Merus is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company advancing bispecific antibody therapeutics that recruit immune cells to kill cancer cells. Led by CEO Ton Logtenberg, the company is developing a pipeline of clinical and preclinical programs. Its lead candidate, MCLA-128, has commenced Phase 1/2 trials as a potential targeted therapy for solid tumors. A second lead, MCLA-117 for acute myeloid leukemia, was planned to enter clinical trials in Q1 2016. Merus intends to use the new funds to advance key clinical and preclinical programs and to broaden its pipeline of therapeutics. The company is based in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Merus B.V., based in Utrecht, The Netherlands, develops innovative human antibody therapeutics with a focus on oncology. The company’s core programs are two lead antibodies: MCLA-128 for solid tumors and MCLA-117 for hematological malignancies. Merus is also advancing a broad pipeline of preclinical antibody programs that are available for partnering. Led by CEO Ton Logtenberg, the company plans to use new funds to broaden its portfolio of preclinical programs and to advance its lead programs into phase I clinical testing. Financially, Merus raised an additional €31m in Series B financing, bringing the Series B total to €47.6m. A representative of Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation will join Merus' board as part of the financing. Merus develops combinations of human therapeutic antibodies using proprietary OligoclonicsTM and MeMoTM technologies to produce multiple antibodies from a single cell. The company aims to generate antibody combinations with superior biological activity compared with single antibodies. Merus is advancing programs across oncology, inflammation and infectious disease. It plans to use the new Series B proceeds to further advance that product pipeline. In addition to the Series B, Merus received a €0.67m grant from EuroTransBio to support development of an antibody combination therapy for chronic inflammatory diseases. Merus also entered into an option agreement with the Novartis Option Fund for an exclusive license to an oncology program that includes upfront and potential milestone payments and royalties.

Total raised

$154M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Aug 2015