Zenocutuzumab (Zeno) granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for the treatment of NRG1+ pancreatic cancer

On June 29, 2023 Merus N.V. (Nasdaq: MRUS), a clinical-stage oncology company developing innovative, full-length multispecific antibodies (Biclonics and Triclonics) for cancer, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) for zenocutuzumab (Zeno) for the treatment of patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic NRG1 fusion (NRG1+) pancreatic cancer following progression with prior systemic therapy or who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options (Press release, Merus, JUN 29, 2023, View Source [SID1234632984]). This designation for Zeno follows a Fast Track Designation for the treatment of patients with metastatic solid tumors harboring NRG1 gene fusions (NRG1+ cancer) that have progressed on standard of care therapy on January 7, 2021 and Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer on July 27, 2020.

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BTD is supported by data from the ongoing phase 1/2 eNRGy trial and Early Access Program (EAP) which are assessing the safety and anti-tumor activity of Zeno monotherapy in NRG1+ cancer (Phase 1/2: NCT02912949, EAP: NCT04100694). Data from the eNRGy trial and EAP were featured as oral presentations during the 2021 and 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meetings (Abstract #3003, #105 respectively). As of June 1, 2023, more than 175 patients with NRG1+ cancer have been treated with Zeno monotherapy.

BTD is intended to expedite the development and review of a medicine to treat a serious or life-threatening condition, where preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement on clinically significant endpoints over available therapies. BTD allows for more intensive FDA guidance on an efficient drug development program, an organizational commitment involving senior managers, and experienced review staff, as appropriate, in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary review, and eligibility for rolling review and priority review. With this BTD, Merus plans to engage in these discussions with the FDA in an expedited manner, and then provide a further update on the path and timeline to a potential Biologics License Application (BLA) submission.

Merus believes that obtaining a commercialization partnership agreement will be an essential step in bringing Zeno to patients with NRG1+ cancer, if approved.

"We believe the compelling clinical data for Zeno in NRG1+ cancer, and Breakthrough Therapy Designation, provide the opportunity to further engage with the FDA to expedite the review of a potential BLA submission," said Bill Lundberg, M.D., President, Chief Executive Officer of Merus. "Additionally, our intention to partner Zeno is a reflection of our strategy to carefully balance value creation with capital allocation requirements across our portfolio."

Merus plans to provide a clinical update on Zeno in NRG1+ cancer at a major medical conference in 2023.

Further, Merus is evaluating Zeno in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (enzalutamide or abiraterone) in castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), irrespective of NRG1+ status. Merus plans to provide initial clinical data on Zeno in CRPC in the second half of 2023. Merus is also evaluating Zeno in combination with afatinib in patients with NRG1+ NSCLC.

About the eNRGy Clinical Trial
Merus is currently enrolling patients in the phase 1/2 eNRGy trial to assess the safety and anti-tumor activity of Zeno monotherapy in NRG1+ cancer. The eNRGy trial consists of three cohorts: NRG1+ pancreatic cancer; NRG1+ non-small cell lung cancer; and other NRG1+ cancer. Further details, including current trial sites, can be found at www.ClinicalTrials.gov and Merus’ trial website at www.nrg1.com or by calling 1-833-NRG-1234.

About Zeno
Zeno is an antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)-enhanced Biclonics that utilizes the Merus Dock & Block mechanism to inhibit the neuregulin/HER3 tumor-signaling pathway in solid tumors with NRG1 fusions (NRG1+ cancer). Through its unique mechanism of binding to HER2 and potently blocking the interaction of HER3 with its ligand NRG1 or NRG1-fusion proteins, Zeno has the potential to be particularly effective against NRG1+ cancer. In preclinical studies, Zeno potently inhibits HER2/HER3 heterodimer formation thereby inhibiting oncogenic signaling pathways, leading to inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and blocking tumor cell survival.