Merus (NASDAQ:MRUS) Stock

Merus

Merus NV is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company. It develops bispecific antibody therapeutics. The company is developing full-length human multispecific antibody therapeutics, referred to as Biclonics. Merus has only reportable segment comprising the discovery and development of bispecific therapeutics. Some of its products in the pipeline include MCLA-128; MCLA-117; MCLA-158 and others.

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MRUS

Shares of Merus N.V. (NASDAQ: MRUS) are trading higher Tuesday after the company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation (BTD) for petosemtamab in combination with pembrolizumab. 

Merus Shares Are Up Today: What&#39;s Going On?

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Merus announced a research collaboration and license agreement with Biohaven.

What&#39;s Going On With Merus Stock Monday?

Merus NV

Shares of Merus N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>) are trading higher Tuesday after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy designation (BTD) to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42961654/whats-going-on-with-merus-stock-monday">petosemtamab in combination with pembrolizumab.</a>
What To Know: The designation applies to the first-line treatment of adult patients with recurrent or metastatic PD-L1 positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (r/m HNSCC) with a combined positive score of at least 1.
This marks the second BTD for petosemtamab, following an earlier designation for patients with r/m HNSCC whose disease had progressed after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy and an anti-PD-1 antibody. The new designation is based on updated data from an ongoing phase 1/2 clinical trial, which initially showed a 67% response rate among 24 evaluable patients.
Breakthrough Therapy designation is intended to expedite the development and review of drugs that show substantial improvement over existing treatments for serious conditions. This status will allow Merus to work closely with the FDA, accelerating regulatory discussions and potentially leading to a faster approval process. 
MRUS Price Action: Merus shares were up 5.40% at $42.37 at the time of writing, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?new_user=False&amp;backend=google-oauth2">Benzinga pro.</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021825&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="527" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18134832/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-13.47.54-1024x527.png" alt="" class="wp-image-787550" style="width:476px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18134832/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-13.47.54-1024x527.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18134832/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-13.47.54-300x154.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18134832/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-13.47.54-768x395.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18134832/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-13.47.54.png 1522w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
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Merus Shares Are Up Today: What's Going On?

WIIM

Merus shares are trading higher after the company announced the FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation for Petosemtamab plus Pembrolizumab in PD-L1.

Biotech

General

FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation For Merus's Petosemtamab Plus Pembrolizumab In PD-L1 Positive Head And Neck Cancer

Top Wall Street analysts initiated coverage on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Baird analyst Ben Kallo initiated coverage on GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>) with an Outperform rating and announced a price target of $448. GE Vernova shares closed at $369.65 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GEV/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Joseph Catanzaro initiated coverage on Merus N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>) with an Overweight rating and announced a price target of $84. Merus shares closed at $40.26 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MRUS/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Scotiabank analyst George Farmer initiated coverage on Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) with a Sector Outperform rating and announced a price target of $102. Viking Therapeutics shares closed at $29.32 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VKTX/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>B. Riley Securities analyst Randy Binner initiated coverage on Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SUNS#NASDAQ">SUNS</a>) with a Buy rating and announced a price target of $15. Sunrise Realty Trust shares closed at $11.47 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SUNS/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiated coverage on Fortis (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTS#TSX">FTS</a>) with a Hold rating and announced a price target of C$67. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FTS/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
</ul>
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Piper Sandler analyst Joseph Catanzaro initiates coverage on Merus (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>) with a Overweight rating and announces Price Target of $84.

Price Target

Piper Sandler Initiates Coverage On Merus with Overweight Rating, Announces Price Target of $84

Guggenheim analyst Michael Schmidt reiterates Merus (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>) from Buy to Buy.

Reiteration

Guggenheim Reiterates Buy on Merusto Buy

"This manuscript provides comprehensive data on the safety and efficacy of Bizengri and demonstrates the meaningful results observed in the eNRGy trial," said&nbsp;Bill Lundberg, M.D., President, Chief Executive Officer of Merus. "We continue to make significant progress across our clinical pipeline of important and new cancer therapeutic candidates, all from our own Biclonics&nbsp;antibody technologies."

Merus Says New England Journal Of Medicine Published Results Of Registrational Phase 2 eNRGy Trial For Bizengri

Merus N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>) stock moved lower on Monday. The company announced a research collaboration and license agreement with Biohaven Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHVN#NYSE">BHVN</a>). Here&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42936564">what you need to know.</a>
What To Know: Biohaven and Merus will to co-develop three antibody-based therapies, utilizing Merus&#8217; Biclonics platform alongside its own technologies. The collaboration includes two existing Merus programs and one in early research. 
Under the agreement, Merus will receive an upfront payment and a licensing fee once the first antibody drug conjugate (ADC) candidate is selected. In addition, Merus will cover the costs of preclinical antibody development, while Biohaven will manage the preclinical ADC development expenses. 
If any therapies progress to commercialization, the companies plan to share development costs jointly.
&#8220;We believe this collaboration with Merus will accelerate our ability to create highly differentiated multispecific ADCs, leveraging Biohaven&#8217;s innovative conjugation and payload technologies to deliver optimized ADCs with the potential to significantly benefit patients across various cancer types through an enhanced efficacy and safety profile,&#8221; added Brian Lestini, President, Oncology of Biohaven.
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MRUS Price Action: Merus stock closed 7.75% lower on Monday at $40.45, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo: Shutterstock

What's Going On With Merus Stock Monday?

