BioCentury
ARTICLE | Clinical News

Merck's sprifermin meets in Phase II for OA

November 9, 2017 11:21 PM UTC

Merck KGaA (Xetra:MRK) reported data from the Phase II FORWARD trial to treat osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee showing that sprifermin (AS902330) met the primary endpoint, suggesting that the candidate could be a disease-modifying treatment for the indication. Compared to placebo, intra-articular sprifermin dose-dependently and significantly increased cartilage thickness in the total femorotibial joint from baseline to 2 years as measured by MRI. The pharma said the data are the first to show an increase in cartilage thickness as opposed to a delay in decreasing cartilage thickness.

Among the 5-year FORWARD trial's 549 patients, patients in the 2 highest dose groups of sprifermin had increases in cartilage thickness of 0.03 mm and 0.02 mm, respectively, vs. a decrease of 0.02 mm for placebo (p<0.001 for both). Patients in the 2 highest dose groups received 3 weekly injections of 100 μg sprifermin every 6 or every 12 months...

BCIQ Company Profiles

Merck KGaA