Geographic atrophy has no FDA-approved treatments, and Merck is walking away from its contender in the chase for one. The pharmaceutical giant declined to exercise its option on several NGM Biopharmaceuticals eye programs, a decision that follows a Phase 2 clinical trial failure.
NGM Biosciences’ experimental geographic atrophy therapy failed a mid-stage test, making it less likely that drug partner Merck will exercise its option on the antibody. Meanwhile, an Apellis Pharmaceuticals drug for the same disorder is expected to receive an FDA decision by late November.
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An NGM Biopharmaceuticals drug candidate for the fatty liver disease NASH failed a Phase 2b study less than a year after the company reported positive results from an earlier mid-stage study. The biotech will now focus on programs in eye diseases and cancer that are partnered with Merck.