Merck Initiates Phase 3 Clinical Program for Oral PCSK9 Inhibitor Candidate MK-0616

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced the initiation of the company’s Phase 3 clinical program, CORALreef, for MK-0616, an investigational, oral proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor, being evaluated for the treatment of adults with hypercholesterolemia. This is the first Phase 3 clinical program for an oral PCSK9 inhibitor.