Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., a global pharmaceutical company focused on scientific and technological innovation, announced on March 25 that it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for HRS-5346, its investigational oral small molecule Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), inhibitor, with Merck & Co., which is known as MSD outside the US and Canada.

Under the agreement, Hengrui Pharma has granted Merck exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize HRS-5346 worldwide, excluding the Greater China region. Hengrui Pharma will receive an upfront payment of $200 million and is eligible to receive milestone payments associated with certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones up to $1.77 billion, as well as royalties on net sales of HRS-5346, if approved.

“There are significant unmet clinical needs worldwide in cardiovascular diseases. We are pleased to partner with Merck, a global leader in cardiovascular care, to bring Hengrui Pharma’s innovative cardiovascular medicines to patients around the world. We believe Merck’s clinical expertise and global scale will help accelerate the development of HRS-5346 and potentially provide more patients with an additional option to reduce their risk of atherosclerosis,” said Dr Frank Jiang, executive vice president and chief strategy officer of Hengrui Pharma.

“Elevated blood concentrations of Lp(a) are a well-documented risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, affecting as many as one in five adults globally,” said Dr Dean Y. Li, president of Merck Research Laboratories. “HRS-5346, an investigational oral small molecule inhibitor of Lp(a) formation, is an important addition that expands and complements our cardio-metabolic pipeline.”

The proposed transaction is subject to approval under the US Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.