Merus (MRUS) Shares Positive Phase 2 Cancer Trial Results Amid Financial Challenges

Merus (MRUS) has announced promising interim findings from its phase 2 trial of petosemtamab for metastatic colorectal cancer. The company operates in the biotechnology sector and focuses on bispecific antibody therapeutics. Despite strong financial strength indicators, Merus faces challenges with declining revenue and profitability margins. Merus has a market capitalization of $7.19 billion and has faced challenges in terms of revenue growth and profitability metrics.

Merus (MRUS), a biotechnology company specializing in bispecific antibody therapeutics, has announced promising interim findings from its phase 2 trial of petosemtamab for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The company's stock has seen significant gains, with a 40% increase in the past month and a year-to-date gain of 123%, highlighting investor optimism despite challenges in revenue growth and profitability margins Merus (MRUS): Assessing Valuation After Rapid Share Price Gains^[2].

The trial, which combines petosemtamab with standard of care FOLFOX/FOLFIRI in 1L and 2L mCRC, and as monotherapy in 3L+ mCRC, has shown encouraging antitumor activity and a manageable safety profile. As of an April 28, 2025 data cutoff, the trial included 36 patients with left- and/or right-sided, KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF wildtype microsatellite stable mCRC. Among the 1L cohort, 6 patients were ongoing, with 3 efficacy evaluable, resulting in 1 unconfirmed complete response and 2 partial responses. In the 2L cohort, 8 patients were efficacy evaluable, with 4 partial responses and 3 stable diseases. The 3L+ monotherapy cohort showed 14 efficacy evaluable patients, with 1 unconfirmed partial response and 6 stable diseases Merus Announces Publication of an Abstract on Petosemtamab in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics^[1].

No fatal treatment-related adverse events were observed, and the most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) varied by cohort. For petosemtamab plus FOLFOX, the most common TEAEs were dermatitis acneiform, constipation, fatigue, and peripheral neuropathy. For petosemtamab plus FOLFIRI, the most common TEAEs were diarrhea, mucosal inflammation, and fatigue. For petosemtamab monotherapy, the most common TEAEs were rash and nausea Merus Announces Publication of an Abstract on Petosemtamab in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics^[1].

The company expects to present more mature clinical data at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics on October 24, 2025. Merus' market capitalization stands at $7.19 billion, but it has faced challenges with declining revenue and profitability margins Merus (MRUS): Assessing Valuation After Rapid Share Price Gains^[2].