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M2951

Phase 2

Rheumatoid Arthritis | Small molecule | Immunology |Merck KGaA|Last Updated: Nov 13, 2025

Success Probability

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Trial Design

RandomizedDouble-BlindPLACEBO_CONTROLLEDDMCBiomarker
Total Trials1
Total Enrollment65

FDA Designations

No designations recorded

Clinical trial landscape

M2951 · 4 trials · 3 indications

Phase 2 1Phase 1 3
NCT02784106Safety and Efficacy Study of M2951 in Participants With Rheumatoid ArthritisRheumatoid Arthritis
COMPLETED65 Analytics
PHASE2COMPLETED
Safety and Efficacy Study of M2951 in Participants With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid ArthritisUnlock trial analytics

Study Endpoints

Primary Endpoints

Proportion of Participants Who Achieved American College of Rheumatology-20 (ACR20) Response
Day 84

ACR 20 response: greater than or equal to (\>=) 20 percent (%) improvement in both tender joint counts (based on a total of 68 joints) and swollen joint counts (based on a total of 66 joints) together with \>=20% improvement in at least 3 of the following: 1) participant's assessment of pain; 2) participant's global assessment of disease activity; 3) physician's global assessment of disease activity; 4) participant's assessment of physical function measured by Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI); and 5) acute phase reactant as measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Proportion of ACR20 responders = Number of participants with ACR20 response divided by total participants.

Placebo-corrected Change From Baseline in Corrected QT Interval by Fridericia' Formula (QTcF) for Evobrutinib
Baseline and from 1 hour before any administration until 24 hours post-administration at the following timepoints: -1-hour, 5 min, 10 min, 20 min, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 24 hours

A linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the relationship between evobrutinib and MSC2729909A concentrations and ΔQTc. Based on this model, drug-induced ΔΔQTc and its two-sided 90% CI was predicted over the clinical concentration range and at concentrations corresponding to the observed geometric mean Cmax following administration of 45 mg and 225 mg evobrutinib. The higher geometric mean Cmax calculated based on the PK and ECG Analysis Sets was considered.

Area Under the Plasma Concentration-Time Curve from Time Zero Extrapolated to Infinity (AUC0-inf) of Midazolam
Pre-dose through 24 hours postdose on Days 1, 3 and 13
Maximum Observed Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of Midazolam
Pre-dose through 24 hours postdose on Days 1, 3 and 13
Area Under the Plasma Concentration Time Curve From Time Zero to Infinity (AUC0-inf) of M2951
Pre-dose, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 16.0, 24.0 and 32.0 hours post-dose

AUC0-inf was calculated by combining AUC0-tlast and AUCextra. AUCextra represents an extrapolated value obtained by Clast pred/Lambda z, where Clast pred was the calculated plasma concentration at the last sampling time point at which the measured plasma concentration is at or above the Lower Limit of quantification (LLOQ) and Lambda z was the apparent terminal rate constant determined by log-linear regression analysis of the measured plasma concentrations of the terminal log-linear phase.

Maximum Observed Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of M2951
Pre-dose, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 16.0, 24.0 and 32.0 hours post-dose

Cmax was obtained directly from the plasma concentration versus time curve.

Secondary Endpoints

Mean Change From Baseline in High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) at Day 28
Baseline, Day 28
Proportion of Participants Achieving American College of Rheumatology-50 (ACR50) Response
Day 28, Day 56 and Day 84
Proportion of Participants Achieving American College of Rheumatology-70 (ACR70) Response
Day 28, Day 56 and Day 84
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Study Design & Arms

