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Efinopegdutide

Phase 2

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease | Small molecule | Metabolic |Merck & Company, Inc.|Last Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Target and mechanism

Molecular targetGCGR, GLP1R
Target classAgonist
ModalitySmall molecule

Success Probability

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Market & Valuation

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Trial Design

RandomizedACTIVE_CONTROLLED
Total Trials1
Total Enrollment124

FDA Designations

No designations recorded

Clinical trial landscape

Efinopegdutide · 6 trials · 11 indications

Phase 2 3Phase 1 3
NCT06482112Alternate Dosing Study of MK-6024 in Adults With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) (MK-6024-016)Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
COMPLETED124 Analytics
NCT06465186A Clinical Study of Efinopegdutide in People With Compensated Cirrhosis Due to Steatohepatitis (MK-6024-017)Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
ACTIVE NOT_RECRUITING80 Analytics
NCT05877547A Clinical Study of Efinopegdutide in Participants With Precirrhotic Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) (MK-6024-013)Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
COMPLETED381 Analytics
PHASE2COMPLETED
Alternate Dosing Study of MK-6024 in Adults With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) (MK-6024-016)
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver DiseaseUnlock trial analytics
PHASE2ACTIVE NOT_RECRUITING
A Clinical Study of Efinopegdutide in People With Compensated Cirrhosis Due to Steatohepatitis (MK-6024-017)
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseUnlock trial analytics
PHASE2COMPLETED
A Clinical Study of Efinopegdutide in Participants With Precirrhotic Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) (MK-6024-013)
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseUnlock trial analytics

Study Endpoints

Primary Endpoints

Mean Relative Reduction From Baseline in Liver Fat Content at Week 28
Baseline and Week 28

Liver fat content (LFC) was measured with liver images taken by magnetic resonance imaging estimated proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) and analyzed by blinded independent central review (BICR). Relative Reduction from Baseline to Week 28 = (Baseline - Week 28) / Baseline x 100%. Least Squares (LS) Mean relative reduction from baseline in LFC is presented.

Percentage of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event (AE)
Up to Week 32

An AE is any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening of a preexisting condition that is temporally associated with the use of the Sponsor's product, is also an AE. The percentage of participants who experienced an AE is presented.

Percentage of Participants Who Discontinued Study Intervention Due to an AE
Up to Week 28

An AE is any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening of a preexisting condition that is temporally associated with the use of the Sponsor's product, is also an AE. The percentage of participants who discontinued study intervention due to an AE is presented.

Change from Baseline in Liver Fat Content (LFC) at Week 28
Baseline and 28 weeks

Researchers will measure the change in the amount of fat in the liver using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after about 7 months of treatment. The change in MRI-Estimated proton density fat fraction (PDFF) will be measured from baseline to 28 weeks.

Percentage of Participants Discontinuing Study Medication Due to an AE
Up to approximately 28 weeks

An AE is a health problem that happens or worsens during a study. The percentage of participants who stop study treatment due to an AE will be reported.

Percentage of Participants With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Resolution Without Worsening of Fibrosis At Week 52
Week 52

The NASH Clinical Research Network (CRN) scoring system evaluated by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) is used to assess treatment response. The NASH CRN scoring scales are: lobular inflammation score (0-3); hepatocyte ballooning score (0-2); steatosis score (0-3); and fibrosis score (0-4). NASH resolution is defined as a score of 0-1 for inflammation, 0 for ballooning, and any grade of steatosis.

Part 1: Number of Participants Who Experience an Adverse Event (AE)
Up to approximately 35 days

An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who experience an AE will be reported.

Part 1: Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Treatment Due to an AE
Up to approximately 35 days

An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who discontinue study treatment due to an AE will be reported.

Part 1: Maximum Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of Efinopegdutide
Pre-dose and at designated time points up to 35 days post dose

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Cmax of Efinopegdutide.

