition expands Merck's cardiometabolic pipeline with a novel target, complementing its existing efforts in this area. Merck will have exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize HRS-5346 worldwide, excluding the Greater China region. The deal is expected to close in Q2, with a charge of about 6 cents per share.
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