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In November 2020, Merck invested $425 million in early cash to obtain OncoImmune and its COVID-19 inpatient treatment candidate CD24Fc (called MK-7710), which is in the phase III clinical research phase
.
However, just yesterday (April 15) morning, Merck announced that it would stop the development of MK-7710
.
This marks another setback in the COVID-19 battle after Merck closed its COVID-19 pandemic vaccine research program in January due to poor response to the first phase of the study
Merck said that after a meeting with the FDA, the company decided to stop the development of MK-7710 because the regulatory agency decided that in addition to initially letting Merck want to acquire OncoImmune research results, more clinical research is needed
.
In September 2020, two months before Merck acquired OncoImmune, OncoImmune reported the positive top-line data of the interim efficacy analysis of the CD24Fc Phase III study
.
The study showed that compared with placebo, the probability of a single-dose CD24Fc treatment for patients with severe or borderline COVID-19 is higher than 60% of the clinical status improvement defined by the study protocol
Although Merck later stated that these interim results are consistent with top-level data, the US FDA still hopes to get more information
.
Merck first announced the regulatory delay in March and stated that the drug would not be released in the first half of 2021 as originally envisaged
In view of the timing, technical, clinical, and regulatory uncertainties, and the provision of other treatments for COVID-19 inpatients, Merck confirmed that it will cancel the development of MK-7710 to focus on the development and manufacture of the most "viable therapeutic drugs" And vaccines"
.
Specifically, Merck will focus on promoting its candidate asset molnupiravir
.
Molnupiravir is a prodrug of the nucleoside analog N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC), jointly developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics
The disappointing news did not stop the outside world's attention to OncoImmune assets
.
Yesterday morning, Merck provided the latest information on molnupiravir (MK-4482), which is a mixed result
According to Roy Baynes, Merck’s senior vice president, head of global clinical development, and chief medical officer, the company has committed to deploying the company’s expertise and capabilities since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to maximize its impact
.
Merck is currently focusing on advancing molnupiravir as an outpatient oral drug, which is a promising potential new method and accelerates the production of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine
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