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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Study to Evaluate Sotatercept (MK-7962) in Children With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) (MK-7962-008)

A Phase 2 Open-label Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Sotatercept (MK-7962) in Children From 1 to Less Than 18 Years of Age With PAH on Standard of Care

Study to Evaluate Sotatercept (MK-7962) in Children With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) (MK-7962-008) (NCT05587712) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

The primary objectives of the study are to evaluate the safety and tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of sotatercept over 24 weeks of treatment in children ≥1 to \<18 years of age with PAH World Health Organization (WHO) Group 1 on standard of care (SoC). There is no formal hypothesis.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

With a target enrollment of 42 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Inclusion Criteria - Documented, historic diagnostic right heart catheterization (RHC) any time before Screening confirming the diagnosis of PAH WHO Group 1 in any of the following subtypes: - Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) - Heritable PAH - Drug/toxin-induced PAH - PAH associated with connective tissue disease - PAH-congenital heart disease (CHD) with shunt closure \>6 months before Screening and subsequently confirmed by RHC before Screening - PAH with coincidental shunt. - Must be on a stable dose(s) of background PAH therapy (phosphdiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs), soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators (sGCS), or prostanoids \[including subcutaneous and intravenous\]) - If male, agree to the following during the intervention period and for at least 16 weeks (112 days) after the last dose of study intervention: - Abstains from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long-term and persistent basis) and agrees to remain abstinent or - Uses contraception unless confirmed to be azoospermic (vasectomized or secondary to medical cause, documented from the site personnel's review of the participant's medical records, medical examination, or medical history interview) as detailed below: - Uses a male condom plus partner use of an additional contraceptive method when having penile-vaginal intercourse with a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) who is not currently pregnant Note: Men with a pregnant or breastfeeding partner must agree to remain abstinent from penile-vaginal intercourse or use a male condom during each episode of penile-vaginal penetration. - If female, must be either not a WOCBP or use a contraceptive method that is highly effective or be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse during the intervention period and for at least 16 weeks (112 days) after the last dose of study intervention ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria * Documented, historic diagnostic right heart catheterization (RHC) any time before Screening confirming the diagnosis of PAH WHO Group 1 in any of the following subtypes: * Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) * Heritable PAH * Drug/toxin-induced PAH * PAH associated with connective tissue disease * PAH-congenital heart disease (CHD) with shunt closure \>6 months before Screening and subsequently confirmed by RHC before Screening * PAH with coincidental shunt. * Must be on a stable dose(s) of background PAH therapy (phosphdiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs), soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators (sGCS), or prostanoids \[including subcutaneous and intravenous\]) * If male, agree to the following during the intervention period and for at least 16 weeks (112 days) after the last dose of study intervention: * Abstains from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long-term and persistent basis) and agrees to remain abstinent or * Uses contraception unless confirmed to be azoospermic (vasectomized or secondary to medical cause, documented from the site personnel's review of the participant's medical records, medical examination, or medical history interview) as detailed below: * Uses a male condom plus partner use of an additional contraceptive method when having penile-vaginal intercourse with a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) who is not currently pregnant Note: Men with a pregnant or breastfeeding partner must agree to remain abstinent from penile-vaginal intercourse or use a male condom during each episode of penile-vaginal penetration. * If female, must be either not a WOCBP or use a contraceptive method that is highly effective or be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse during the intervention period and for at least 16 weeks (112 days) after the last dose of study intervention * If male, agrees to refrain from donating blood or sperm for the duration of the study and for 16 weeks (112 days) after the last dose of study intervention * If female, agrees to refrain from donating blood, eggs, or ovum for the duration of the study and for at least 16 weeks (112 days) after the last dose of study intervention Exclusion Criteria * History of left-sided heart disease, including valvular disease (eg, moderate or greater mitral or aortic regurgitation or stenosis), left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and/or left heart failure (eg, restrictive or dilated cardiomyopathy) * Severe (as based on the opinion of the investigator) congenital or developmental abnormalities of the lung, thorax, and/or diaphragm * History of Eisenmenger syndrome, Potts shunt, or atrial septostomy * Unrepaired or residual cardiac shunt * Diagnosis of pulmonary veno-occlusive diseases, pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis, or overt signs of capillary and/or venous involvement * PAH associated with portal hypertension * Known visceral (lung, liver, or brain) arteriovenous malformation(s) * History of full or partial pneumonectomy * Untreated more than mild obstructive sleep apnea * History of known pericardial constriction * Family history of sudden cardiac death or long QT syndrome * Any current or prior history of symptomatic coronary disease (myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, or cardiac anginal chest pain) within 6 months before Screening * Cerebrovascular accident within 3 months before Screening * Prior exposure to sotatercept or luspatercept or has had an allergic reaction to any of their excipients

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Sotatercept

SC injection every 3 weeks (Q3W) of 0.3 mg/kg. Dosage may be adjusted based on protocol-specific guidelines.

Locations (20)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

The Regents of the University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA Pediatrics) ( Site 1606)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Stanford University School of Medicine ( Site 1603)
Palo Alto, California, United States
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco ( Site 1611)
San Francisco, California, United States
Children's Hospital Colorado ( Site 1609)
Aurora, Colorado, United States
Children's National Medical Center ( Site 1600)
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ( Site 1602)
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) ( Site 1608)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital ( Site 1601)
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Seattle Children's Hospital ( Site 1605)
Seattle, Washington, United States
Children's Wisconsin ( Site 1610)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
The Children's Hospital at Westmead ( Site 0001)
Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
Clinica Somer-Unidad de Investigacion y Docencia ( Site 0205)
Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia
Fundación Valle del Lili ( Site 0200)
Cali, Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia
Clínica Imbanaco S.A.S ( Site 0203)
Cali, Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia
CHU de Toulouse - Hôpital des Enfants ( Site 0302)
Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, France
Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille - Hôpital de la Timone ( Site 0303)
Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region, France
Hôpital Universitaire Necker Enfants Malades ( Site 0300)
Paris, France
Universitaetsklinikum Heidelberg ( Site 0401)
Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Klinikum der Universität München Großhadern ( Site 0404)
München, Bavaria, Germany
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover ( Site 0405)
Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05587712), the sponsor (Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05587712 clinical trial studying?

The primary objectives of the study are to evaluate the safety and tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of sotatercept over 24 weeks of treatment in children ≥1 to \<18 years of age with PAH World Health Organization (WHO) Group 1 on standard of care (SoC). There is no formal hypothesis. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05587712?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05587712?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05587712. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05587712. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.