Part 1: Time to Maximum Plasma Concentration (Tmax) of Efinopegdutide
Pre-dose and at designated time points up to 35 days post dose

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Tmax of Efinopegdutide.

Part 1: Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve from Time 0 to Last Measurable Concentration (AUC0-last) of Efinopegdutide
Pre-dose and at designated time points up to 35 days post dose

Blood samples will be collected to determine the AUC0-last of Efinopegdutide.

Part 1: Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve from Time 0 to Infinity (AUC0-Inf) of Efinopegdutide
Pre-dose and at designated time points up to 35 days post dose

Blood samples will be collected to determine the AUC0-Inf of Efinopegdutide.

Part 1: Apparent Terminal Half-life (t1/2) of Efinopegdutide
Pre-dose and at designated time points up to 35 days post dose

Blood samples will be collected to determine the t1/2 of Efinopegdutide.

Part 1: Apparent Clearance (CL/F) of Efinopegdutide
Pre-dose and at designated time points up to 35 days post dose

Blood samples will be collected to determine the CL/F of Efinopegdutide.

Part 1: Apparent volume of distribution during terminal phase (Vz/F) of Efinopegdutide
Pre-dose and at designated time points up to 35 days post dose

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Vz/F of Efinopegdutide.

Part 2: Number of Participants Who Experience an Adverse Event (AE)
Up to approximately 184 days

An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who experience an AE will be reported.

Part 2: Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Treatment Due to an AE
Up to approximately 184 days

An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who discontinue study treatment due to an AE will be reported.

Part 2: Cmax of Efinopegdutide
At designated time points up to approximately 184 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Cmax of Efinopegdutide.

Part 2: Tmax of Efinopegdutide
At designated time points up to approximately 184 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Tmax of Efinopegdutide.

Part 2: Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve from Time 0 to the End of the Dosing Interval (AUC0-tau) of Efinopegdutide
At designated time points up to approximately 184 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the AUC0-tau of Efinopegdutide.

Part 2: t1/2 of Efinopegdutide
At designated time points up to approximately 184 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the CL/F of Efinopegdutide.

Part 2: Vz/F of Efinopegdutide
At designated time points up to approximately 184 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Vz/F of Efinopegdutide.

Part 2: Concentration Immediately Before the Next Dose is Administered (Ctrough) of Efinopegdutide
At designated time points up to approximately 184 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Ctrough of Efinopegdutide.

Area Under the Curve From Time 0 to Infinity (AUC0-inf) of Efinopegdutide
At pre-specified timepoints on Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 11, Day 14, Day 21, and Day 35

Blood samples collected at multiple timepoints post-dose were used to determine the AUC0-inf.

Area Under the Curve From Time 0 to Last Sampling Time (AUC0-last) of Efinopegdutide
At pre-specified timepoints on Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 11, Day 14, Day 21, and Day 35

Blood samples collected at multiple timepoints post-dose were used to determine the AUC0-last.

Maximum Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of Efinopegdutide
At pre-specified timepoints on Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 11, Day 14, Day 21, and Day 35

Blood samples collected at multiple timepoints post-dose were used to determine the Cmax.

Time to Maximum Concentration (Tmax) of Efinopegdutide
At pre-specified timepoints on Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 11, Day 14, Day 21, and Day 35

Blood samples collected at multiple timepoints post-dose were used to determine the Tmax of efinopegdutide.

Apparent Terminal Half-life (t/12) of Efinopegdutide
At pre-specified timepoints on Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 11, Day 14, Day 21, and Day 35

Blood samples collected at multiple timepoints post-dose were used to determine the t1/2.

Apparent Total Clearance (CL/F) of Efinopegdutide
At pre-specified timepoints on Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 11, Day 14, Day 21, and Day 35

Blood samples collected at multiple timepoints post-dose were used to determine the CL/F.

Apparent Volume of Distribution (Vz/F) of Efinopegdutide
At pre-specified timepoints on Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 11, Day 14, Day 21, and Day 35

Blood samples collected at multiple timepoints post-dose were used to determine the Vz/F.

