Merck & Co. stock: Efinopegdutide clears Phase 2b endpoint

Published on 11/13/2026 at 13:27 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Merck & Co. stock remains in focus after positive mid-stage data for efinopegdutide in MASH. The candidate still needs further development and approval.

Efinopegdutide reaches Phase 2b goal

Merck reported that all three weekly doses achieved significantly higher MASH resolution than placebo after 52 weeks.
The study also showed improvements in liver fibrosis, while gastrointestinal adverse events remained a central safety consideration.
Efinopegdutide is investigational and still requires further development and regulatory review.

Merck & Co., US58933Y1055, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Merck & Co. reported positive Phase 2b results for efinopegdutide on November 9, 2026. The company said the investigational weekly treatment met its primary endpoint in adults with biopsy-confirmed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, and stage F2 or F3 liver fibrosis. The full announcement is available from Merck.

Trial results strengthen pipeline focus

The MK-6024-013 trial tested once-weekly subcutaneous doses of 4 mg, 7 mg and 10 mg against placebo, with open-label semaglutide 2.4 mg as an active reference. The primary endpoint was MASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis after 52 weeks.

Merck said MASH resolution occurred in 56% of participants receiving 4 mg, 63% receiving 7 mg and 61% receiving 10 mg. The corresponding placebo rate was 13%, and each dose comparison met the company-reported statistical threshold of p<0.0001. The study enrolled 386 adults, of whom 381 received at least one dose, while 92% completed the 52-week trial.

A key secondary endpoint also favored efinopegdutide. Improvement in fibrosis by at least one stage without worsening of steatohepatitis was reported for 43% of participants in the 4 mg group, 52% in the 7 mg group and 34% in the 10 mg group, compared with 21% for placebo. The 7 mg group therefore produced the highest response rate among the three doses on this measure.

Safety and development remain important

Merck said the safety profile was generally consistent with semaglutide. Nausea occurred in 29%, 39% and 44% of participants across the ascending efinopegdutide doses, compared with 39% for semaglutide and 11% for placebo. Discontinuations caused by adverse events ranged from 3% to 11% for efinopegdutide, versus 1% in both the semaglutide and placebo groups.

Efinopegdutide is a GLP-1 and glucagon receptor co-agonist being developed under an exclusive licensing agreement between Merck and Hanmi Pharmaceutical. The candidate has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for MASH, but the company cautioned that pipeline candidates may not receive regulatory approval or achieve commercial success.

Merck & Co. stock traded at 133.39 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 13:19 CET on Friday, November 13. The available quote provides a current trading indication; a verified Xetra closing comparison is not included in this report.