Danish biotech company Genmab has announced plans to acquire Dutch firm Merus in an $8 billion cash deal, representing a 41% premium over Merus's recent closing share price. Merus is advancing petosemtamab, an experimental monoclonal antibody targeting head and neck cancer, which recently showed a preliminary survival benefit in a Phase 2 trial when combined with Keytruda. The acquisition aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of this promising cancer therapeutic as Merus continues pivotal Phase 3 trials.