Denmark's Genmab to buy Dutch drugmaker Merus for $8bn
By Michele Maatouk
Date: Monday 29 Sep 2025
(Sharecast News) - Denmark's Genmab said on Monday that it has agreed to buy Dutch drugmaker Merus for $8bn.
Merus is a clinical-stage biotechnology company with its late-stage breakthrough therapy asset petosemtamab in Phase 3 development. Petosemtamab is an EGFRxLGR5 bispecific antibody with the potential to be both first- and best-in-class in head and neck cancer, Genmab said.
It has been granted two Breakthrough Therapy Designations (BTD) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for first- and second-line plus head and neck cancer indications.
Genmab said the addition of petosemtamab to its "promising" late-stage pipeline is a "compelling strategic fit" with its portfolio and aligns with the company's expertise in antibody therapy development and commercialisation in oncology.
Merus is currently running two Phase 3 trials in first- and second/third line head and neck cancer, with topline interim readout of one or both trials expected in 2026.
Genmab said that based on its experience in late-stage development and excellence in commercial execution, it sees potential for the initial launch of petosemtamab in 2027, subject to clinical results and regulatory approvals.
Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Genmab, said: "The proposed acquisition of Merus clearly aligns with our long-term strategy. It has the potential to significantly accelerate our evolution into a global biotechnology leader by providing durable growth for the company well into the next decade.
"Petosemtamab has the potential to be a transformational therapy for patients living with head and neck cancer. With our proven track record of success, both in clinical development and in commercialisation, we are confident that we will be able to unlock the promise of petosemtamab."
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