Merus falls on investor concerns over cancer therapy combo trial results

Merus NV

28/05/2024 17:26

** U.S. listed shares of Netherlands-based Merus NV  MRUS.O 
fall 8.5% to about $55  
    ** Analysts at William Blair said updated interim  data from
Merus' combo cancer therapy trial puts co in driver seat to
multi-blockbuster opportunity but buyers are on pullback
    ** Co reports updated interim data from ongoing
early-to-mid-stage trial for its lead candidate plus Merck's
 MRK.N  Keytruda in first-line head and neck cancer patients
    ** Merus' updated data showed a 67% response rate in
reducing or clearing tumors among 24 evaluable patients in the
updated dataset that will be presented at industry meeting ASCO,
on June 3 
    ** "There have been some investor questions and concerns on
the evaluable patient population being only 26 for the ASCO
update instead of any additional efficacy data from the total 45
patients enrolled" - brokerage 
    ** The share fall follows a nearly 40% stock appreciation
last week with the initial release of the interim data abstract 
    ** Including session's fall, stock up 99.6% YTD

 (Reporting by Pratik Jain in Bengaluru)
 ((Pratik.Jain@thomsonreuters.com;))