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MK-7602

Phase 1

Healthy | Small molecule | Other |Merck & Company, Inc.|Last Updated: Aug 22, 2025

Success Probability

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Market & Valuation

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Trial Design

RandomizedCONTROLLED
Total Trials1
Total Enrollment34

FDA Designations

No designations recorded

Clinical trial landscape

MK-7602 · 2 trials · 2 indications

Phase 1 2
NCT06797674A Study of the Effect Efavirenz on the Plasma Levels of MK-7602 in Healthy Participants (MK-7602-005)Healthy
COMPLETED34 Analytics
NCT06294912A Study to Evaluate Antimalarial Activity and Safety of MK-7602 in Healthy Adults (MK-7602-003)Malaria
COMPLETED16 Analytics
PHASE1COMPLETED
A Study of the Effect Efavirenz on the Plasma Levels of MK-7602 in Healthy Participants (MK-7602-005)
HealthyUnlock trial analytics
PHASE1COMPLETED
A Study to Evaluate Antimalarial Activity and Safety of MK-7602 in Healthy Adults (MK-7602-003)
MalariaUnlock trial analytics

Study Endpoints

Primary Endpoints

Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve from Time 0 to Infinity (AUC0-Inf) of MK-7602
At designated time points (up to 4 weeks)

Blood samples will be collected to determine the AUC0-inf of MK-7602.

Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve from Time 0 to 24 hours (AUC0-24hrs) of MK-7602
At designated time points (up to 4 weeks)

Blood samples will be collected to determine the AUC0-24hr of MK-7602.

Maximum Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of MK-7602
At designated time points (up to 4 weeks)

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Cmax of MK-7602.

Time to Maximum Plasma Concentration (Tmax) of MK-7602
Predose and at designated time points (up to 4 weeks)

Blood samples will be collected to determine the Tmax of MK-7602.

Plasma Concentration at 24 Hours (C24) of MK-7602
At designated time points (up to 4 weeks)

Blood samples will be collected to determine the C24 of MK-7602.

Apparent Terminal Half-life (t1/2) of MK-7602
At designated time points (up to 4 weeks)

Blood samples will be collected to determine the t1/2 of MK-7602.

Parasite reduction ratio (PRR48) (Parts 1 and 2)
Pre-inoculation on Day 0, once daily Days 4 to 7, pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8, post-first dose of MK-7602 at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, (78 Part 2 only), 84, and 96 hours, and once daily Days 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, and 34

PRR48 is the logarithm of the parasite reduction ratio per 48 hours determined from parasitemia data from time 0 to time 48 hours. Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the PRR48.

Parasite Clearance Half-life (PCt1/2) (Parts 1 and 2)
Pre-inoculation on Day 0, once daily Days 4 to 7, pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8, post-first dose of MK-7602 at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, (78 Part 2 only), 84, and 96 hours, and once daily Days 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, and 34

PCt1/2 is the half-life of the log-linear portion of the parasite clearance curve. Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the PCt1/2.

Parasite Regrowth (Parts 1 and 2)
Pre-inoculation on Day 0, once daily Days 4 to 7, pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8, post-first dose of MK-7602 at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, (78 Part 2 only), 84, and 96 hours, and once daily Days 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, and 34

Parasite regrowth is defined as initial parasite clearance followed by asexual parasite regrowth above 5,000 parasites/mL. Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the parasite regrowth.

Part 1 Single dose: Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve Extrapolated to Infinity (AUC0-inf) of MK-7602
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22

Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the AUC0-inf for Part 1.

Part 1 Single dose: Maximum Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of MK-7602
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22

Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the Cmax for Part 1.

Part 1 Single dose: Concentration at 24 Hours (C24) of MK-7602
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22

Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the C24 for Part 1.

Part 1 Single dose: Time to Maximum Plasma Concentration (Tmax) of MK-7602
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22

Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the Tmax for Part 1.

Part 1 Single dose: Elimination Half-life (t1/2) of MK-7602
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22

Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the t1/2 for Part 1.

Part 2 Multiple dose: Area Under the Curve Time 0 to End of the Dosing Interval (AUC0-tau) of MK-7602
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-first dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 78, 84 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22

Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the AUC0-tau for Part 2.

Part 2 Multiple dose: Maximum Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of MK-7602
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-first dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 78, 84 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22

Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the Cmax for Part 2.

Part 2 Multiple dose: Time to Maximum Plasma Concentration (Tmax) of MK-7602
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-first dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 78, 84 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22

Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the Tmax for Part 2.

Part 2 Multiple dose: Elimination Half-life (t1/2) of MK-7602
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-first dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 78, 84 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22

Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the t½ for Part 2.

