Merck KGaA sees future for enpatoran in lupus subgroup

Germany’s Merck KGaA (MRK: DE) has presented detailed results from cohort B of the global Phase II WILLOW study of enpatoran, an investigational, oral, novel TLR7/8 inhibitor in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Although it did not meet the primary endpoint of dose-response relationship, when compared to placebo, enpatoran demonstrated improvements in measures of both systemic and cutaneous disease activity in prespecified SLE subpopulations despite standard of care (SoC), including those with active cutaneous manifestations at baseline, and was overall well tolerated.

The findings have been presented at the 2025 European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR).