Merck to Present Advances in HIV Prevention and Treatment Pipeline at IAS 2025

Rowe, New Jersey, USA2025Year7Month8Day——MSD (the corporate name of Merck & Co., Inc., located in Rahway, New Jersey, U.S.) announced that the company will present the latest research advancements from its HIV prevention and treatment pipeline at the 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2025), to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from July 13 to 17, 2025.

      MSD to Present New Scientific Data from its HIV Clinical Development Program, Including Data on MK-8527^[1]Phase II Study Data on Safety and Pharmacokinetics: MK-8257 is a Novel Investigational Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Translocation Inhibitor (NRTTI), Administered Orally Once Monthly, in Development for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

      Three Phase III study data will be presented at IAS 2025 (P051: NCT05631093; P052: NCT05630755; P054: NCT05766501), evaluating the impact of pre-existing resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) in proviral DNA on doravirine/Islatravir.^[2](DOR/ISL) Virological Response Impact.

      In addition, for the once-weekly oral islatravir and ulonivirine^[3]Clinical development programs for the (ISL/ULO) combination regimen will also release study data. This includes two Phase I studies evaluating the safety and tolerability of weekly oral ulonivirine, as well as drug-drug interactions between islatravir and ulonivirine at weekly doses in HIV-uninfected adults; a Phase IIb dose-finding study assessing the use of a higher dose (20mg) of islatravir and three doses of ulonivirine in treatment-naïve adults with HIV-1 infection. Based on these clinical trial results and the pharmacokinetic modeling to be presented during this meeting, the combination regimen of islatravir (2mg) and ulonivirine (200mg) (MK-8591B) administered orally once weekly is advancing in clinical development.

      "As we continue to advance research in the field of HIV, we are pleased to present the latest data from our HIV R&D pipeline at IAS 2025, including new data from the nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor development program."Vice President of Global Clinical Development at Merck Sharp & Dohme AGElizabeth RheePh.D."It is hoped that by developing daily, weekly, and monthly oral regimens, we can provide more options for people living with or affected by HIV to meet their evolving needs."

      During this year's IAS conference, MSD will host a policy seminar titled “Harnessing the Private Sector to Deliver HIV Prevention” on July 15th from 18:00–19:30 Central Africa Time (CAT). Additionally, a medical symposium titled “Let’s Talk About It – Practical Case Discussions” will be held on July 16th from 2:15–13:15 CAT to discuss key considerations in today’s HIV treatment and explore resistance profiles of DOR/ISL based on Phase III study data. Both events will be accessible online and on-site for registered participants of IAS 2025.

      Moreover, MSD will host an online investor event at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on July 17 to share the company’s cutting-edge R&D pipeline in HIV treatment and prevention. Investors, analysts, media, and the public can access the event throughThis linkVisit Activity.

About MSD inHIVCommitment in the Field

      MSD has been continuously investing in the HIV field for over 35 years, committed to helping transform the landscape of HIV treatment through scientific research advancements and breakthroughs. We have pioneered the development of various drug categories and supported those affected by HIV. Currently, we are developing a range of antiviral drugs aimed at helping people manage and prevent HIV, with the goal of reducing the growing burden of infections worldwide. We hope that people’s lives will no longer be limited by HIV and continue to support the goal of ending the HIV epidemic through transformative innovations, global HIV community collaborations, and efforts to improve accessibility.

About MSD

      At MSD (the corporate name of Merck & Co., Inc. in the United States, located in Rahway, New Jersey), we unite in pursuit of a shared mission: harnessing the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For over 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of vital medicines and vaccines. We are committed to being a top-tier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company—today, we stand at the forefront of innovation, delivering transformative solutions to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in humans and animals alike. We have built a diverse and inclusive global workforce, conducting ourselves responsibly every day to ensure a safe, sustainable, and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.msd.com and follow us on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About MSD China

      China is a crucial part of MSD's global growth strategy. MSD’s China headquarters is located in Shanghai, with a research and development center in Beijing and manufacturing facilities in Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Tianjin, integrating R&D, manufacturing, and commercial operations. We are fully committed to providing the people of China with high-quality innovative medicines, vaccines, and services for the benefit of Chinese society. For more information, please visit MSD China's official website or follow MSD China's official social media account on WeChat.

MSD Forward-Looking Statements

      MSD is the corporate name of Merck & Co., Inc., located in Rahway, New Jersey, USA (hereinafter referred to as "the Company"). This press release contains "forward-looking statements" made under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The content herein is based on the current views and expectations of the Company’s management and is subject to significant risks and uncertainties. MSD does not guarantee that its products under development will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or achieve commercial success. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, or if risks or uncertainties arise, actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.

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[1]As of now, MK-8257 has not been approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China.

[2]As of now, Doravirine/Islatravir has not been approved by the NMPA.

[3]As of now, islatravir and ulonivirine have not been approved by the NMPA.