MRUS vs NVS

Merus N.V.

Merus N.V., a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, engages in the discovery and development of bispecific antibody therapeutics in the Netherlands. Its bispecific antibody candidate pipeline includes Zenocutuzumab (MCLA-128), which is in a phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer, as well as in Phase 1/2 for the pancreatic and lung cancer, and other solid tumors. The company is also developing MCLA-117 that is in phase I clinical trial for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia; MCLA-158, which is in a phase I clinical trial for the treatment of solid tumors; and ONO-4685 that is Phase 1 clinical trial to treat autoimmune disease. In addition, its research and development stage bispecific antibody candidates include MCLA-129, which is being developed in collaboration with Betta Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd; MCLA-145, which is being developed in collaboration with Incyte Corporation; and clinical programs to explore potential combination therapies or indication. Merus N.V. has collaborations and license agreement with Loxo Oncology at Lilly to discover and research novel T-cell re-directing bispecific antibodies. The company was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Novartis AG

Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Innovative Medicines and Sandoz. The Innovative Medicines segment offers prescription medicines for patients and healthcare providers. It also provides ophthalmology, neuroscience, immunology, hepatology and dermatology, respiratory, established, and cardiovascular, renal and metabolism medicine products. The Sandoz segment provides active ingredients and finished dosage forms of small molecule pharmaceuticals to third parties across a range of therapeutic areas, as well as finished dosage form anti-infectives. It also provides active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates primarily antibiotics; protein- or other biotechnology-based products, including biosimilars; and biotechnology manufacturing services. Novartis AG has a license and collaboration agreement with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals to develop, manufacture, and commercialize inclisiran; an agreement with CureVac to manufacture COVID-19 vaccine candidate CVnCoV; a collaboration with Artios Pharma Limited to create next generation DDR cancer therapies; and a clinical collaboration with Kura Oncology, Inc. to evaluate the combination of Tipifarnib and Alpelisib in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.