Merck Highlights Promising Data From Two Candidates In Heart Diseases

Merck & Co Inc MRK announced full results from the Phase 3 STELLAR trial, which evaluated sotatercept in combination with stable background therapy for adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
Sotatercept significantly improved exercise capacity, increasing the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) by 40.8 meters from baseline at week 24, the study's primary endpoint.
In addition, the sotatercept demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in eight of nine secondary outcome measures.
Sotatercept reduced the risk of clinical worsening or death by 84% compared to placebo, with a median follow-up of 32.7 weeks.
The safety profile of sotatercept was generally consistent with that observed in previous studies with sotatercept.
Separately, Merck announced results from the Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating MK-0616 for hypercholesterolemia.
At week 8, all doses of MK-0616 significantly reduced LDL-C compared to the placebo, and the placebo-adjusted reduction from baseline ranged from 41.2% to 60.9%.
Price Action: MRK shares are up 3.39% at $110.52 on the last check Monday.
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