Merus shares are trading lower. The company announced a  research collaboration and license agreement with Biohaven to co-develop three novel bispecific antibody drug conjugates.

Reported Earlier, Merus And Biohaven Partner to Co-Develop Three Novel Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) Programs

U.S. stocks were lower, with the Dow Jones index falling over 700 points on Friday.
Shares of TD Synnex Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNX#NYSE">SNX</a>) rose sharply in today's session after the company reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42915528/td-synnex-shares-delivers-earnings-beat-and-boosts-dividend-by-10">better-than-expected quarterly financial results.</a>
Quarterly revenue of $15.85 billion, up 10% Y/Y, exceeded the analyst view of $15.22 billion. The Fremont, California-based company reported an adjusted EPS of $3.09, beating the street view of $3.05.
TD Synnex shares jumped 5.5% to $128.76 on Friday.
Here are some other big stocks recording gains in today's session.
<ul>
<li>Microvast Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MVST#NASDAQ">MVST</a>) shares jumped 37.3% to $2.57 after the company announced a developments in its True All-Solid-State Battery technology.</li>
<li>Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>) gained 23.6% to $11.40 after the company reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results.</li>
<li>Savers Value Village Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVV#NYSE">SVV</a>) surged 13.5% to $10.63 after the company reported preliminary fourth quarter and full year net sales.</li>
<li>Oculis Holding AG (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OCS#NASDAQ">OCS</a>) gained 13.1% to $21.14.</li>
<li>Sasol Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSL#NYSE">SSL</a>) gained 13.1% to $4.99.</li>
<li>Pacira Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PCRX#NASDAQ">PCRX</a>) climbed 12.1% to $20.83 after the company reported a preliminary year-over-year increase in FY25 revenue.</li>
<li>Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RPRX#NASDAQ">RPRX</a>) gained 10.6% to $28.97 after the company announced it increased its quarterly dividend.</li>
<li>Merus NV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>) gained 9.8% to $46.35.</li>
<li>Teekay Tankers Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TNK#NYSE">TNK</a>) rose 8.1% to $45.56.</li>
<li>Talos Energy Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TALO#NYSE">TALO</a>) gained 6.2% to $10.58.</li>
<li>TD Synnex Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNX#NYSE">SNX</a>) rose 5.5% to $128.76 after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly financial results.</li>
</ul>
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Intraday Update

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PCRX

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TD Synnex, Walgreens, Savers Value Village And Other Big Stocks Moving Higher On Friday

<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=NCrzNoU8yG3rqGkuad5oez3SzNsyzo2BctG8WH-FtL0Cds5D7DndYCzk5K4CaTbYNejhAylgOrnJYMb4e1eW1A==">Merus N.V</a>. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>), a clinical-stage oncology company developing innovative, full-length multispecific antibodies (Biclonics&#xAE; and Triclonics&#xAE;) for cancer, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Company's phase 2 trial evaluating petosemtamab monotherapy in heavily pretreated (3L+) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Petosemtamab is a Biclonics&#xAE;&nbsp;targeting EGFR and LGR5.&nbsp;
The phase 2, open-label trial will evaluate the safety and antitumor activity of petosemtamab&nbsp;monotherapy in 3L+ mCRC, post anti-EGFR therapy. To be eligible for enrollment, patients must lack certain mutations as detected in plasma by ctDNA NGS, including KRAS, NRAS.

Merus announces First Patient Dosed In The Phase 2 Trial Evaluating Petosemtamab Monotherapy In Heavily Pretreated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Citigroup analyst Yigal Nochomovitz maintains Merus (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $89 to $97.

Citigroup Maintains Buy on Merus, Raises Price Target to $97

Needham analyst Ami Fadia reiterates Merus (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>) with a Buy and maintains $85 price target.

Needham Reiterates Buy on Merus, Maintains $85 Price Target

<ul>
<li>Petosemtamab in combination with pembrolizumab in 1L r/m PD-L1 expressing HNSCC ongoing with clinical data update planned for 2025</li>
<li>Petosemtamab in mCRC evaluation expanded to include 1L and 3L+; initial clinical data planned for 2025</li>
</ul>

Reported Saturday, Merus Unveils Clinically Meaningful Activity For Petosemtamab In 2L+ R/M HNSCC And Expands Evaluation In mCRC

