Recent partnership announcements in the pharma industry reflects the community’s commitment to collaborative innovation, while also signaling a renewed focus on leveraging partnership-driven models to advance biologic and oncology programs. The most recent collaborative efforts include Boehringer Ingelheim and CDR-Life’s expanded efforts, Merck’s research and development (R&D) funding agreement with Blackstone Life Sciences, and Merck’s agreement with Dr. Falk Pharam GmbH.

Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim announced a new global licensing agreement with CDR-Life to develop CDR-Life’s antibody based molecule CDR111, a trispecific M-gager antibody-based T-cell engager designed to selectively target and deplete B cells with the goal of achieving immune system reset for autoimmune diseases.¹ The agreement builds on the companies’ previous collaboration on an investigational antibody fragment, developed by Boehringer with technology licensed from CDR-Life, with the goal of preserving vision in people living with geographic atrophy.¹ Per the terms of this new collaborative agreement, CDR-Life is eligible for upwards of $570 million in payments, including $48 million in upfront and near-term payments, along with tiered royalties on future sales.¹

“We are excited to expand upon our work with CDR-Life and apply their trispecific M-gager approach to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases with high unmet need, further broadening our differentiated pipeline,” said Carine Boustany, US innovation unit site head and global head of immunology and respiratory diseases at Boehringer Ingelheim. “We see strong potential for CDR111 to demonstrate a deep and durable immune reset that may deliver transformative options for patients living with serious autoimmune disease.”

Merck and Blackstone Life Sciences

In one of Merck’s recent announcements, the company revealed it has entered into an agreement with Blackstone Life Sciences to receive funds, managed by Blackstone Life Sciences, for the development of sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT), an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 a protein found on the surface of various cancer cells.² Sac-TMT is currently undergoing 15 global Phase III clinical trials, spanning six tumor types, such as breast, endometrial, and lung cancer.² According to a press release from Merck, Blackstone is set to pay Merck $700 million to finance a portion of the development costs for sac-TMT throughout 2026. Blackstone will be 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.²

“This agreement positions Merck to harness the potential of sac-TMT, a promising ADC candidate targeting TROP2, while we continue to advance our broad and expansive pipeline,” said Caroline Litchfield, chief financial officer, Merck. “We are making important investments to drive patient impact and revenue growth, and to sustain our business for the future while remaining disciplined towards maintaining an appropriate financial profile.”

Merck and Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH

Along with its announcement of a R&D agreement with Blackstone, Merck also announced that, through a subsidiary, Prometheus BioSciences, it has reached an agreement with Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH to discontinue its existing contract regarding co-development and co-commercialization rights in select territories for MK-8690, formerly PRA-052, and for Merck to assume full responsibility for the development program going forward.³ Under the terms of the new agreement, Prometheus BioSciences and Dr. Falk Pharma will discontinue collaboration efforts based on their existing co-development contract, allowing Prometheus to secure global rights to MK-8690. In turn, Dr. Falk Pharam is set to receive an upfront payment of $150 million, along with being granted eligibility to receive development milestone payments, as well as royalties on sales in certain territories.³

Sources

1. Boehringer Ingelheim and CDR-Life Expand Collaboration Efforts with Global Licensing Agreement for CDR111, an Antibody-Based Trispecific M-gager® for Autoimmune Diseases Boehringer Ingelheim November 4, 2025 https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/11/04/3180237/0/en/Boehringer-Ingelheim-and-CDR-Life-Expand-Collaboration-Efforts-with-Global-Licensing-Agreement-for-CDR111-an-Antibody-Based-Trispecific-M-gager-for-Autoimmune-Diseases.html
2. Merck Enters into Research and Development Funding Agreement with Blackstone Life Sciences for Sacituzumab Tirumotecan (sac-TMT) Merck November 4, 2025 https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251104511714/en/Merck-Enters-into-Research-and-Development-Funding-Agreement-with-Blackstone-Life-Sciences-for-Sacituzumab-Tirumotecan-sac-TMT
3. 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 Merck November 4, 2025 https://www.merck.com/news/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/