Merck dust mite immunotherapy meets in Phase II trial

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) said once-daily MK-8237 met the primary endpoint in an Austrian Phase IIb trial to treat house dust mite allergic rhinitis. In the trial, MK-8237 reduced average Total Nasal Symptom Scores (TNSSs) over the last four hours of an environmental exposure chamber (EEC) challenge at week 24 vs. placebo (p<0.05). The double-blind trial enrolled 124 adults who were exposed to the house dust mite allergen using an EEC at weeks eight, 16 and 24. Data were presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology meeting in San Diego.

This year, Merck plans to start a North American Phase III trial to evaluate MK-8237 in individuals ages 12 and older with house dust mite-induced allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjunctivitis. The pharma has exclusive North American rights to the sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet (AIT) from ALK-Abello A/S (CSE:ALK-B). This year, ALK-Abello plans to submit a regulatory application in the EU for the product under the name Mitizax. ...