Merck KGaA has entered into an exclusive agreement with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals for ex-China rights to the latter’s HRS-1167 and SHR-A1904. Through the deal, which is worth up to US$1.743 B, the companies will collaborate to develop, manufacture and commercialise Hengrui’s selective poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) trapping inhibitor, HRS-1167 and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) SHR-A1904. The deal with Hengrui comes one month after Merck renewed its collaboration agreement with UK Institute of Cancer Research for the development of new anticancer drugs.