Positive top-line results for orally administered MORF-057 in UC

Shares of Morphic Therapeutics (Nasdaq: MORF) experienced volatility yesterday, after the US biotech reported positive top-line data from the main cohort of the open-label EMERALD-1 Phase IIa study of MORF-057, an oral small molecule inhibitor of the α4β7 integrin, in adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC).

The stock rose as much as 16.8% to $50.83, but pulled back to close up just 7%.

The main cohort of the EMERALD-1 open-label, single-arm Phase IIa trial of MORF-057 enrolled 35 patients with moderate to severe UC. In the trial, MORF-057 achieved the primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in the RHI score of 6.4 points (p=0.002) from baseline to week 12. In the prespecified secondary endpoint, change in modified Mayo Composite Score, patients had a 2.3-point reduction from baseline.