UTRECHT, The Netherlands - Merus N.V. (NASDAQ:MRUS), a clinical-stage oncology company, has shared new data on its investigational drug MCLA-129 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago. The presentation detailed the efficacy and safety of MCLA-129, an anti-EGFR/c-MET bispecific antibody, in treating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with specific genetic mutations.
The study included 22 patients who received MCLA-129 monotherapy at a dose of 1500 mg every two weeks. Of these patients, 14 (64%) are continuing treatment. The response rate among 15 evaluable patients was notable, with 3 partial responses and 6 unconfirmed partial responses observed. Following confirmation, the response rate stood at 53%.
MCLA-129 was generally well-tolerated, with the most common adverse event being infusion-related reactions. One patient developed treatment-related interstitial lung disease, and two cases of venous thromboembolism were reported.
Merus plans to further investigate MCLA-129 in combination with chemotherapy for second-line or higher treatment in EGFR mutant NSCLC later in the year. The company also expressed interest in partnering to support the continued development of this therapeutic candidate.
The drug is a part of a collaboration with Betta Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., which holds exclusive development and commercialization rights in China, while Merus retains global rights elsewhere.
The promising results suggest that MCLA-129 could offer a new treatment option for NSCLC patients, particularly those with specific genetic alterations. Merus's Biclonics® platform, which produced MCLA-129, aims to create clinically active drugs with properties similar to conventional human monoclonal antibodies.
InvestingPro Insights
As Merus N.V. (NASDAQ:MRUS) continues to make strides in the development of its innovative oncology treatments, the market is closely watching its financial health and growth prospects. According to InvestingPro data, Merus holds a market capitalization of 3.51 billion USD, which reflects the market's valuation of the company's potential. Despite some challenges, analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, indicating a positive outlook on the company's performance.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Merus possesses a solid financial structure, with more cash than debt on its balance sheet, which is a reassuring signal for investors concerned about the company's ability to fund ongoing research and development. Additionally, the company's liquid assets exceed its short-term obligations, further underscoring its financial stability.
On the growth front, analysts anticipate sales growth in the current year, suggesting that the market is optimistic about the company's revenue-generating capabilities going forward. However, it's worth noting that Merus is not expected to be profitable this year, and it has been trading at a high Price / Book multiple of 10.03, as per the last twelve months as of Q1 2024. This valuation metric may indicate that the stock's price is relatively high compared to the company's book value, which could be a point of consideration for value-focused investors.
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