Merck $MRK stock surged higher on March 6, 2023, in a continuation uptrend channelUptrend and downtrend channel patterns are technical analysis tools used to identify potential future price movements. They are formed by two parallel lines on a chart and can be u... pattern. Merck did a press release that showed their cholesterol drug could be the next blockbuster drug for the company although trials are still ongoing.
Merck says MK-0616 significantly reduced LDL-C in Phase 2b study
A once-daily oral proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor for adults with hypercholesterolemia, MK-0616, was evaluated in a Phase 2b clinical trial by Merck. Results from this trial were recently released. The study’s main goal was to compare four doses of MK-0616 with a placebo to see how much low density lipoprotein cholesterol changed from baseline to week eight. The placebo-adjusted reduction from baseline ranged from 41% to 61 % at week eight, with all doses of MK-0616 significantly lowering LDL-C compared to placebo. The company added that MK-0616 was generally well tolerated at all four doses investigated.
“Despite widely available statin treatments, millions of patients are still not able to lower their cholesterol to the guideline-recommended levels and as a result are at increased risk for serious cardiovascular complications associated with atherosclerosis,” said Dr. Christie Ballantyne, principal investigator of the study and Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. “Currently available PCSK9 inhibitors are effective tools to treat hypercholesterolemia but must be administered by injection. With these promising data showing that MK-0616 reduced LDL-C levels by up to 60.9%, MK-0616 should be further studied for its potential as a daily oral medicine.” “These data reinforce our confidence that MK-0616 could become the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor, with the potential to change the way patients with hypercholesterolemia who need additional LDL-C reduction are treated. This may allow many more patients to reach their LDL-C treatment goals,” said Dr. Joerg Koglin, vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. “We look forward to advancing this program into Phase 3 development in the second half of this year.”
