MRK · News · 20261103N

Clinical Pipeline Developments

Merck & Co., Inc. · 2026-11-03 · Importance 34 · Surprise 42 · In source text

Merck initiated ENHANCE-3, a Phase 3 trial evaluating OHTUVAYRE® (ensifentrine) to prevent COPD exacerbations in adults receiving standard of care who have a history of exacerbations. Recruitment has begun, with the first patients enrolling in the United States. OHTUVAYRE is described as the first novel inhaled mechanism for COPD maintenance treatment in more than 20 years to combine bronchodilation with non-corticosteroid anti-inflammatory effects.

Key facts

• Merck announced initiation of ENHANCE-3 (NCT07874815), a Phase 3 randomized clinical trial evaluating OHTUVAYRE (ensifentrine) to prevent COPD exacerbations in adults receiving standard of care with a history of exacerbations. source
• Recruitment for ENHANCE-3 had begun, and the first patients were enrolling in the United States. source
• Merck’s stock dropped 2% following the launch of a new Phase 3 trial for Ohtuvayre and was up 40% year-to-date. source

Impact estimates