Merus Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter 2025 and Provides Business Update

Group 1: Clinical Trials and Updates - The ongoing phase 2 trial of petosemtamab in combination with pembrolizumab for first-line treatment of PD-L1+ recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is set to present updated interim data at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting [1][3] - Merus is conducting two phase 3 trials (LiGeR-HN1 and LiGeR-HN2) for petosemtamab in HNSCC, with expectations for substantial enrollment by the end of 2025 [2][6] - An updated analysis of interim clinical data from the phase 2 trial will include results from a total of 45 patients, showcasing the drug's efficacy and safety [3][4] Group 2: Financial Performance - As of March 31, 2025, Merus reported $638 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, which are expected to fund operations into 2028 [17] - Collaboration revenue for Q1 2025 increased by $18.6 million compared to Q1 2024, driven by commercial material revenue and higher deferred revenue amortization [18] - Research and development expenses rose by $41.5 million in Q1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, primarily due to increased clinical trial support related to petosemtamab [19] Group 3: Regulatory Designations - The U.S. FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to petosemtamab in combination with pembrolizumab for first-line treatment of adult patients with PD-L1 positive HNSCC [4] - A similar designation was granted for petosemtamab monotherapy for patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC who have progressed after prior treatments [4] Group 4: Collaborations and Partnerships - Merus has established collaborations with several companies, including Incyte, Eli Lilly, Gilead Sciences, and Biohaven, focusing on the development of bispecific antibodies and novel therapies [11][12][16] - The collaboration with Partner Therapeutics for the commercialization of BIZENGRI in the U.S. for NRG1+ cancer has been highlighted [9] Group 5: Product Pipeline - The company is also enrolling patients in a phase 2 trial for petosemtamab in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), with initial clinical data expected in the second half of 2025 [8] - MCLA-129, another product under investigation, is in a phase 2 trial for EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [10]