AllocationRANDOMIZED
MaskingDOUBLE
ModelPARALLEL
PurposeTREATMENT

Treatment Arms

ArmTypeDescription
Placebo: Double-Blind Treatment PeriodPLACEBO_COMPARATOR -
M2951: Double-Blind Treatment PeriodEXPERIMENTAL -
Placebo/M2951: Open Label Extension PeriodEXPERIMENTAL -
M2951/M2951: Open Label Extension PeriodEXPERIMENTAL -
Treatment Sequence 1EXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive one of the four interventions in a sequence decided at randomization.
Treatment Sequence 2EXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive one of the four interventions in a sequence decided at randomization.
Treatment Sequence 3EXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive one of the four interventions in a sequence decided at randomization.
Treatment Sequence 4EXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive one of the four interventions in a sequence decided at randomization.
Midazolam and/or M2951EXPERIMENTAL -
Group 1: Normal Hepatic Function (Reference)EXPERIMENTALParticipants with normal hepatic function received single oral dose of 30 milligrams (mg) M2951 (3 film-coated tablets of 10 mg) on Day 1 after a standard breakfast.
Group 2: Mild Hepatic ImpairmentEXPERIMENTALParticipants with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class A, score 5 to 6) received single oral dose of 30 mg M2951 (3 film-coated tablets of 10 mg) on Day 1 after a standard breakfast. The Child-Pugh Score was a scoring system used to determine the prognosis with cirrhosis and need for liver transplantation. Scoring is based upon serum albumin, ascites, serum bilirubin, prothrombin time, and encephalopathy. Each category is based on a scoring system of 1-3 with 3 being the worst and a total score range of 5-15. It is broken into categories A (score of 5-6), B (score of 7-9), and C (score of 10-15) with worsening from A to C for prognosis.
Group 3: Moderate Hepatic ImpairmentEXPERIMENTALParticipants with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B, score 7 to 9) received single oral dose of 30 mg M2951 (3 film-coated tablets of 10 mg) on Day 1 after a standard breakfast. The Child-Pugh Score was a scoring system used to determine the prognosis with cirrhosis and need for liver transplantation. Scoring is based upon serum albumin, ascites, serum bilirubin, prothrombin time, and encephalopathy. Each category is based on a scoring system of 1-3 with 3 being the worst and a total score range of 5-15. It is broken into categories A (score of 5-6), B (score of 7-9), and C (score of 10-15) with worsening from A to C for prognosis.

Interventions

NameTypeDescription
PlaceboDRUGParticipants received placebo matched to M2951 twice daily up to Day 84 during the double-blind treatment period.
M2951DRUGParticipants received 50 milligrams (mg) M2951 orally twice daily up to Day 84 during the double-blind treatment period.
Placebo matched to M2951DRUGParticipants will receive single oral dose of placebo matched to M2951 in either of study periods (period 1 or period 2 or period 3 or period 4) under fasted conditions.
MoxifloxacinDRUGParticipants will receive single oral dose of moxifloxacin in either of study periods (period 1 or period 2 or period 3 or period 4) under fasted conditions.
M2951 Low DoseDRUGParticipants will receive single oral low dose of M2951 in either of study periods (period 1 or period 2 or period 3 or period 4) under fasted conditions.
M2951 High DoseDRUGParticipants will receive single oral high dose of M2951 in either of study periods (period 1 or period 2 or period 3 or period 4) under fasted conditions.
MidazolamDRUGParticipants will receive single oral dose of midazolam on Days 1, 3 and 13 under fed conditions.
M2951 (BTK inhibitor)DRUGParticipants received a single oral dose of M2951 (BTK inhibitor) on Day 1.
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Eligibility Criteria

Age Range18 Years to 75 Years
SexALL
Healthy VolunteersNo
Study Sites2

Inclusion Criteria: * Men or women 18 to 75 years of age at the time of informed consent signature * Confirmed diagnosis of RA according to 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) RA classification criteria of at least 6 months duration * Positive ...

Countries:United StatesGermany
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Frequently asked questions about M2951

What is M2951 used for?

M2951 is an investigational small molecule being studied for rheumatoid arthritis, hepatic impairment, and in healthy participants. It has been evaluated in clinical trials for these conditions, including a Phase 2 study in rheumatoid arthritis and Phase 1 studies in hepatic impairment and healthy volunteers.

What does M2951 target?

M2951 is a Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, as indicated by its clinical trial title. It is being developed to modulate BTK activity, which plays a role in immune cell signaling and inflammation, relevant to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Who makes M2951?

M2951 is being developed by Merck KGaA, a German multinational pharmaceutical company. The company's ticker symbol is MKGAF. Merck KGaA has sponsored clinical trials of M2951 across multiple countries, including the United States and Germany.

What phase is M2951 in?

M2951 has completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials. The most advanced study was a Phase 2 trial in rheumatoid arthritis, which has been completed. All trials listed for M2951 are completed, with no active trials currently ongoing.

What clinical trials is M2951 in?

M2951 has been studied in four completed clinical trials. These include NCT02784106, a Phase 2 study in rheumatoid arthritis; NCT04546789, a Phase 1 study in hepatic impairment; NCT04697511, a drug-drug interaction study in healthy participants; and NCT07214935, a thorough QT study in healthy participants.

Is M2951 the same as evobrutinib?

Yes, M2951 is also known as evobrutinib. One clinical trial, NCT04697511, is titled 'Drug-drug Interaction Study of Evobrutinib With Midazolam in Healthy Participants,' confirming that M2951 and evobrutinib refer to the same investigational drug.