Morphic Therapeutic's Ulcerative Colitis Candidate Shows Clinically Meaningful Improvements Across Measures, Stock Soars

  • Morphic Therapeutic MORF reported topline data from the main cohort of the open-label EMERALD-1 Phase 2a study of MORF-057, an oral small molecule inhibitor of the α4β7 integrin, in adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC).
  • Patients receiving MORF-057 experienced a statistically significant reduction in the RHI score and a 25.7% clinical remission rate.
  • In addition, MORF-057 was generally well tolerated, with no safety signal observed. 
  • The most common adverse events were exacerbation of UC and anemia.
  • MORF-057 achieved the primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in the Robarts Histopathology Index (RHI) score of 6.4 points (p=0.002) from baseline to week 12. 
  • RHI measures histological disease activity in ulcerative colitis.
  • In the prespecified secondary endpoint, change in modified Mayo Composite Score, patients had a 2.3-point reduction from baseline. 
  • The company's EMERALD-2 Phase 2b trial of MORF-057 enrolling patients with moderate-to-severe UC.
  • The primary endpoint of EMERALD-2 is the clinical remission rate as measured by mMCS at 12 weeks and is expected to report in the first half of 2025.
  • Morphic says its cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $421 million will be sufficient to fund operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2026.
  • Price Action: MORF shares are up 23.10% at $53.52 on the last check Tuesday.
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