On Wednesday, the FDA approved Merus N.V.&#8217;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>) Bizengri&nbsp;(zenocutuzumab-zbco) as the first and only treatment indicated for adults with pancreatic adenocarcinoma or non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that are advanced unresectable or metastatic and harbor a neuregulin 1 (NRG1) gene fusion who have disease progression on or after <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/g42328116/merus-announces-fda-approval-of-bizengri-zenocutuzumab-zbco-for-nrg1-pancreatic-adenocarcinoma-and" rel="noreferrer noopener">prior systemic therapy</a>.
Bizengri is Merus&#8217;s first approved medicine and is based on the proprietary&nbsp;Biclonics technology platform.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/12/42272645/merus-licenses-us-commercialization-rights-for-cancer-potential-zenocutuzumab-analyst-highlight-merus-pipeline" rel="noreferrer noopener">Merus Licenses US Commercialization Rights For Cancer Potential Zenocutuzumab, Analyst Highlight Merus&#8217; Pipeline</a>
These indications are approved under accelerated approval based on the overall response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR).
Continued approval for these indications may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s).
Bizengri&nbsp;20 mg/mL Injection for Intravenous Use is expected to be available to patients in the coming weeks.
Bizengri&#8217;s approval&nbsp;is based on data from the eNRGy trial. In patients with&nbsp;NRG1+ pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n=30), Bizengri&nbsp;demonstrated an ORR of 40%.
DOR in&nbsp;NRG1+ pancreatic adenocarcinoma ranged from 3.7 months to 16.6 months. In the same trial, patients with&nbsp;NRG1+ NSCLC (n=64) treated with Bizengri&nbsp;demonstrated an ORR of 33%. The median DOR in&nbsp;NRG1+ NSCLC was 7.4 months.
b writes, &#8220;Investor focus remains on petosemtamab, with the next key catalyst for the company being updated data for petosemtamab in previously treated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) at ESMO Asia on December 7.&#8221;
The analyst assumes Bizengri will be priced at roughly $30,000 per treatment and estimates combined peak U.S. sales in NRG1 fusion NSCLC and PDAC attributable to Merus (based on an estimated 8% royalty rate) of roughly $16.5 million.
Price Action: MRUS stock is down 3.70% at $43.80 at the last check on Thursday.
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Analyst Color

Health Care

Merus Scores Its First FDA Approval For Lung Cancer Drug

Guggenheim analyst Michael Schmidt maintains Merus (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $93 to $111.

Guggenheim Maintains Buy on Merus, Raises Price Target to $111

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mad-money-lightning-round">Mad Money Lightning Round</a>,&#8221; Jim Cramer said Merus N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>) is still &#8220;very,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/mrus/earnings"> very speculative.&#8221;</a>
On Wednesday, Merus announced the FDA approval of BIZENGRI for NRG1+ pancreatic adenocarcinoma and NRG1+ non–small cell lung cancer based on safety and efficacy data from the eNRGy study.
&#8220;Storied company, terrific. It does great,&#8221; Cramer said when asked about Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALSN#NYSE">ALSN</a>). &#8220;I actually would prefer you to swap out right now and go to be with Mary Barra at GM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>). Cheaper and will be just as good.&#8221;
On Oct.29, Allison Transmission reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results and raised its FY24 revenue guidance.
NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NNE#NASDAQ">NNE</a>) has &#8220;no earnings,&#8221; Cramer said. &#8220;I want you to take out almost all of your cost basis and let the rest run.&#8221;
On Dec. 4, the company earlier announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho Operations Office to explore siting, construction and operation of its proprietary ‘ZEUS&#8217; and ‘ODIN&#8217; microreactors at the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42323743/whats-going-on-with-nano-nuclear-energy-nne-stock">Idaho National Laboratory (INL).</a>
&#8220;It is living off, I think, a lot of the federal money that's been spent. So, I don't want to get greedy,&#8221; Cramer said when asked about Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STRL#NASDAQ">STRL</a>). He recommended taking some off the table and let the rest run.
On Nov. 6, Sterling Infrastructure reported worse-than-expected third-quarter revenue results and lowered the top end of its FY24 revenue guidance.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Allison Transmission shares gained 0.9% to settle at $117.95 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>Nano Nuclear Energy shares fell 0.5% to close at $26.50.</li>
<li>Sterling Infrastructure shares gained 1.7% to close at $198.82 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>Merus shares fell 1.6% to settle at $45.49 during the session.</li>
</ul>
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Image: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Media

ALSN

STRL

Jim Cramer: This Health Care Stock Is 'Very, Very Speculative'

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Andrew Fein reiterates Merus (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRUS#NASDAQ">MRUS</a>) with a Buy and maintains $85 price target.

HC Wainwright & Co. Reiterates Buy on Merus, Maintains $85 Price Target

Press Releases

Merus Receives FDA extension of PDUFA for zenocutuzumab

Merus Announces Publication of an Abstract on Petosemtamab as 2L+ treatment of r/m HNSCC at the ESMO Asia Congress 2024

Merus and Partner Therapeutics Announce License Agreement for the U.S. Commercialization of Zenocutuzumab in NRG1 Fusion-Positive Cancer

Merus Announces FDA Approval of BIZENGRI® (zenocutuzumab-zbco) for NRG1+ Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma and NRG1+ Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Based on Safety and Efficacy Data From the eNRGy Study

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