Number of Participants Who Experience an Adverse Event (AE)
Up to approximately 112 days

An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who experience an AE will be reported.

Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Treatment Due to an AE
Up to approximately 78 days

An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who discontinue study treatment due to an AE will be reported.

Maximum Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of Efinopegdutide- single dose
At designated time points up to 35 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Cmax of efinopegdutide when administered as a single dose

Time to Maximum Plasma Concentration (Tmax) of Efinopegdutide- single dose
At designated time points up to 35 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Tmax of efinopegdutide when administered as a single dose

Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve from Time 0 to Last (AUC0-Last) of Efinopegdutide- single dose
At designated timepoints up to 35 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the AUC0-last of efinopegdutide when administered as a single dose

Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve from Time 0 to Infinity (AUC0-inf) of Efinopegdutide- single dose
At designated timepoints up to 35 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the AUC0-inf of efinopegdutide when administered as a single dose

Terminal half life (t1/2) of Efinopegdutide- single dose
At designated timepoints up to 35 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the t1/2 of efinopegdutide when administered as a single dose

Apparent Clearance (CL) of Efinopegdutide- single dose
At designated timepoints up to 35 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the CL of efinopegdutide when administered as a single dose

Volume of Distribution (Vz) of Efinopegdutide- single dose
At designated timepoints up to 35 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Vz of efinopegdutide when administered as a single dose

Maximum Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of Efinopegdutide- multiple dose
At designated time points up to 112 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Cmax of efinopegdutide when multiple doses are administered

Minimum Plasma Concentration (Cmin) of Efinopegdutide- multiple dose
At designated time points up to 112 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Cmin of efinopegdutide when multiple doses are administered

Time to Maximum Plasma Concentration (Tmax) of Efinopegdutide- multiple dose
At designated time points up to 112 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Tmax of efinopegdutide when multiple doses are administered

Terminal half life (t1/2) of Efinopegdutide- multiple dose
At designated timepoints up to 112 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the t1/2 of efinopegdutide when multiple doses are administered

Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve from Time 0 to Last (AUC0-Last) of Efinopegdutide-multiple dose
At designated timepoints up to 112 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the AUC0-last of efinopegdutide when multiple doses are administered

Apparent Clearance (CL) of Efinopegdutide- multiple dose
At designated timepoints up to 112 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the CL of efinopegdutide when multiple doses are administered

Volume of Distribution at Steady State (Vss) of Efinopegdutide- multiple dose
At designated timepoints up to 112 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Vss of efinopegdutide when multiple doses are administered

Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve to the end of the dosing period (AUC 0-tau)of Efinopegdutide- multiple dose
At designated timepoints up to 78 days

Blood samples will be collected to determine the AUC0 to tau of efinopegdutide when multiple doses are administered

Secondary Endpoints

Mean Percent Change From Baseline in Body Weight at Week 28
Baseline and Week 28
Change from Baseline in Iron-corrected T1 (cT1) at Week 28
Baseline and up to 28 Weeks
Change from Baseline in Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) score at Week 28
Baseline and up to 28 weeks
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Study Design & Arms