Secondary Endpoints

Number of Participants Who Experience an Adverse Event (AE)
Up to approximately 10 weeks
Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Treatment Due to an AE
Up to approximately 10 weeks
Part 2: AUC0-Inf of MK-7602
At designated time points (up to 4 weeks)
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Study Design & Arms

AllocationRANDOMIZED
MaskingNONE
ModelCROSSOVER
PurposeBASIC_SCIENCE

Treatment Arms

ArmTypeDescription
Part 1: MK-7602 + EfavirenzEXPERIMENTALParticipants will be administered MK-7602 and efavirenz.
Part 2, Sequence 1: Fasted→Moderate-Fat Meal→Low-Fat MealEXPERIMENTALParticipants will be administered MK-7602 in the fasted state, then with a moderate-fat meal, then with a low-fat meal.
Part 2, Sequence 2: Fasted→Low-Fat Meal→Moderate-Fat MealEXPERIMENTALParticipants will be administered MK-7602 in the fasted state, then with a low-fat meal, then with a moderate-fat meal.
Part 2, Sequence 3: Moderate-Fat Meal→Low-Fat Meal→FastedEXPERIMENTALParticipants will be administered MK-7602 with a moderate-fat meal, then with a low-fat meal, then in the fasted state.
Part 2, Sequence 4: Moderate-Fat Meal→Fasted→Low-Fat MealEXPERIMENTALParticipants will be administered MK-7602 with a moderate-fat meal, then in the fasted state, then with a low-fat meal.
Part 2, Sequence 5: Low-Fat Meal→Fasted→Moderate-Fat MealEXPERIMENTALParticipants will be administered MK-7602 with a low-fat meal, then in the fasted state, then with a moderate-fat meal.
Part 2, Sequence 6: Low-Fat Meal→Moderate-Fat Meal→FastedEXPERIMENTALParticipants will be administered MK-7602 with a low-fat meal, then with a moderate-fat meal, then in the fasted state.
Panel A: MK-7602 Single dose Part 1EXPERIMENTALParticipants are inoculated with Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum). Panel A participants receive MK-7602 as a single oral dose. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Panel B: MK-7602 Single dose Part 1EXPERIMENTALParticipants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel B participants receive MK-7602 as a single oral dose. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Panel C: MK-7602 Single dose Part 1EXPERIMENTALParticipants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel C participants receive MK-7602 as a single oral dose. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Panel D: MK-7602 Single dose Part 1EXPERIMENTALParticipants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel D participants receive MK-7602 as a single oral dose. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Panel E: MK-7602 Single dose Part 1EXPERIMENTALParticipants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel E participants receive MK-7602 as a single oral dose. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Panel F: MK-7602 Multiple dose Part 2EXPERIMENTALParticipants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel F participants receive MK-7602 at multiple oral doses. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Panel G: MK-7602 Multiple dose Part 2EXPERIMENTALParticipants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel G participants receive MK-7602 at multiple oral doses. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Panel H: MK-7602 Multiple dose Part 2EXPERIMENTALParticipants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel H participants receive MK-7602 at multiple oral doses. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.

Interventions

NameTypeDescription
MK-7602DRUGCapsule
EfavirenzDRUGTablet
Plasmodium falciparumOTHERParasite inoculation administered by intravenous (IV) infusion as the challenge agent
Artemether/lumefantrineDRUGTablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
PrimaquineDRUGTablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
ArtesunateDRUGIntravenous (IV) infusion to be administered as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Atovaquone/proguanilDRUGTablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
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Eligibility Criteria

Age Range18 Years to 60 Years
SexALL
Healthy VolunteersYes
Study Sites1

Inclusion Criteria: The key inclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following: * Has a body-mass index (BMI) of 18 to 32 kg/m\^2. Exclusion Criteria: The key exclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following: * Has a history of clinically significant endocrine, gastr...

Countries:United StatesAustralia
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Frequently asked questions about MK-7602

What is MK-7602 used for?

MK-7602 is an investigational small molecule being studied for the treatment of malaria. It is currently in Phase 1 clinical development, with trials conducted in healthy adults to evaluate its antimalarial activity, safety, and pharmacokinetics.

Who makes MK-7602?

MK-7602 is being developed by Merck & Company, Inc., which trades under the ticker symbol MRK. The company is conducting Phase 1 clinical trials to evaluate the drug's safety and antimalarial activity in healthy adults.

What phase is MK-7602 in?

MK-7602 is in Phase 1 clinical development. It is an investigational drug and has not been approved by regulatory authorities. Two Phase 1 trials have been completed, both involving healthy adult participants.

What clinical trials is MK-7602 in?

MK-7602 has been studied in two completed Phase 1 trials. NCT06294912 evaluated antimalarial activity and safety in 16 healthy adults in Australia, and NCT06797674 assessed the effect of efavirenz on MK-7602 plasma levels in 34 healthy participants in the United States.

Is MK-7602 the same as any other drug?

No alternative names for MK-7602 have been disclosed. The drug is identified solely by its development code MK-7602 in clinical trial registrations and company communications.