Merck’s $493M Pill Bet Aims to Replace Injections

Merck and Cyprumed sign licensing deal to turn injectables into pills, highlighting a shift toward easier, patient-friendly drug formats.

22 Apr 2025

Merck has signed a licensing agreement worth up to $493mn with Swiss biotech firm Cyprumed, in a move that underscores growing industry efforts to shift injectable drugs toward oral formats.

The deal gives Merck, known as MSD outside the US and Canada, global non-exclusive access to Cyprumed’s oral peptide delivery technology, with the option to acquire target-specific exclusive licences in future. The focus is on improving drug formats for peptide-based therapies, which are typically administered via injection due to their instability in the digestive tract.

“Peptide therapeutics have significant potential, but delivery remains a key barrier,” said Florian Föger, Cyprumed’s chief executive. “Our drug delivery technology has the potential to unlock new opportunities in peptide therapeutics,” he added in a statement.

Peptides, which are short chains of amino acids, are used in treating chronic conditions such as diabetes and hormonal disorders. Their sensitivity to stomach acids and enzymes has long made oral administration unfeasible. Cyprumed’s platform seeks to overcome these obstacles by protecting the compounds as they pass through the gastrointestinal system.

The collaboration reflects a broader trend in biopharmaceuticals, as drugmakers look beyond drug discovery toward improving delivery mechanisms. With rising competition in therapeutic areas such as metabolic disease and obesity, patient convenience is increasingly seen as a differentiator.

The Merck-Cyprumed tie-up follows similar investments by larger pharmaceutical companies aiming to reduce reliance on injections and improve patient adherence. Industry analysts note that while technical challenges remain, particularly around cost and bioavailability, advances in formulation technologies are making oral delivery more viable.

For Merck, the partnership aligns with a wider push to develop more user-friendly formats. Regulators and health systems are also placing greater emphasis on adherence and accessibility, increasing pressure on companies to update drug delivery strategies.

While no specific drugs or timelines were disclosed, the agreement positions both companies to capitalise on a shift in treatment delivery. As the sector moves towards oral biologics, pill-based versions of therapies traditionally given by injection may become increasingly common.