Sotatercept set to become leading therapy in PAH market, says analyst

US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) has recently presented positive top-line results from the Phase III STELLAR trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of sotatercept, an investigational activin receptor type IIA-Fc fusion protein being evaluated as an add-on to stable background therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Merck acquired exclusive rights to sotatercept in the pulmonary hypertension field through last year’s $11.5 billion acquisition of Acceleron Pharma.

Responding to the clinical trial news, Kaya Olczak, healthcare analyst at GlobalData, said that “sotatercept has potential to fulfil a highly unmet need in the PAH space: the lack of a disease modifying therapy. Key opinion leaders (KOLs) interviewed by GlobalData expect sotatercept to become a leading therapy in the PAH market due to strong efficacy and clinical data, and as the first disease-modifying therapy - a significant breakthrough for PAH patients. However, the drug will face some hurdles in its initial launch.”