Merck Says Investigational Diabetes-Related Blindness Drug at Par With Roche’s Medicine
Key takeaways
- Merck’s remigromig shows visual‑acuity results on par with Lucentis but with higher safety concerns, giving Merck a foothold in the DME market while raising questions about tolerability.
- 0.5 mg remigromig dose
- 0.8 mg remigromig dose
- 0.5 mg Lucentis (ranibizumab) control
What happened
Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) reported topline data from its Phase 2b/3 BRUNELLO trial of remigromig (MK‑3000) in adults with diabetic macular edema. Both 0.5 mg and 0.8 mg doses were non‑inferior to Roche’s Lucentis (ranibizumab) for mean change in best‑corrected visual acuity. However, higher rates of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, vitreous hemorrhage, and treatment discontinuations due to adverse events were seen with remigromig versus ranibizumab. The drug was generally well tolerated overall.
Why it matters
The data suggest remigromig could offer a comparable visual‑acuity benefit to an established therapy while potentially expanding Merck’s ophthalmology portfolio. Non‑inferiority to Lucentis positions Merck as a competitor in the DME market, which is dominated by anti‑VEGF agents. The safety signals, however, raise…
Short-term and longer-term
Short-term. Merck’s shares ticked up modestly after the BRUNELLO topline, reflecting short‑term optimism about a new DME therapy that matches Lucentis in efficacy.
Longer-term. For investors, the BRUNELLO results signal progress in Merck’s ophthalmology strategy, potentially diversifying revenue streams beyond oncology.