Merus Announces the Acceptance of Six Abstracts at Upcoming Medical Conferences and Provides Program Updates

– MCLA-128, zenocutuzumab, independent epidemiology analysis reaffirms significant clinical and commercial potential in NRG1 fusion cancers –
– MCLA-117 demonstrates limited clinical activity in Phase 1 trial –
– Extensive panel of novel CD3 bispecific antibodies provides important insights and avenues to maximize T‑cell engager biology –

UTRECHT, The Netherlands and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Merus N.V. (Nasdaq: MRUS) (“Merus”, the “Company”, “we”, or “our”), a clinical-stage oncology company developing innovative, full-length multispecific antibodies (Biclonics and Triclonics), today announced the acceptance of six abstracts at upcoming cancer medical meetings. Four abstracts regarding zenocutuzumab (“Zeno”), including results from an independent epidemiology study of the prevalence of NRG1 gene fusion-positive (“NRG1+”) cancers, will be presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program (ASCO), May 29-31, 2020. Abstracts detailing interim data from the Phase 1 MCLA-117 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) trial and an analysis of an extensive, proprietary panel of CD3 bispecific antibodies will be presented at the 25^th European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Congress Virtual Edition, June 11-14, 2020.

“We look forward to sharing data at ASCO and EHA for two of our clinical candidates, Zeno and MCLA-117.  As a highlight for Zeno, our presentations include an important epidemiology analysis of the prevalence of NRG1 fusions that we believe helps to highlight the patient need and commercial opportunity for Zeno in patients with NRG1 fusion cancers, particularly as molecular testing becomes more commonplace across different types of cancer,” said Bill  Lundberg, M.D., President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of Merus. “For MCLA-117, the interim data from the Phase 1 trial demonstrated some evidence of activity in patients with AML, but insufficient clinical responses have been observed to continue enrollment in the planned dose expansion cohorts in the trial. Importantly, the findings from the MCLA-117 trial – coupled with new data from an extensive panel of novel, proprietary CD3 T-cell binding antibodies – provide powerful insights to further inform and optimize the development of our T-cell engager platform.”