Merck's Phase 3 Trials of HIV-1 Treatment Meet Primary Endpoint

By Dave Sebastian

Merck & Co. said two Phase 3 trials of a combination pill for adults with HIV-1 infection met their primary efficacy endpoint.

The drugmaker on Monday said that at 48 weeks, the trials met their safety and efficacy endpoints in adults with HIV-1 infection currently on antiretroviral therapy. The endpoint is defined as a percentage of participants with HIV-1 RNA levels of more than 50 copies per milliliter, the company said.

Merck said the first trial evaluated a switch from antiretroviral therapy to doravirine/islatravir. The second trial evaluated a switch from bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir to doravirine/islatravir, the company said.

Merck said it will present detailed findings from the studies at a future scientific congress.

"We will continue to study doravirine/islatravir in diverse populations of people living with HIV and look forward to sharing data from these trials," said Joan Butterton, a vice president at Merck Research Laboratories.

Write to Dave Sebastian at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-25-21 0730ET