Merck's drug for diabetes-related eye disease meets trial goal
MRK•Merck said its experimental drug remigromig was as effective as ranibizumab in improving visual sharpness in a 52-week trial involving 984 patients with diabetic macular edema. Merck said it was well tolerated, but discontinuations due to certain retinal vascular complications were higher than with ranibizumab.
1. Trial results
Remigromig met the non-inferiority goal versus ranibizumab for mean change from baseline on a test of vision with corrective lenses. The injectable drug activates the Wnt pathway to help repair the retina's leaky blood-vessel barrier and reduce swelling.
2. Safety questions remain
Merck said the drug was well tolerated, although discontinuation due to certain retinal vascular complications was higher than with ranibizumab. The company is analyzing the findings, and BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman said full trial results and supporting data are needed to assess commercial potential.
3. Next presentation
Merck plans to present the results at the American Academy of Ophthalmology's annual meeting next month. Scotiabank analyst Louise Chen said that, if approved, remigromig would be the first novel mechanism of action for retinal vascular diseases in more than two decades.
