Merck is stepping up its push into heart and lung disease, unveiling promising new clinical data ahead of one of cardiology’s biggest global gatherings.

 

The pharmaceutical leader — known as MSD outside the US and Canada — said it will present fresh findings from its cardio-pulmonary pipeline at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session and Expo (ACC.26), taking place in New Orleans from March 28 to 30.

 

At the center of the announcement are two late-breaking studies that could reshape treatment approaches for patients with high cholesterol and a complex form of heart failure.

 

One set of results comes from the Phase 3 CORALreef AddOn trial, where Merck’s experimental oral drug enlicitide — a once-daily PCSK9 inhibitor — showed positive outcomes when compared against existing therapies including ezetimibe and bempedoic acid in adults already taking statins.

 

The second highlight: encouraging Phase 2 data from the CADENCE trial evaluating WINREVAIR (sotatercept-csrk) in patients suffering from combined post- and precapillary pulmonary hypertension linked to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction — a condition with few effective treatment options.

 

Together, the data underscore Merck’s expanding ambitions in tackling cardiovascular disease and rare pulmonary conditions, both of which continue to place a heavy burden on global health systems.

 

“The data planned for presentation at ACC will underscore the strength and momentum of Merck’s cardio-pulmonary pipeline as we work to advance research that helps address the CV epidemic impacting millions with atherosclerosis, as well as CpcPH-HFpEF, a distinct syndrome with limited treatment options,” said Joerg Koglin, senior vice president, head of general and specialty medicine, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. 

 

“Building on our history of bringing forward innovative therapies in heart and lung disease, we are proud to share research at ACC.26 that improves our understanding of these serious diseases and has the potential to help patients around the world.”