Merck’s COVID-19 arsenal continues to dwindle as pharma scraps fusion protein from OncoImmune takeout

Merck’s roster of COVID-19 countermeasures gained via deals continued to shrink Thursday, when the pharma said it would terminate one therapeutic program and end development of another in hospitalized patients with the disease.

The pharma will cease development of MK-7110, a fusion protein it had obtained via its takeout of OncoImmune Inc. in November for $425 million up front. Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) said FDA subsequently requested more data before the agency would issue an emergency use authorization for the product; given the long timeline to a possible 1H22 approval, availability of other therapies, and other priorities and uncertainties, the company has chosen not to move MK-7110 forward...