Merck KGaA is back with another update on the durability of its BTK inhibitor evobrutinib, sharing data that show the effect on relapse rates lasts for at least five years. But with the program on partial clinical hold and phase 3 data imminent, the update may soon be overshadowed by other developments. Germany-based Merck offered participants in its 48-week phase 2 trial the chance to join an open-label extension after it wrapped up the double-blind portion of the study. Since then, researchers have tracked the effect of 75-mg twice-daily evobrutinib dosing on patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Merck now has 240 weeks, almost five years, of data on more than 100 participants in the extension study. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotec...-ahead-phase-3