Merck & Co Inc is to discontinue development of a recombinant fusion protein for Covid-19 because additional studies would be needed to qualify it for an emergency use authorisation. Merck announced the decision on 15 April following feedback from the US Food and Drug Administration.
The drug, MK-7110 (formerly known as CD24Fc), was being developed for the treatment of hospitalised patients with Covid-19. Merck acquired MK-7100 in December 2020 through the takeover of OncoImmune Inc, a privately-held US biopharmaceutical company. MK-7110 targets the innate immune system.