Merck's DPP-4 inhibitor meets diabetes endpoints

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) said once-weekly oral MK-3102 met the primary endpoint of reducing HbA1c from baseline to week 12 vs. placebo in a Phase IIb trial to treat Type II diabetes. At the highest dose of 25 mg, MK-3102 reduced HbA1c by 0.57% compared to an increase of 0.14% for placebo. The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor also met the secondary endpoint of reducing two-hour post-meal glucose from baseline to week 12 vs. placebo. The double-blind, dose-escalation trial enrolled 685 Type II diabetics with inadequate glycemic control on diet and exercise. Merck said that MK-3102 led to no significant changes in body weight, an exploratory endpoint, relative to baseline. ...