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 (NYSE: MRK) announced a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommending approval for an expanded label of KEYTRUDA. This anti-PD-1 therapy is suggested as monotherapy for adult and pediatric patients over 3 years with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma who have failed previous treatments, including autologous stem cell transplant. The recommendation is based on the KEYNOTE-204 trial, showing a 35% reduction in disease progression risk. A final decision from the European Commission is expected in Q1 2021.
Merck reported data from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-598 study, evaluating the combination of KEYTRUDA and ipilimumab in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results showed no improvement in overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) with the combination, and the addition of ipilimumab increased toxicity. The median OS was 21.4 months for the combination versus 21.9 months for monotherapy, while median PFS was 8.2 versus 8.4 months, respectively. The study was discontinued due to futility as per the Data Monitoring Committee's recommendation.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) has expanded its Safer Childbirth Cities initiative, offering funding for nine new city-based projects aimed at improving maternal health outcomes and addressing racial disparities. Launched in 2018, this initiative is part of Merck for Mothers, a $500 million global program. The selected projects will address health needs affected by COVID-19 and aim to increase maternal health equity through community-led solutions and support for women before, during, and after childbirth. The initiative responds to rising maternal mortality rates in the U.S., especially among Black and marginalized women.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.65 per share for Q2 2021, payable on April 7, 2021, to shareholders of record by the close of business on March 15, 2021.
With a legacy of 130 years, Merck continues to innovate in biopharmaceuticals, addressing critical diseases like cancer and HIV, while enhancing healthcare access globally.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced interim data from its Phase 2a trial evaluating islatravir for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in adults. The trial showed that both 60 mg and 120 mg once-monthly doses of islatravir met the pre-specified pharmacokinetics (PK) threshold for efficacy. Tolerability was acceptable, with mild to moderate adverse events reported. The ongoing study plans to transition to Phase 3 IMPOWER trials, aiming to broaden HIV prevention options for at-risk populations. As of now, 76.8% of participants have been dosed, suggesting a robust path forward for islatravir.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced that the European Commission has approved KEYTRUDA as a first-line monotherapy for adult patients with metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer. This decision is based on the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-177 trial, which demonstrated a 40% reduction in disease progression risk compared to chemotherapy (HR=0.60) and a median progression-free survival of 16.5 months, more than double that of chemotherapy. KEYTRUDA showed a lower incidence of severe treatment-related adverse events (22% vs. 66%).
Merck (NYSE: MRK) is halting the development of its COVID-19 vaccine candidates, V590 and V591, after finding that their immune response was less effective than those of other vaccines. Instead, Merck will focus on advancing therapeutic candidates MK-4482 and MK-7110, which aim to treat COVID-19. The company plans to record a charge in Q4 2020 due to this decision, affecting GAAP results. Meanwhile, MK-7110 has shown promising Phase 3 results, while MK-4482 is undergoing Phase 2/3 trials. Merck remains committed to ongoing SARS-CoV-2 research and enhancing pandemic-response capabilities.
Merck (NYSE:MRK) has received FDA approval for VERQUVO (vericiguat), a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, aimed at reducing cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization for adults post-heart failure hospitalization or IV diuretics. This is the first treatment specifically approved for this patient group, based on VICTORIA trial data involving 5,050 patients. VERQUVO demonstrated a 4.2% reduction in annualized absolute risk compared to placebo. The drug comes with a boxed warning against use in pregnant women due to potential fetal harm.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced the FDA's acceptance of its Biologics License Application (BLA) for V114, a 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine aimed at preventing invasive pneumococcal disease in adults. The FDA has set a target action date of July 18, 2021, for this priority review. V114 offers protection against serotypes 22F and 33F, which are not covered by existing vaccines. This application is supported by robust clinical studies, including Phase 2 and Phase 3, demonstrating its efficacy in diverse adult populations.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) will host its fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 sales and earnings conference call on Feb. 4 at 8:00 a.m. EST. Executives will discuss the company's performance during the quarter. Investors and the general public can access a live audio webcast via Merck's website. A replay, along with financial disclosures, will also be available online. Merck has a long-standing commitment to advancing healthcare, focusing on innovative medicines and vaccines for critical diseases.
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