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, generates frequent news across human health, animal health and corporate finance. As a research-intensive biopharmaceutical company with more than a century of history developing medicines and vaccines, Merck regularly announces clinical trial milestones, regulatory decisions, business development transactions and capital markets activity.
Recent news highlights include oncology updates from Merck’s extensive KEYTRUDA program, such as positive Phase 3 data in muscle-invasive bladder cancer and new trials in non-small cell lung cancer using combinations like calderasib (MK-1084) with KEYTRUDA QLEX. The company also reports on progress in other therapeutic areas, including pulmonary arterial hypertension with WINREVAIR, Alzheimer’s disease candidates MK-2214 and MK-1167, and cardiovascular research with the oral PCSK9 inhibitor candidate enlicitide.
Investors following MRK news will also see announcements related to Merck Animal Health, such as the conditional U.S. FDA approval of EXZOLT CATTLE-CA1 for the prevention and treatment of New World screwworm larvae and the treatment and control of cattle fever tick, as well as updates on acquisitions like the planned merger with Cidara Therapeutics to add the influenza candidate CD388 to Merck’s respiratory portfolio.
Corporate and financial communications include quarterly earnings calls, participation in major healthcare conferences and disclosures about note offerings under the company’s shelf registration statement. This news page aggregates these developments so readers can review clinical, regulatory, strategic and financial updates related to Merck & Co., Inc. and its MRK stock in one place.
Merck (MRK) announced positive results from its Phase 3 KEYLYNK-001 trial, evaluating KEYTRUDA plus chemotherapy followed by maintenance with LYNPARZA, with or without bevacizumab, as a first-line treatment for BRCA non-mutated advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. The trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to chemotherapy alone.
However, the study did not reach its secondary endpoint of overall survival (OS), and the role of KEYTRUDA in the intention-to-treat population remains uncertain. The safety profiles were consistent with previously reported studies. Results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and discussed with regulatory authorities.
Merck (MRK) announced promising results from its Phase 2 waveLINE-007 trial evaluating zilovertamab vedotin combined with R-CHP for treating previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The trial achieved a 100% complete response rate in patients treated with the 1.75 mg/kg dose, which has been established as the recommended Phase 3 dose.
The study enrolled 36 patients across three dosage groups (1.75, 2.0, and 2.25 mg/kg). The total complete response rate was 97.2%, with a median follow-up of 17.6 months. The 12-month duration of response was 93.5%. Serious treatment-related adverse events occurred in 11% of patients, with Grade 3-4 adverse events reported in 58% of patients, primarily including neutropenia, nausea, anemia, and diarrhea.
Merck (NYSE:MRK) has achieved the top position on Newsweek's America's Most Responsible Companies 2025 list for the second consecutive year. The ranking was determined through Statista's analysis of 2,000 largest U.S. public companies, evaluating 30 key performance indicators and incorporating feedback from 26,000 U.S. residents.
Chairman and CEO Robert M. Davis emphasized the company's commitment to ethics and integrity as fundamental to their mission of saving and improving lives. Additionally, Merck secured the #1 position in its industry on CNBC and JUST Capital's America's Most JUST Companies list and Barron's 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies rankings.
Merck (MRK) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics have initiated the Phase 3 MOVe-NOW clinical trial to evaluate LAGEVRIO™ (molnupiravir) for treating high-risk adults with COVID-19. The study targets adults who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, have had symptoms for four days or less, and cannot receive nirmatrelvir/ritonavir due to various contraindications.
The trial will test a new formulation of LAGEVRIO using two 400-mg tablets per dose instead of four 200-mg capsules. The medication is currently approved or authorized in several countries, including Japan, Australia, and the US under emergency use authorization, and has been used by over 8.3 million patients worldwide.
Merck (MRK) announced that the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) for treating advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with specific EGFR mutations. This designation is based on Phase 2 study data presented at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting. The company is advancing a global clinical development program with 10 ongoing Phase 3 studies across various solid tumors. Sac-TMT recently received its first marketing authorization in China for treating triple-negative breast cancer. The breakthrough designation may expedite development and review processes, with potential eligibility for Priority Review.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) has announced that its chairman and CEO Robert M. Davis, along with Dr. Eliav Barr, senior vice president and chief medical officer of Merck Research Laboratories, will participate in a fireside chat at the Citi 2024 Global Healthcare Conference. The event is scheduled for Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. EST. A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available to investors, analysts, media members, and the general public.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced positive topline results from the Phase 3 ZENITH study of WINREVAIR in adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) functional class III or IV at high risk of mortality. The study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in the risk of morbidity or mortality events compared to placebo. Due to overwhelming efficacy, the independent monitoring committee recommended early study termination, with all participants being offered WINREVAIR through the SOTERIA open-label extension study. WINREVAIR is currently approved in the U.S. and 36 countries based on Phase 3 STELLAR trial results.
Merck (MRK) warns shareholders about TRC Capital's unsolicited mini-tender offer to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares at $96.38 per share. The offer price is approximately 4.32% below Merck's closing price of $100.73 on November 11, 2024, and 3.48% below the $99.86 closing price on November 21, 2024. Merck strongly recommends shareholders reject this offer, which seeks to acquire less than 5% of outstanding shares, thereby avoiding SEC disclosure requirements. The company emphasizes that mini-tender offers often catch shareholders off guard, potentially leading to below-market sales prices.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) has announced that Dr. Eliav Barr, senior vice president, head of global clinical development and chief medical officer of Merck Research Laboratories, will participate in a fireside chat at the 7th Annual Evercore ISI HealthCONx Conference. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 1:20 p.m. EST. A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available to investors, analysts, media members, and the general public through a provided weblink.
Merck (MRK) has received approval from China's NMPA for WELIREG® (belzutifan), marking its first approval in China and 17th globally. The drug is approved for treating adult patients with certain von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-associated tumors who require therapy but not immediate surgery. WELIREG is the first and only systemic therapy and HIF-2α inhibitor approved in China for this indication.
The approval is based on the Phase 2 LITESPARK-004 trial results, which showed significant response rates: 49% in VHL-associated RCC patients, 63% in CNS hemangioblastomas patients, and 83% in pNET patients. The median duration of response was not reached in any group, with responses lasting up to 22.3+ months.