Foundation Medicine and Merus Collaborate on RNA Platform for Targeting Neuregulin 1 Fusion Cancers

Foundation Medicine, Inc. today announced a collaboration to develop Foundation Medicine's RNA platform as a companion diagnostic for Merus N.V.'s (NASDAQ:MRUS) bispecific antibody zenocutuzumab (Zeno) to treat patients with neuregulin 1 fusion (NRG1+) cancer.

Zeno is a 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, 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.