Merck To Discontinue Development Of MK-1903

Merck & Co has decided to discontinue development of MK-1903, an investigational niacin receptor agonist to treat atherosclerosis, being developed under its research collaboration with Arena Pharmaceuticals (Arena). Merck also informed Arena that the company will not continue with the collaboration.

Reportedly, the decision to discontinue development of MK-1903 was made following evaluation of the results of a recently completed phase 2a clinical trial. The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the safety, tolerability and potential efficacy in patients with dyslipidemia.

According to Merck, elevation of HDL cholesterol relative to placebo did not meet the trial’s pre-specified primary objective for efficacy; no safety signals were implicated as drivers of the decision to discontinue development.

Jack Lief, president and CEO of Arena, said: “We are disappointed that the trial results did not lead to further development of this program, but it has been a pleasure to work with Merck and we welcome the opportunity to collaborate again. We continue to focus on our other internal and partnered programs and the FDA approval of our lead drug candidate, lorcaserin for weight management.”