Merck Serono enrols patients in cladribine phase III trial

Merck Serono has announced that it has completed the enrolment of patients in its cladribine tablets treating multiple sclerosis (MS) orally (Clarity) phase III clinical trial.

The trial is designed to test the safety and efficacy of the company’s proprietary orally-administered formula of cladribine in treating patients suffering from relapsing forms of MS.

It will involve over 1,300 patients and provide information regarding disability progression, clinical relapses and magnetic resonance imaging.

Cladribine is a small molecule currently in phase III that interferes with the production and behaviour of some white blood cells, specifically lymphocytes, cells involved in the pathological process of MS.

Franck Latrille, head of product development at Merck Serono, said: “The completion of patient enrolment into the Clarity pivotal trial is a major milestone in the development programme of oral cladribine.”

He added that such a move brought the company closer to its goal of making available orally-administered pharmaceuticals for first-line treatment of patients with MS, with such therapy available as short courses given sporadically.

Merck Serono was launched on January 8th 2007, following the successful closure of a share purchase agreement and a number of resolutions being passed at the extraordinary general meeting of Serono.