---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001628280-23-028846"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FHTX"
cik: "0001822462"
company_name: "Foghorn Therapeutics Inc."
filed_at: "2023-08-10T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-11T18:54:24.409757+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Foghorn Therapeutics receives notice from Merck terminating collaboration agreement effective Nov 7, 2023

## Summary
- Merck terminates Research Collaboration and Exclusive License Agreement effective November 7, 2023, citing internal portfolio prioritization.
- Agreement granted Merck exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize drugs targeting a single transcription factor.
- Foghorn had received total of $20 million from Merck under the agreement (signed July 2, 2020).
- Foghorn loses potential future milestones and royalties from the collaboration.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001628280-23-028846
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FHTX
- cik: 0001822462
- company_name: Foghorn Therapeutics Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-08-10T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1822462/000162828023028846/0001628280-23-028846-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1822462/000162828023028846/fhtx-20230809.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-23-028846
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-23-028846.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-23-028846.txt

## Key facts
- Material Agreements
  Foghorn Therapeutics Inc. terminated Research Collaboration and Exclusive License Agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. valued at $20 million received under the Agreement (effective 2023-11-07).
  - Action: termination
  - Agreement: license
  - Counterparty: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
  - Value: $20 million received under the Agreement
  - Effective: 2023-11-07
  source text: On August 9, 2023, Foghorn Therapeutics Inc. (the “Company”) received notice from Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (“Merck”) that Merck is terminating the Research Collaboration and Exclusive License Agreement between the Company and Merck, dated as of July 2, 2020 (the “Agreement”). The termination of the Agreement will be effective as of November 7, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1822462/000162828023028846/0001628280-23-028846-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.