Merck & Co Inc (MRK) reported strong third-quarter earnings, exceeding analysts’ expectations. While Keytruda, Merck’s blockbuster cancer immunotherapy, continued its impressive growth, Gardasil sales declined due to weaker demand in China. Despite the Gardasil challenges, analysts remain optimistic about Merck’s future, citing the strong performance of other key franchises and the potential of new products.
Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) exceeded revenue expectations in the third quarter, driven by growth in oncology and cardiovascular segments. However, the company faced a decline in Gardasil sales due to lower demand in China. Merck also revised its full-year 2024 forecasts, citing a negative impact from business development transactions.
Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) and Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) have initiated a pivotal Phase 3 trial for their investigational neoantigen therapy, V940 (mRNA-4157), in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. This trial, known as INTerpath-009, focuses on patients who did not achieve a complete response after receiving neoadjuvant Keytruda plus chemotherapy. The first patients have started enrolling in Canada, and global recruitment is ongoing. This development follows a series of other trials evaluating V940 in combination with Keytruda for different types of cancers.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended lowering the pneumococcal vaccination age from 65 to 50, aiming to protect a broader population from potentially life-threatening pneumococcal diseases. This decision is based on the high incidence of these infections in adults aged 50-64, emphasizing the need for wider vaccine coverage.
Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) has unveiled positive results from a Phase 2b/3 trial evaluating clesrovimab, a monoclonal antibody designed to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease. The trial met all primary endpoints, demonstrating a significant reduction in RSV-associated infections and hospitalizations. Interim results from an ongoing Phase 3 trial also show promising safety and efficacy data, suggesting clesrovimab could be a valuable tool in preventing severe RSV disease in infants.
Merck (MRK) closed the trading day down 1.43%, lagging behind the broader market gains. While the company is projected to report strong earnings in the coming months, investors are cautious, leading to a recent stock decline. The article examines key financial data, analyst estimates, and valuation metrics to understand the current market sentiment surrounding Merck.
Evaxion Biotech A/S has entered into an option and licensing agreement with pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., Inc. for two preclinical vaccine candidates. The deal includes an upfront payment of $3.2 million and potential milestone payments of up to $592 million per product. The collaboration underscores the potential of Evaxion’s AI-Immunology platform and its vaccine candidates.
Merck & Co’s experimental fixed-dose combination of favezelimab and pembrolizumab failed to improve overall survival in patients with pretreated microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in a Phase 3 study. The study, KEYFORM-007, did not meet its primary endpoint, leading to a setback for the company. Despite this, Merck’s Keytruda continues to secure approvals for other cancer types.
The FDA has approved Merck’s Keytruda in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). This approval marks the first indication for Keytruda in MPM in the U.S. and is based on clinical trial data showing significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy alone.
Merck & Company (MRK) stock is experiencing a surge today after the company announced it has finalized negotiations with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance for its drug WELIREG. This agreement paves the way for WELIREG to be publicly reimbursed in Canada, a significant step forward for the drug’s accessibility in the country.
