** Shares of drug developer Corbus Pharmaceuticals CRBP.O rise 18% to $22.80 premarket

** On Sunday, company shared early-stage data of CRB-701 at the European Society for Medical Oncology annual meeting

** The company has been testing its experimental therapy, CRB-701, for head and neck cancer that has returned or spread after earlier treatments

** William Blair says "overall, data from the head and neck (H&N) cancer cohort exceeded investor expectations and company guidance"

** Brokerages expect Merus' MRUS.O petosemtamab to move into first-line treatment with Keytruda or Johnson & Johnson's JNJ.N combo, based on early trial data; this could leave a gap in second-line options that do not target EGFR, which William Blair sees CRB-701 well positioned to fill

** Corbus plans to discuss data with FDA by year-end with the intention of initiating pivotal studies by mid-2026 - brokerage

** As of last close, stock up 63.7% YTD

(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole)

((siddhi.mahatole@thomsonreuters.com))