Merck KGaA Axes SpringWorks Pipeline Assets Amid Pipeline Clear-Out While Pursuing M&A for External Innovation

Merck KGaA is dropping clinical-stage cancer candidates SW-682 (from $3.9B SpringWorks acquisition) and M9466 (licensed from Hengrui for $169M)

SpringWorks deal focused on FDA-approved Ogsiveo ($235M sales in 2025) and Gomekli (sales grew to $31M in Q4 2025)

No further pursuit of Ogsiveo in ovarian granulosa cell tumors

EMD Serono president targets smaller M&A deals and external innovation to generate 50% of future launch assets, up from 10-15%

Predicts challenging 2026 due to generic pressures on Mavenclad

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