AllocationRANDOMIZED
MaskingNONE
ModelPARALLEL
PurposeTREATMENT

Treatment Arms

ArmTypeDescription
Efinopegdutide Q1W 10 mgACTIVE_COMPARATORParticipants will receive efinopegdutide Q1W via subcutaneous (SC) injection for 28 weeks in a dose-escalating regimen of 2 mg for 4 weeks, 4 mg for 4 weeks, 7 mg for 4 weeks, and 10 mg for up to 16 weeks.
Efinopegdutide Q2W 10 mgEXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive efinopegdutide Q2W via SC injection for 28 weeks in a dose-escalating regimen of 2 mg for 4 weeks, 4 mg for 4 weeks, 7 mg for 4 weeks, and 10 mg for up to 16 weeks.
Efinopegdutide Q2W 15 mgEXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive efinopegdutide Q2W via SC injection for 28 weeks in a dose-escalating regimen of 2 mg for 4 weeks, 4 mg for 4 weeks, 7 mg for 4 weeks, 10 mg for 4 weeks, and 15 mg for up to 12 weeks.
EfinopegdutideEXPERIMENTALParticipants will start efinopegdutide once a week at the lowest dose level. Then, the dose level will go up every month for three months until they are getting the highest dose level. Efinopegdutide is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) for 28 weeks.
PlaceboPLACEBO_COMPARATORParticipants will receive placebo once a week. A placebo looks like the study medicine but has no study medicine in it. Using a placebo helps researchers better understand the effects of a study medicine. Placebo is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) for 28 weeks.
Efinopegdutide 4mgEXPERIMENTALEfinopegdutide administered by subcutaneous (SC) injection once weekly for 52 weeks in a dose-escalation regimen of 2 mg for 4 weeks and 4mg for 48 weeks.
Efinopegdutide 7mgEXPERIMENTALEfinopegdutide administered by SC injection once weekly for 52 weeks in a dose-escalation regimen of 2 mg for 4 weeks, 4 mg for 4 weeks, and 7 mg for 44 weeks.
Efinopegdutide 10mgEXPERIMENTALEfinopegdutide administered by SC injection once weekly for 52 weeks in a dose-escalation regimen of 2 mg for 4 weeks, 4 mg for 4 weeks, 7 mg for 4 weeks, and 10 mg for 40 weeks.
Semaglutide 2.4 mgACTIVE_COMPARATORSemaglutide administered by SC injection once weekly for 52 weeks in a dose-escalation regimen of 0.25 mg for 4 weeks, 0.5 mg for 4 weeks, 1.0 mg for 4 weeks, 1.7 mg for 4 weeks, and 2.4 mg for 36 weeks.
Part 1: EfinopegdutideEXPERIMENTALPart 1: Participants receive a single subcutaneous (SC) dose of efinopegdutide.
Part 1: PlaceboPLACEBO_COMPARATORPart 1: Participants receive a single SC dose of placebo.
Part 2: EfinopegdutideEXPERIMENTALPart 2: Participants receive multiple SC doses of efinopegdutide titrated from Dosage 1, Dosage 2, Dosage 3, Dosage 4, Dosage 5, or Dosage 6. Participants receive a SC dose of efinopegdutide, Dosage 1 on Days 1 and 8; Dosage 2 on Days 15 and 22; Dosage 3 on Days 29, 36, 43 and 50; Dosage 4 on Days 57, 64, 71 and 78; Dosage 5 on Days 85, 92, 99, 106; and Dosage 6 on Days 113, 120, 127, and 134. Participants also receive oral acetaminophen on Day -2, Day 6, 62, and 83.
Part 2: PlaceboPLACEBO_COMPARATORPart 2: Participants receive multiple SC doses of Placebo titrated from Dosage 1, Dosage 2, Dosage 3, Dosage 4, Dosage 5, or Dosage 6. Participants receive a SC dose of Placebo, Dosage 1 on Days 1 and 8; Dosage 2 on Days 15 and 22; Dosage 3 on Days 29, 36, 43 and 50; Dosage 4 on Days 57, 64, 71 and 78; Dosage 5 on Days 85, 92, 99, 106; and Dosage 6 on Days 113, 120, 127, and 134. Participants also receive oral acetaminophen on Day -2, Day 6, 62, and 83.
Efinopegdutide in Participants with Moderate Hepatic ImpairmentEXPERIMENTALParticipants with moderate hepatic impairment received a single 7 mg dose of efinopegdutide 14 mg/ml by subcutaneous (SC) injection.
Efinopegdutide in Participants with Severe Hepatic ImpairmentEXPERIMENTALParticipants with severe hepatic impairment received a single 7 mg dose of efinopegdutide 14 mg/ml by SC injection.
Efinopegdutide in Healthy-Matched Control GroupEXPERIMENTALHealthy matched participants received a single 7 mg dose of efinopegdutide 14 mg/ml by SC injection.
Efinopegdutide Low DoseEXPERIMENTALParticipants receive low dose efinopegdutide at a single dose on day 1
Efinopegdutide Medium doseEXPERIMENTALParticipants receive medium dose efinopegdutide at a single dose on day 1
Efinopegdutide High DoseEXPERIMENTALParticipants receive high dose efinopegdutide at a single dose on day 1
Efinopegdutide Multiple DoseEXPERIMENTALParticipants receive multiple doses of efinopegdutide over 78 days

