Business
Merck Signs Agreement with Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH for Certain Development and Commercialization Rights to MK-8690 (PRA-052) an Investigational Anti-CD30 Ligand Monoclonal Antibody
RAHWAY, N.J., November 04, 2025--Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced that the company, through a subsidiary (Prometheus BioSciences), has reached an agreement with Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH (Falk) to discontinue an existing contract concerning co-development and co-commercialization rights in certain territories for MK-8690 (formerly PRA-052), and for Merck to assume full responsibility for the development program going forward. MK-8690 is an inves
About this update from Merck & Company, Inc.
[{"type":"image","alt":"","displaySize":"","headline":null,"caption":"","credit":null,"className":"","disableSlideshowImg":false,"size":{"original":{"width":480,"height":217,"url":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/business-wire.com/299050a4ca6f90a93b66c447c24fb9e6"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/luvbMoJcKSRBlq1uQnUl1A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQzNDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/business-wire.com/299050a4ca6f90a93b66c447c24fb9e6","width":480,"height":217}},"lazy":false},{"type":"text","content":"RAHWAY, N.J., November 04, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced that the company, through a subsidiary (Prometheus BioSciences), has reached an agreement with Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH (Falk) to discontinue an existing contract concerning co-development and co-commercialization rights in certain territories for MK-8690 (formerly PRA-052), and for Merck to assume full responsibility for the development program going forward. MK-8690 is an investigational anti-CD30 ligand monoclonal antibody being evaluated by Merck in an early-stage clinical trial.","length":623,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Under the terms of the agreement, Prometheus BioSciences (Prometheus) and Falk have discontinued their collaboration based on their existing co-development contract resulting in Prometheus having secured global rights to MK-8690. In exchange, Falk will receive a $150 million upfront payment and is eligible to receive a payment associated with a development milestone as well as royalties on sales in certain territories. The original contract between Falk and Prometheus was signed in 2020. Merck subsequently acquired Prometheus in 2023.","length":540,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"As a result of the transaction with Falk, Merck will record a pre-tax charge to research and development expenses of $150 million, or approximately $0.05 per share, in both its GAAP and non-GAAP fourth quarter results.","length":218,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"About MerckAt Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. W...