Merck & Co Stock Price, News & Analysis

Merck (MRK) announced the presentation of new data for its hematology pipeline at the ASH Annual Meeting in San Diego (Dec. 7-10). The company will showcase more than 20 abstracts, featuring research on investigational medicines including zilovertamab vedotin, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting ROR1, nemtabrutinib, a non-covalent BTK inhibitor, and bomedemstat, an oral LSD1 inhibitor. Key presentations include first-time results from Phase 2 studies evaluating zilovertamab vedotin in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma, as well as nemtabrutinib in follicular lymphoma. Updated results for KEYTRUDA in Hodgkin lymphoma will also be presented.

The Merck Foundation has launched a new $17 million initiative called the Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care, running from 2025 to 2030. The program aims to improve access to high-quality cardiac care in underserved U.S. communities by transforming primary care delivery, building community partnerships, and addressing social barriers to healthcare. The initiative focuses on helping people with heart conditions who face challenges in accessing timely diagnoses and quality care. Qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations can apply to join the Collaborative by submitting a letter of intent by January 10, 2025.

Merck (NYSE: MRK) has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.81 per share for the first quarter of 2025. The dividend will be paid on January 8, 2025, to shareholders who are on record as of December 16, 2024. The company, which operates as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, made this announcement following a decision by its Board of Directors.

Merck (MRK) announced positive Phase 3 trial results for subcutaneous pembrolizumab with berahyaluronidase alfa and chemotherapy in treating metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. The trial met its dual primary pharmacokinetic endpoints, demonstrating noninferiority compared to intravenous KEYTRUDA with chemotherapy. The subcutaneous administration takes only 2-3 minutes, potentially improving patient experience and healthcare access. Secondary endpoints for efficacy and safety were generally consistent between both administration methods. The results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and shared with regulatory authorities worldwide.

Merck (MRK) received a positive CHMP opinion recommending approval of KEYTRUDA in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy for first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable non-epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The recommendation is based on the Phase 2/3 IND.227/KEYNOTE-483 trial results, where KEYTRUDA plus chemotherapy showed significant improvement in overall survival, reducing death risk by 21% compared to chemotherapy alone. The treatment demonstrated median overall survival of 17.3 months versus 16.1 months for chemotherapy alone, and improved overall response rate (52% vs 29%). A final EU decision is expected in Q4 2024.

Merck (NYSE: MRK) has announced its participation in the upcoming Jefferies London Healthcare Conference. Joseph Romanelli, president of Human Health International, and Dr. Marjorie Green, senior vice president and head of oncology at Merck Research Laboratories, will engage in a fireside chat on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at 6:30 a.m. EST / 11:30 a.m. GMT. The event will be accessible to investors, analysts, media, and the public through a live audio webcast.

Merck (MRK) has entered into an exclusive global license agreement with LaNova Medicines for LM-299, a novel investigational PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody. Merck will pay an upfront payment of $588 million and potential milestone payments of up to $2.7 billion for the rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize LM-299 across multiple indications. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2024, subject to regulatory approvals. Merck will record a pre-tax charge related to the upfront payment in the quarter the transaction closes.

Merck (MRK) announced positive topline results from the Phase 3 KOMET trial of KOSELUGO in adults with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) who have symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas. The trial demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in objective response rate compared to placebo. KOSELUGO, an oral MEK inhibitor, showed a consistent safety profile with previous trials in children and adolescents, with no new safety signals identified. This rare genetic condition affects approximately 1.7 million people worldwide, with 70% being adults. Currently, there are no approved treatments for adults with NF1, making these results particularly significant for potential expanded use beyond pediatric patients.

Merck (MRK) announced new clinical and real-world data presentations for GARDASIL®9, their 9-valent HPV vaccine, at the International Papillomavirus Conference (IPVC) 2024 in Edinburgh. The presentations include results from the BROADEN and PROGRESS studies focusing on oral HPV infection prevalence and HPV-related cancers.

The data reinforces the importance of HPV vaccination for both males and females aged 9-45, highlighting that disease-causal HPV infection can occur later in life. Globally, approximately 666,000 new diagnoses of certain HPV-related cancers occur annually in men and women. The studies emphasize the growing incidence of HPV-related oropharyngeal and head and neck cancers, particularly in men.