Merck’s MS Therapy Evobrutinib Significantly Reduces Brain Lesions, Phase 2 Trial Shows

Merck KGaA’s evobrutinib led to significant reductions in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients’ brain and spinal cord lesions, compared with a placebo, a Phase 2b clinical trial showed.

Researchers measured the number of lesions at weeks 12, 16, 20 and 24.

Evobrutinib, also known as M2951, is an oral inhibitor of a protein called Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK), which is vital for the development and functioning of several immune cells. These include antibody-producing B-cells and macrophages.

By inhibiting BTK, evobrutinib suppresses autoantibody-producing cells. Preclinical-trial studies have suggested it could be an effective treatment for autoimmune diseases such as MS.

The ongoing Phase 2b trial (NCT02975349) is taking place at the EMD Serono Research & Development Institute in the United States. It enrolled 267 patients with relapsing MS.

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