MSD has entered into a new research collaboration with China-based Degron Therapeutics to co-develop novel molecular glue degraders for oncology. This partnership expands upon an initial strategic agreement signed between the two companies in November 2025. Degron's platform, GlueXplorer, has generated a library of over 10,000 structurally diverse molecular glue compounds, designed to target proteins that are difficult to drug with conventional small molecules.

The collaboration is facilitated through MSD's R&D China Innovation Collaboration Centre (MCICC), which was established in 2024 to identify and partner with high-potential early-stage projects within China's innovation ecosystem. Degron is also engaged in a separate research partnership with Takeda. The deal with MSD aims to leverage the latter's global clinical development expertise and oncology capabilities to advance these novel therapeutic candidates.

PharmCube's NextBiopharm® database shows an recent increase in deal-making activity in the area of oncology molecular glues. Click here to request a free trial for NextBiopharm®.