Genmab Nears Deal to Buy Merus, Dutch Cancer Drugmaker

Genmab is in advanced talks to acquire Dutch drugmaker Merus, which is developing a treatment for cancer of the head and neck. Merus has received takeover offers from large drug companies and could announce a deal within days. If Genmab prevails, it would be its largest deal ever, and Merus' experimental drug petosemtamab is expected to become a blockbuster, reaching over $1 billion in sales by 2030.

Denmark’s Genmab A/S is in advanced negotiations to acquire Merus NV, a Dutch drugmaker specializing in cancer treatments. According to sources with knowledge of the matter, Merus has received takeover offers from several large pharmaceutical companies and could announce a deal within days Genmab Is Said to Near Deal to Buy Cancer Drugmaker Merus^[1].

Merus, based in Utrecht, Netherlands, is listed on the Nasdaq and has a market capitalization of approximately $5.2 billion. If the acquisition goes through, it would represent Genmab's largest deal ever, given Genmab's market value of roughly 118 billion kroner ($18.5 billion) Genmab Is Said to Near Deal to Buy Cancer Drugmaker Merus^[1].

Merus' shares have surged since the company announced in May that its experimental drug, petosemtamab, showed greater efficacy than the current standard of care in shrinking tumors in head-and-neck cancer patients when used in combination with Keytruda Genmab Is Said to Near Deal to Buy Cancer Drugmaker Merus^[1]. The drug is expected to become a blockbuster, potentially reaching more than $1 billion in sales by 2030, according to Bloomberg Intelligence Genmab Is Said to Near Deal to Buy Cancer Drugmaker Merus^[1]. Additionally, Merus is testing petosemtamab's efficacy in treating advanced forms of colon cancer, a larger and potentially more lucrative market than the one for head-and-neck cancer.

Smaller competitor Bicara Therapeutics is also developing a treatment for the same condition but is further behind Merus in terms of progress Genmab Is Said to Near Deal to Buy Cancer Drugmaker Merus^[1].

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4. C4 Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CCCC)
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5. CytomX Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CTMX)
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References

Genmab Is Said to Near Deal to Buy Cancer Drugmaker Merus^[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-28/genmab-is-said-in-talks-to-buy-cancer-drugmaker-merus
Top 5 Oncology Stocks to Watch: Barclays^[2] https://investorshub.advfn.com/market-news/article/16906/top-5-oncology-stocks-to-watch-barclays