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Merck & Co., Inc. reports news across a global pharmaceutical business known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Company updates center on human health products for areas such as oncology, cardiometabolic disease and infections; vaccines including Gardasil; and Merck Animal Health medicines, devices and customer-support systems.
Recurring developments include FDA approvals, clinical and regulatory disclosures, research publications, pipeline additions, business development transactions, material agreements, capital-structure updates, governance matters, and operating and financial results. Recent themes include the approved HIV-1 regimen IDVYNSO, investigational programs such as enlicitide decanoate and TERN-701, technology partnerships for research, manufacturing and commercial functions, and animal health digital engagement initiatives.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) agreed to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals for $53.00 per share, valuing Terns at approximately $6.7 billion (about $5.7 billion net of acquired cash) with an expected close in Q2 2026.
The deal adds TERN-701, an oral allosteric BCR::ABL1 TKI in Phase 1/2 for certain CML patients with prior TKI exposure; TERN-701 has FDA Orphan Drug Designation (March 2024) and showed encouraging molecular responses by week 24. Merck expects a ~$5.8 billion charge (≈$2.35/share) in Q2 and full-year 2026 results; the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearance.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced FDA approval (Mar 18, 2026) expanding the BRAVECTO® QUANTUM label to include Asian longhorned tick (H. longicornis) and Gulf Coast tick (A. maculatum) for 12 months after a single, veterinarian‑administered injection.
The product remains indicated for fleas and multiple other tick species (12 months for several species; 8 months for lone star tick) and is available exclusively through licensed veterinarians.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) will present new clinical and real-world data at the EUROGIN HPV Congress (March 18-21, 2026) in Vienna demonstrating long-term effectiveness of its HPV vaccines. Data show GARDASIL 9 effectiveness for at least 14 years after three doses and GARDASIL effectiveness up to 18 years after three doses against HPV16/18-related high-grade cervical disease.
The company will also present findings on certain HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers and trends in adult- and juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis from studies in the U.S., Denmark, Sweden, and the U.K.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) will present new cardio-pulmonary clinical data at ACC.26 (March 28-30, 2026) including two late-breaking presentations: positive Phase 3 CORALreef AddOn results for oral PCSK9 inhibitor enlicitide and positive Phase 2 CADENCE results for WINREVAIR™ (sotatercept-csrk) in CpcPH-HFpEF.
Presentations detail enlicitide efficacy/safety versus ezetimibe and bempedoic acid in statin-treated hypercholesterolemia and sotatercept outcomes in combined post-/pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension with HFpEF.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) reported Phase 3 LITESPARK-022 results: adjuvant KEYTRUDA + WELIREG reduced risk of recurrence or death by 28% (HR=0.72; p=0.0003) versus KEYTRUDA alone at median 28.4 months follow-up. Estimated 24-month DFS: 80.7% vs 73.7%. Grade ≥3 TEAEs occurred in 52.1% vs 30.2%. The FDA accepted supplemental applications with a PDUFA date of June 19, 2026.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) and Eisai reported Phase 3 LITESPARK-011 results showing WELIREG (belzutifan) plus LENVIMA (lenvatinib) reduced risk of progression or death by 30% versus cabozantinib (HR=0.70; p=0.00007).
Median PFS was 14.8 months vs 10.7 months; median OS trended higher at 34.9 months vs 27.6 months. FDA accepted two sNDAs with a PDUFA date of October 4, 2026.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) reported final Phase 3 KEYNOTE-B96 results showing KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) plus paclitaxel ± bevacizumab significantly improved overall survival (OS) versus paclitaxel ± bevacizumab in platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer regardless of PD-L1. Median OS was 17.7 vs 14.0 months (HR=0.82; p=0.0115).
The regimen met primary PFS and key secondary OS endpoints; FDA approved the PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) indication and the CHMP issued a positive opinion.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) reported late-breaking Phase 3 KEYNOTE-B15 results showing perioperative KEYTRUDA plus Padcev reduced risk of event-free survival events by 47% and risk of death by 35% versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cisplatin-eligible muscle-invasive bladder cancer after 33.6 months' median follow-up.
Median EFS and OS were not reached for the combination; pathologic complete response rose to 55.8% versus 32.5%. Grade ≥3 adverse events were higher with the combination (75.7% vs 67.2%).
Merck Animal Health (NYSE:MRK) announced FDA approval of NUMELVI (atinvicitinib) tablets for control of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis in dogs six months and older. The product is expected to be available at veterinary clinics nationwide in spring 2026.
NUMELVI is described as a second-generation JAK inhibitor with high JAK1 selectivity, once-daily dosing, dosing for dogs from 4.4 pounds, standard storage, and an extended shelf life among JAK inhibitor tablets.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) presented late-breaking Phase 3 data for investigational doravirine/islatravir (DOR/ISL) as a once-daily, two-drug, non-INSTI regimen for adults with HIV-1.
In treatment-naïve adults DOR/ISL met non-inferiority at Week 48 (91.8% vs 90.6%; difference 1.2%, 95% CI -3.7, 6.2) and maintained viral suppression at Week 96 in switch studies. The U.S. FDA PDUFA target action date for the NDA is April 28, 2026.