MURA Soars as it Explores Strategic Options Post Cancer Study Failures

Shares of Mural Oncology MURA skyrocketed 134% on Tuesday after the company announced its decision to discontinue all clinical development of nemvaleukin alfa and plans to immediately commence the exploration of strategic alternatives focused on maximizing shareholder value. The company will also slash its workforce by 90%.

Mural Oncology is considering various strategic options, such as a potential sale of the business, merger, or other transactions. Although there is no set timeline for this process, the company will provide updates as needed or required by regulations.

The investors cheered this decision, causing the stock price to soar, likely because they believe that a potential sale or merger of the business will help them recover some of the value they lost after the massive pipeline setback the company faced last month, leading to the scraping of the late-stage platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) study of nemvaleukin alfa.

Year to date, shares of MURA have plunged 25.2% compared with the industry’s 7.1% decline.

The decision was reached following the failure of Mural Oncology’s phase II ARTISTRY-6 study of nemvaleukin alfa for melanoma and previously announced disappointing results from the phase III ARTISTRY-7 study of the same in PROC patients.

MURA reported that it had approximately $144.4 million of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of Dec. 31, 2024.

MURA’s Recent Pipeline Setbacks Influencing the Decision

Mural Oncology was assessing nemvaleukin alfa in cohort 2 of the phase II ARTISTRY-6 study as a monotherapy in 92 patients with mucosal melanoma, all monitored for at least six months. An initial analysis showed that the primary goal of the study was not met. Additionally, MURA reviewed early results from cohort 3 of the same study, which tested less frequent intravenous dosing of nemvaleukin in cutaneous melanoma patients, but found the treatment's effectiveness insufficient to justify continuing the study.

In March 2025, the company announced its decision to discontinue the phase III ARTISTRY-7 study evaluating nemvaleukin alfa in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), compared to investigator’s choice chemotherapy in PROC patients.

The decision was reached after a planned interim analysis by an independent data monitoring committee revealed that the combo drug did not show a statistically significant improvement in overall survival compared to investigator’s choice chemotherapy in PROC patients.

Considering the full set of data, including the II ARTISTRY-6 study failure data and the interim overall survival results from the ARTISTRY-7 study, Mural Oncology has decided to end all clinical development of nemvaleukin alfa.

Mural Oncology PLC Price and Consensus

Mural Oncology PLC price-consensus-chart | Mural Oncology PLC Quote

MURA Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Mural Oncology currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). 

Some better-ranked stocks from the sector are Bayer BAYRY, Dynavax Technologies Corporation DVAX and ADMA Biologics ADMA, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here. 

In the past 30 days, estimates for Bayer’s earnings per share have increased from $1.17 to $1.19 for 2025. During the same time, earnings per share have increased from $1.27 to $1.28 for 2026. Year to date, shares of Bayer have gained 20.5%. 

BAYRY’s earnings matched estimates in two of the trailing three quarters while missing the same on the remaining occasion, the average negative surprise being 19.61%. 

In the past 30 days, estimates for Dynavax’s earnings per share have remained constant at 33 cents for 2025. During the same time, earnings per share have remained constant at 57 cents for 2026. Year to date, shares of DVAX have lost 10.6%. 

DVAX’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters while missing the same on the remaining occasion, the average surprise being 9.58%. 

In the past 30 days, estimates for ADMA Biologics’ 2025 earnings per share have increased from 70 cents to 71 cents. The estimate for 2026 earnings per share has remained constant at 93 cents. Year to date, shares of ADMA Biologics have gained 29.2%. 

ADMA’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, delivering an average surprise of 32.8%. 

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