This study is designed to learn if enlicitide decanoate is safe and effective to treat children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and high amounts of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the blood. The goals of this study are to learn about the safety of enlicitide and if children tolerate it, what happens to enlicitide in a child's body over time, and if enlicitide works to lower cholesterol levels in children more than a placebo.
Phase 2 trials begin testing efficacy in a larger patient group (100–300). This is often where biotech binary events occur — positive Phase 2 data can significantly advance a company's pipeline narrative, while failures can be terminal for a program.
Phase 3 trials are pivotal studies with large patient populations (hundreds to thousands) designed to prove efficacy and safety for FDA submission. A successful Phase 3 readout is typically the last major hurdle before a New Drug Application (NDA) or BLA filing.
Currently recruiting: the trial is enrolling patients. A data readout is not expected until after enrollment closes and the follow-up period is complete.
Merck & Co (MRK) is the sponsoring company for this trial. BiotechSign currently grades this company F (35/100) based on composite catalyst signals across its full pipeline. This trial is one data point in that overall catalyst picture.