Merck Sharp and Dohme reports positive clinical data for letermovir

Merck Sharp and Dohme has announced phase III clinical trial data showing the benefits of its investigational antiviral medicine letermovir.

The new drug is designed for the prevention of clinically-significant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in adult CMV-seropositive recipients of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT), also known as bone marrow transplant.

It was shown that the study met its primary efficacy endpoint, with fewer patients with undetectable CMV DNA at the start of the study developing significant infections after 24 weeks of treatment.

Letermovir prophylaxis was also shown to be associated with lower all-cause mortality. Based on these results, Merck plans to submit regulatory applications for the approval of letermovir in the US and EU in 2017.

Dr Nicholas Kartsonis, vice-president for infectious disease clinical research at Merck Research Laboratories, said: "As part of Merck's longstanding commitment to developing innovative approaches in the fight against infectious diseases, we look forward to submitting regulatory applications for letermovir this year."

CMV is the most common clinically significant viral infection in allogeneic HSCT recipients, and can lead to higher mortality rates.

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