Merck & Co Inc. (NYSE:MRK) on Wednesday presented initial results from its Phase 2b MK-7240-012 trial at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2026 Congress.
Phase 2b Trial Delivers Positive Results The study evaluated tulisokibart—an investigational monoclonal antibody targeting tumor necrosis factor-like cytokine 1A (TL1A)—in patients with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa. The trial met its primary endpoint of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response 50 (HiSCR50) at week 16, with active regimens outperforming placebo.
In the high-dose group (480 mg Q2W, n=42), 72% of patients achieved HiSCR50, while 64% of medium-dose patients (480 mg Q4W, n=42) hit the endpoint. These results represent a 37% and 29% improvement over the placebo group (35%, n=44), respectively.
In an exploratory analysis, low-dose participants (240 mg Q4W, n=21) recorded a 52% response rate, exceeding placebo by 17%. Read Also: MoonLake Says Lead Drug Shows Durable Response, Eyes FDA Filing Secondary Endpoints And Quality Of Life Key secondary endpoints at week 16 showed numerical improvements across active doses.
HiSCR75 response rates reached 41% for high-dose, 40% for medium-dose, and 29% for low-dose cohorts, compared to 15% for placebo. Patients also reported quality of life enhancements.
16-point advantage over placebo. 46.
Safety Profile And Future Expansion Tulisokibart maintained a safety profile comparable to placebo. 9% in the placebo arm.
3% for placebo, with no serious or opportunistic infections reported. Tulisokibart currently features the broadest anti-TL1A development program, spanning six disease indications including Phase 3 trials in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
85 at the time of publication on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
