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Merck Announces Initiation of Pivotal Phase 2b/3 Trial Evaluating MK-8748 (Tiespectus), an Investigational Bispecific Tie2 Agonist/VEGF Inhibitor, for the Treatment of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
RAHWAY, N.J., April 02, 2026--Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced the initiation of a pivotal Phase 2b/3 trial evaluating MK-8748 (also known as Tiespectus, EYE201), a novel investigational bispecific antibody that directly activates Tie2 signaling and inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD).
About this update from Merck & Company, Inc.
[{"type":"image","alt":"","displaySize":"","headline":null,"caption":"","credit":null,"className":"","disableSlideshowImg":false,"size":{"original":{"width":480,"height":217,"url":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/business-wire.com/a88df2622f0a33b8abf3de0094349435"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/MyrmnEwsRSXUPZvJ.Wy1eA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQzNA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/business-wire.com/a88df2622f0a33b8abf3de0094349435","width":480,"height":217}},"lazy":false},{"type":"text","content":"RAHWAY, N.J., April 02, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced the initiation of a pivotal Phase 2b/3 trial evaluating MK-8748 (also known as Tiespectus, EYE201), a novel investigational bispecific antibody that directly activates Tie2 signaling and inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD).","length":455,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"The study, known as MALBEC, is the first trial of a broader late-phase development program for MK-8748, with a second study in NVAMD scheduled to begin this year (NCT07496567). The decision to advance into pivotal studies is based on results from the Phase 1/2a RIOJA trial (NCT06664502), a two-part study evaluating MK-8748 in patients with either NVAMD, macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or diabetic macular edema (DME).","length":452,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":""Despite available therapies, many patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration remain at risk of further vision loss due to continued vascular leakage," said Dr. David Guyer, founder, chief executive officer and president, EyeBio, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA. "With its differentiated dual mechanism directly agonizing Tie2 and inhibiting VEGF, MK-8748 has the potential to offer a novel approach to maintain vascular stability for patients with serious retinal diseases."","length":549,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Merck is advancing an ophthalmology pipeline aimed at addressing certain retinal diseases associated with vascular leakage and neovascularization, including NVAMD, DME and macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). In addition to MK-8...