Merck's Enlicitide Trial Shows Promising Results in Cholesterol Treatment

Merck's experimental drug, enlicitide, has shown promising results in reducing LDL cholesterol in a Phase 3 trial. Analysts predict notable upside potential, with a one-year price target averaging $99.66 and a potential 46.68% increase based on GF Value. The drug has a favorable safety profile and Merck plans to initiate regulatory submissions and conference presentations.

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has announced positive topline results from the Phase 3 CORALreef Lipids trial evaluating enlicitide decanoate, an investigational oral proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor. The trial, which enrolled over 1,000 participants with hypercholesterolemia on moderate or high-intensity statins or with documented statin intolerance, met all primary and key secondary endpoints. Enlicitide demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) compared to placebo at Week 24, as well as reductions in non-HDL-C, apolipoprotein B (ApoB), and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]. The drug also showed a favorable safety profile with no clinically meaningful differences in adverse events between treatment groups.

The CORALreef Lipids trial is the third Phase 3 study to demonstrate clinically meaningful and statistically significant LDL-C lowering for enlicitide. Merck plans to share these results with regulatory authorities worldwide and present the data at a future scientific congress. Dr. Dean Y. Li, president of Merck Research Laboratories, commented, "Enlicitide has the potential to change the way we think about managing LDL levels, giving patients the possibility of a new option to help them meet their treatment goals."

Analysts predict notable upside potential for enlicitide, with a one-year price target averaging $99.66 and a potential 46.68% increase based on GF Value. Merck's focus on cardiovascular disease and its commitment to advancing research to address the global burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease positions enlicitide as a promising new treatment option.

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[1] https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/mercks-investigational-oral-pcsk9-inhibitor-enlicitide-decanoate-met-all-primary-and-key-secondary-endpoints-in-adults-with-hypercholesterolemia-in-pivotal-coralreef-lipids-study