Welcome to our dedicated page for Merck & Co. news (Ticker: MRK), a resource for investors and traders seeking the latest updates and insights on Merck & Co. stock.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, is a renowned American multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. Originally the American arm of Germany's Merck Group founded in 1668, Merck has established itself as a global leader in pharmaceuticals and vaccines.
Merck's core business is the development and manufacturing of medications and vaccines spanning several therapeutic areas such as cardiometabolic diseases, cancer, and infections. The company's immuno-oncology platform, particularly strong in cancer treatment, is a significant revenue driver. The firm’s oncology portfolio includes groundbreaking immunotherapies like KEYTRUDA, designed to treat melanoma and other cancers. KEYTRUDA, in combination with other therapies, has shown promising results in reducing cancer recurrence and improving survival rates.
Merck also boasts a robust vaccine business, offering vaccines for pediatric diseases and human papillomavirus (HPV). Their commitment to public health extends to Merck for Mothers, an initiative aimed at improving maternal health globally. In 2024, Merck surpassed its goal early by reaching over 30 million women with programs promoting safe, high-quality maternal care.
The company's animal health division is another sector of its diverse operations, providing solutions to improve animal health and productivity.
From a geographical perspective, nearly half of Merck's sales are generated in the United States. Financially, Merck maintains a solid position with ongoing investments in research and development to fuel innovation. The company is actively engaged in numerous partnerships and collaborative research initiatives to accelerate the development of new therapies.
Merck’s mission is rooted in scientific excellence and an unwavering commitment to improving lives. The company continues to invest in leading-edge research, with over 2,250 ongoing clinical trials, including more than 1,600 trials evaluating combination regimens. This dedication underpins Merck's strategy to address complex health challenges and advance global health.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency's CHMP for KEYTRUDA in combination with Padcev as a first-line treatment for unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. The recommendation is based on the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-A39 trial, which showed significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival compared to platinum-based chemotherapy:
- 53% reduction in risk of death
- 55% reduction in risk of disease progression or death
A final decision by the European Commission is expected in Q3 2024. If approved, this will be KEYTRUDA's third bladder cancer indication in the EU. The combination was already approved in the U.S. in December 2023.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) has announced its quarterly dividend for the fourth quarter of 2024. The Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.77 per share of the company's common stock. This dividend will be paid on October 7, 2024, to shareholders who are on record at the close of business on September 16, 2024. Merck, also known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, continues to provide returns to its shareholders through consistent dividend payments, demonstrating the company's financial stability and commitment to investor value.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) has announced positive topline results from its Phase 2b/3 clinical trial of clesrovimab (MK-1654), an investigational monoclonal antibody designed to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease. The trial met all primary safety and efficacy endpoints, including reducing medically attended lower respiratory infections (MALRI) caused by RSV through Day 150.
Merck plans to present detailed findings at an upcoming scientific congress and file the data with global regulatory authorities. Dr. Paula Annunziato, senior vice president at Merck Research Laboratories, emphasized the significance of these results, noting that RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for healthy infants globally.
Merck's commitment to health equity is highlighted through the story of Priya Agrawal, the company's vice president of health equity and partnerships. Agrawal's personal experiences with health disparities in her family motivated her career in medicine and public health. She joined Merck to launch Merck for Mothers, a global initiative aimed at reducing maternal mortality. Her career at Merck has included roles such as lead of vaccines and contraceptives in the UK, managing director for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, and global head of HPV vaccines. Agrawal's ongoing mission is to advance health equity and improve access to healthcare globally.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) has announced its participation in the 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2024) in Munich, Germany, from July 22-26, 2024. The company will present new research findings, including Phase 1 results on potential drug interactions between its novel HIV treatment MK-8527 and oral contraceptives.
Merck will host two symposia: one on overcoming HIV-related stigma (July 23) and another on the evolving importance of choice in HIV treatment and prevention (July 24). The company will also present several abstracts covering topics such as drug resistance, PrEP preferences, and the impact of weight gain on quality of life for people with HIV.
This participation underscores Merck's 35-year commitment to HIV research and innovation, aiming to address ongoing challenges and unmet needs in the global HIV community.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) has completed the acquisition of Eyebiotech (EyeBio), now a wholly-owned subsidiary. This acquisition strengthens Merck's late-stage pipeline by adding Restoret™, a novel candidate for diabetic macular edema (DME) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD). Restoret™, a tetravalent, tri-specific antibody, showed positive results in a Phase 1b/2a study and will advance to a pivotal Phase 2b/3 trial in 2024. The transaction, treated as an asset acquisition, will result in Merck recording a $1.3 billion charge ($0.50 per share) in Q3 2024. Merck will update its financial outlook during its Q2 2024 earnings report on July 30.
Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., announced the completion of its acquisition of Elanco’s aqua business, strengthening its position in the aquaculture industry. This acquisition includes a diverse portfolio of vaccines, anti-parasitic treatments, water supplements, and nutrition products targeted at both warm and cold water species.
Notably, Merck now owns the CLYNAV® DNA-based vaccine, which protects Atlantic salmon against pancreas disease, and IMVIXA®, an anti-parasitic treatment for sea lice. This move leverages Merck’s capabilities to meet the growing global demand for quality protein and food safety, ensuring enhanced customer benefits and public health protection.
Elanco Animal Health (NYSE: ELAN) has completed the sale of its aqua business to Merck Animal Health (NYSE: MRK) for approximately $1.3 billion in cash. Net proceeds of $1.05-$1.1 billion from this transaction are earmarked for debt reduction in the third quarter of 2024. This move allows Elanco to focus on high-value opportunities in pet health and livestock sustainability, while also enhancing financial flexibility. This transaction, combined with cash flow from operations, is expected to reduce Elanco's total debt by $1.3-$1.4 billion by the end of 2024. The company's net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio is projected to improve from mid-4x in 2024 to high-3x to low-4x in 2025. Additional details will be provided in the second quarter earnings call in August.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) and Orion announced the mutual exercise of an option, converting their co-development agreement for opevesostat, an investigational CYP11A1 inhibitor for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, into an exclusive global license for Merck.
With this agreement, Merck gains exclusive rights to develop and commercialize opevesostat and other CYP11A1-targeting candidates. Orion is eligible for up to $1.63 billion in milestone payments and tiered royalties from net sales.
Merck will assume all development and commercialization costs, while Orion will manufacture the clinical and commercial supply. The license agreement is anticipated to take effect in Q3 2024, pending regulatory approval.
Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada, will host its second-quarter 2024 sales and earnings conference call on July 30 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The call will include a detailed overview of the company's quarterly performance, presented by company executives. Institutional investors, analysts, journalists, and the public can access the live audio webcast through Merck's website. A replay, along with additional financial materials such as the earnings news release, supplemental disclosures, and slides, will also be available online. Participants in the U.S. and Canada can join the call by dialing (800) 779-0641, while international participants can dial (517) 308-9147 using access code 4761229.
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