$3.4 Billion Acquisition To Bring Life-Changing Therapies to More Rare Tumor Patients
The acquisition represents one of the biggest mergers and acquisitions deals of 2025 in the global biopharma sector.
Rare tumors, although individually uncommon, represent a significant proportion of all cancers. Given the diverse nature and small incidence rates of these tumors, they often lack comprehensive research, which can complicate diagnosis, therapy and patient care.
Towards efforts to expand access to rare tumor therapies, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company with a strong footprint in the US and globally, has acquired SpringWorks Therapeutics, whose portfolio includes the first and only US and EU-approved therapies for adults with progressing desmoid tumors who require systemic therapy and neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients who have symptomatic plexiform neurofibromas (PN).
Technology Networks spoke with the Global Head of Rare Tumor Business, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Dr. Jan Kirsten, to discuss how this acquisition could directly impact patients living with rare tumors.
How does the acquisition of SpringWorks Therapeutics enhance the capabilities of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s healthcare business?
Jan Kirsten, PhD (JK):
This acquisition strongly aligns with our goal of getting more medicines to more patients around the world through our leading, specialty healthcare business, which creates innovative therapies across oncology, neurology, immunology, fertility and endocrinology.
Combining our global reach and innovation with SpringWorks Therapeutics’ targeted expertise and first and only approved rare tumor therapies, we can expand access to life-changing drugs for global patients who have faced limited treatment options.
Adding SpringWorks also further expands Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s healthcare presence in the US, which already features our EMD Serono business – offering leading therapies for cancers, multiple sclerosis, infertility and more.
The two key treatments that SpringWorks Therapeutics brings to our portfolio include:
- OGSIVEO® (nirogacestat): The first and only approved therapy in the US and EU for the treatment of adult patients – with an average diagnosis age of people in their 30s and 40s, and two-thirds being women – with progressing desmoid tumors who require systemic therapy. These are invasive and locally aggressive tumors that form most commonly in connective tissues in the arms, legs and abdomen and can act like tendrils wrapping around muscles and pushing on organs.
- GOMEKLI®/EZMEKLY®(mirdametinib): The first and only approved therapy in the US (GOMEKLI) and EU (EZMEKLY) for the treatment of both adult and pediatric patients two years of age and older with NF1 who have symptomatic plexiform neurofibromas not amenable to complete resection. These are genetic tumors that form on nerves, causing pain, changes in appearance/disfigurement and mobility issues.
These therapies serve as a natural complement to the work we’ve already been doing with our partner Abbisko on pimicotinib, being evaluated for the treatment of tenosynovial giant cell tumors, which creates tumors of the joint that impact on quality of life by causing joint pain, stiffness, swelling and reduced range of motion in patients. In March 2025, we announced that Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has exercised our option for the commercialization of pimicotinib in the US and rest of world.
BF:
JK:
This acquisition presents a significant opportunity to expand access to innovative therapies for patients living with these types of rare tumors, many of whom have endured long and uncertain health journeys with very limited treatment options.
From a geographic perspective, we are already engaged in regulatory discussions in several markets across Europe and Japan for OGSIVEO and EZMEKLY. On July 21, 2025, we announced that EZMEKLY received conditional marketing authorization from the European Commission (EC). Less than a month later, we announced that the EC had granted marketing authorization for OGSIVEO.
We are also assessing additional launch opportunities in regions with the highest patient needs.
BF:
JK:
SpringWorks Therapeutics is working on unlocking the full potential of targeted therapeutics in the area of rare tumors.
They also bring a fascinating backstory, having been spun out from another pharmaceutical company after promising drug candidates were shelved. The patient communities, including the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation and the Children’s Tumor Foundation, advocated for their continued development and ultimately SpringWorks was formed to give them new life.
These aspects, along with their shared values of innovation, patient focus, relentless science, etc. make them an excellent technical and cultural fit with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
BF:
JK:
Most of the patients affected by desmoid tumors are young adults in the prime of their lives. For these patients, many of whom are still in their working years, having access to innovative, systemic therapies that could potentially improve their quality of life, healthcare utilization, productivity and physical and mental health can be truly life changing.
For example, OGSIVEO demonstrated robust efficacy in our Phase 3 DeFi trial. This study enrolled a very advanced and difficult-to-treat desmoid tumor patient population, with people having unsuccessfully tried to gain relief from a median of four lines of non-systemic treatments prior. We saw early, meaningful and durable benefits to patients, including reducing the size of a tumor, reducing pain, improving function and significantly increasing patients’ quality of life.
Just one of the many patient success stories that helps bring the value of these therapies more fully to life includes the story of Dana. Dana was diagnosed with a desmoid tumor in her calf in her 20s. After several surgeries, multiple rounds of chemo, living in excruciating pain, not being able to work and eventually barely being able to walk, she had her leg amputated. Within a few years, another tumor grew back over the stump of her amputation. She then enrolled in our Phase 2 trial and after treatment with OGSIVEO, her tumor shrank and her pain decreased.
BF:
JK:
As a 357-year-old, global, diversified science and technology company – with over 138 years in the US – we have experienced many geopolitical shifts and times of change. Our deep passion for and commitment to innovation and collaboration has always been our north star.
Ultimately, our top priority is to ensure that patients, researchers and customers worldwide continue to benefit from our innovations without disruption.
The need for science, technology and improved health doesn’t stand still and neither can we. We will continue to foster innovation in the interest of patient needs and the needs of our customers across our other businesses, which also include life science products and services, and electronics materials for semiconductors.
In addition, exchanging knowledge and inspiration not only across our company but also as part of the global industry and academic ecosystems continues to be critical.
We also remain committed to merger and acquisition opportunities across our three business sectors – healthcare, life science and electronics – with our next focus on life sciences.