Interventions

NameTypeDescription
EfinopegdutideDRUGSC injections in dose-escalation regimens potentially including doses of 2 mg, 4 mg, 7 mg, and 10 mg in all arms and 15 mg in the Efinopegdutide Q2W 15 mg arm
PlaceboCOMBINATION_PRODUCTPlacebo is given as a subcutaneous injection using a single-use prefilled syringe once per week for 28 weeks.
SemaglutideDRUGSC injection in a dose-escalation regimen of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg
AcetaminophenDRUGOral solution
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Eligibility Criteria

Age Range18 Years to 80 Years
SexALL
Healthy VolunteersNo
Study Sites39

Inclusion Criteria: The main inclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following: * Has body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m\^2 (≥23 kg/m\^2 for Asian participants) AND has stable weight, defined as ≤5% gain or loss of body weight for at least 3 months before screening * Has no history of ty...

Countries:United StatesPuerto RicoAustraliaCanadaColombiaFranceIsraelJapanSpainThailandUnited KingdomAustriaBelgiumChileChinaCzechiaHong KongHungaryItalyMexicoPeruPortugalSingaporeSouth KoreaSwitzerlandTaiwanTurkey (Türkiye)
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Recent Changes (Last 90 Days)

MEDIUMJul 2, 2026NCT06482112TRIAL_REMOVED: changed
MEDIUMJul 2, 2026NCT06482112TRIAL_REMOVED: changed
MEDIUMJul 2, 2026NCT06482112TRIAL_REMOVED: changed
MEDIUMJul 2, 2026NCT06482112TRIAL_REMOVED: changed

Frequently asked questions about Efinopegdutide

What is Efinopegdutide used for?

Efinopegdutide is an investigational small molecule being studied for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). It is also being evaluated in healthy volunteers and in people with hepatic impairment or compensated cirrhosis due to steatohepatitis.

What does Efinopegdutide target?

Efinopegdutide is a peptide-based small molecule, classified under the -tide (peptide) target class. Its specific molecular target is not disclosed in the available clinical trial information, so its precise mechanism of action is not detailed here.

Who makes Efinopegdutide?

Efinopegdutide is being developed by Merck & Company, Inc., which trades under the ticker symbol MRK. The company is conducting clinical trials to evaluate the drug for liver diseases such as NASH and NAFLD.

What phase is Efinopegdutide in?

Efinopegdutide is in clinical development, with trials listed as Phase 1 and Phase 2. The Phase 2 study is active but not recruiting, while the Phase 1 studies have been completed. It is not FDA approved and remains investigational.

What clinical trials is Efinopegdutide in?

Efinopegdutide has been studied in several trials, including NCT06052566 in participants with hepatic impairment, NCT06465186 in people with compensated cirrhosis due to steatohepatitis, NCT06701305 in healthy obese participants, and NCT06836037 in healthy Chinese volunteers. These trials cover Phase 1 and Phase 2 stages.

Is Efinopegdutide the same as MK-6024?

Yes, Efinopegdutide is also known as MK-6024. Clinical trial titles reference MK-6024 in studies such as NCT06052566 and NCT06465186, confirming that these names refer to the same investigational drug.