Merck & Co Stock Price, News & Analysis

Merck (NYSE: MRK) is hosting a virtual Investor Event at 10:00 a.m. EST to discuss its Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) strategy. The company’s ESG priorities focus on Access to Health, Employees, Environmental Sustainability, and Ethics & Values, aligning with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Presentations will cover how these initiatives are integral to Merck’s long-term business value. A Q&A session will follow the management's remarks, open to investors, analysts, media, and the public.

Organon reported 2021 revenue of $6.3 billion, a 3% decline from 2020, driven by losses in Established Brands. However, Nexplanon and biosimilars saw double-digit growth. Q4 revenue decreased by 1%, with a significant 46% drop in net income from continuing operations year-on-year. The company anticipates 2022 revenue between $6.1 billion and $6.4 billion, with adjusted EBITDA margins projected at 34%-36%. A quarterly dividend of $0.28 was declared, payable on March 17, 2022.

Organon (NYSE: OGN) has announced the acquisition of rights to Marvelon® and Mercilon® contraceptive pills from Bayer AG in China, Hong Kong, and Macau, with an additional agreement for Vietnam expected to close in H1 2022 pending regulatory approval. This acquisition expands Organon's contraceptive portfolio, providing opportunities to reach more women in these markets. Currently, Marvelon and Mercilon are available over the counter in China and Hong Kong, while they are prescription-based in Vietnam. This strategic move aligns with Organon’s goal to enhance women’s health offerings globally.

Merck (NYSE: MRK) has announced new leadership for its Human Health business, effective February 28, 2022. Arpa Garay will direct Global Marketing, while Jannie Oosthuizen will manage the U.S. operations. In the interim, Deepak Khanna will lead Human Health International. These changes aim to enhance operational effectiveness and build on the company's successes. CEO Robert M. Davis expressed confidence in the new structure, emphasizing the importance of internal talent development and focusing on business goals within the global health portfolio.

AstraZeneca and Merck (MRK) announced positive results from the Phase 3 PROpel trial, revealing that LYNPARZA combined with abiraterone plus prednisone significantly improves radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. The trial showed a 34% reduction in disease progression risk, with median rPFS at 24.8 months for LYNPARZA versus 16.6 months for the control. Although overall survival showed a trend towards improvement, it did not reach statistical significance. Adverse events primarily included anemia and fatigue.

Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced an upcoming virtual Investor Event on February 23 at 10:00 a.m. EST, focusing on its Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) strategies. The event will address four key areas: Access to Health, Employees, Environmental Sustainability, and Ethics & Value. Attendees, including investors and media, can listen to the webcast and participate in a Q&A session with Merck's senior management. The company continues to emphasize its commitment to life-saving medicines and global health initiatives.

Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced that Caroline Litchfield, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will participate in a virtual fireside chat at the 11th Annual SVB Leerink Global Healthcare Conference on February 17, 2022, at 4:20 p.m. EST. Interested parties, including investors and analysts, can listen to the live audio webcast here. Merck is committed to advancing healthcare and has over 130 years of experience in developing innovative medicines and vaccines.

Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced significant results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The trial demonstrated that the KEYTRUDA regimen, in combination with chemotherapy, significantly improved event-free survival in patients with high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer compared to chemotherapy alone. After a median follow-up of 39 months, patients on the KEYTRUDA regimen experienced a 37% reduction in risks for events or death. The overall safety profile remained consistent with known data, with no new safety concerns identified.

Merck (NYSE: MRK) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced the completion of manufacturing 10 million courses of molnupiravir, an oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment. Approximately 3.1 million courses have already been supplied to the U.S. government. Merck aims to produce at least 20 million courses in 2022, facilitating widespread access. The company has established agreements in over 30 markets globally, focusing on equitable distribution and tiered pricing to support low- and middle-income countries. The FDA has authorized molnupiravir for emergency use in high-risk COVID-19 patients.