Merck KGaA’s BTK drug reduces lesions in relapsing MS patients
Pharmaphorum Media Limited | October 15, 2018
Germany’s Merck KGaA has said it is “encouraged” by mid-stage trial results showing that its Bruton’s kinase (BTK) class drug evobrutinib reduced the occurrence of central nervous system lesions in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients compared with placebo. Bruton’s kinase drugs are already used to treat certain kinds of blood cancer, but their action inhibiting B cell responses mean that they can be used to downregulate the overactive nervous system that is the root cause of nerve damage in MS. Merck already has a strong presence in MS, thanks to established drugs, its older injected drug Avonex (interferon beta), and more recently Mavenclad (cladribine), which offers patients a tablet-based therapy.