Genmab reportedly nearing deal to acquire cancer drug developer Merus

[M&A - concept waiting for mergers and acquisitions.3D rendering on yellow background.]

Danish biotech Genmab (GMAB [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GMAB]) is in advanced discussions to acquire Merus (NASDAQ:MRUS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRUS]), a Dutch drug developer targeting head and neck cancer, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Having received takeover interest from several large biopharma companies in recent weeks, Merus (NASDAQ:MRUS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRUS]), whose lead asset is a bispecific antibody called petosemtamab, is expected to announce an M&A agreement within days, the people said.

It’s not certain that its talks with Genmab (GMAB [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GMAB]) could lead to a transaction, and there is a possibility that another bidder could emerge [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-28/genmab-is-said-in-talks-to-buy-cancer-drugmaker-merus?srnd=homepage-asia], they added. Merus (NASDAQ:MRUS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRUS]) and Genmab (GMAB [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GMAB]) didn’t immediately respond to requests for comments.

Merus (NASDAQ:MRUS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRUS]), headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands, has soared more than 60% in value this year, to reach a market capitalization of $5.2B, thanks mainly to a mid-stage trial readout the company shared in May for petosemtamab. [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4451976-merus-stock-gains-cancer-drug-data]

MRUS surged after the company announced that petosemtamab with Merck’s (MRK [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK]) PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda led to an overall response rate of 63% in head and neck cancer, a difficult-to-treat tumor targeted by companies such as its smaller rival Bicara Therapeutics (BCAX [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BCAX]).

MORE ON GENMAB, MERUS

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* Genmab Transitioning To A Global Oncology Powerhouse: Why I Choose To Buy [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4822798-genmab-transitioning-to-a-global-oncology-powerhouse-why-i-choose-to-buy]
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* Goldman's 48 potential M&A candidates [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4499689-goldmans-48-potential-ma-candidates]
* Genmab upgraded at Guggenheim; says Darzalex related growth concerns are overblown [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4497760-genmab-stock-upgraded-buy-guggenheim]