Mereo Biopharma Group plc said its path to approval for alvelestat is a phase III study that would preclude an additional confirmatory trial. After meetings with the U.S. FDA and the EMA to discuss next steps, Mereo said it is designing a single, 12- to 18-month, global phase III of the neutrophil elastase inhibitor for treating alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency-associated lung disease.