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, is a renowned American multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. Originally the American arm of Germany's Merck Group founded in 1668, Merck has established itself as a global leader in pharmaceuticals and vaccines.
Merck's core business is the development and manufacturing of medications and vaccines spanning several therapeutic areas such as cardiometabolic diseases, cancer, and infections. The company's immuno-oncology platform, particularly strong in cancer treatment, is a significant revenue driver. The firm’s oncology portfolio includes groundbreaking immunotherapies like KEYTRUDA, designed to treat melanoma and other cancers. KEYTRUDA, in combination with other therapies, has shown promising results in reducing cancer recurrence and improving survival rates.
Merck also boasts a robust vaccine business, offering vaccines for pediatric diseases and human papillomavirus (HPV). Their commitment to public health extends to Merck for Mothers, an initiative aimed at improving maternal health globally. In 2024, Merck surpassed its goal early by reaching over 30 million women with programs promoting safe, high-quality maternal care.
The company's animal health division is another sector of its diverse operations, providing solutions to improve animal health and productivity.
From a geographical perspective, nearly half of Merck's sales are generated in the United States. Financially, Merck maintains a solid position with ongoing investments in research and development to fuel innovation. The company is actively engaged in numerous partnerships and collaborative research initiatives to accelerate the development of new therapies.
Merck’s mission is rooted in scientific excellence and an unwavering commitment to improving lives. The company continues to invest in leading-edge research, with over 2,250 ongoing clinical trials, including more than 1,600 trials evaluating combination regimens. This dedication underpins Merck's strategy to address complex health challenges and advance global health.
Nuvectis Pharma's NXP900 is emerging as a promising candidate in the fight against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), particularly for patients resistant to EGFR and ALK targeted therapies. Like Summit Therapeutics' Ivonescimab, which recently outperformed Merck's Keytruda in a Phase 3 trial, NXP900 targets treatment resistance but through a different mechanism.
NXP900 inhibits SRC/YES1 kinases, key drivers of cancer survival. Preclinical studies show its potential to reverse resistance to existing therapies and enhance their effectiveness when used in combination. While still in early clinical development, NXP900's targeted approach and potential applications beyond NSCLC make it a noteworthy contender in the evolving landscape of cancer treatment.
Merck's KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) plus chemotherapy has shown significant promise in treating high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 trial, this regimen reduced the risk of death by 34% compared to chemotherapy alone. After a median follow-up of 75.1 months, the five-year overall survival rate was 86.6% for the KEYTRUDA regimen versus 81.7% for the chemotherapy-placebo regimen.
Key points:
- First immunotherapy-based regimen to show significant improvement in overall survival for high-risk early-stage TNBC
- Consistent benefit across subgroups, including PD-L1 expression, tumor size, and nodal status
- Safety profile consistent with previous studies
- KEYTRUDA is approved in the U.S. for this indication based on earlier trial results
Merck's KEYTRUDA demonstrates sustained overall survival benefit in advanced melanoma patients after 10 years. Key findings from the KEYNOTE-006 trial include:
- 34.0% of KEYTRUDA-treated patients were alive at 10 years vs. 23.6% for ipilimumab
- KEYTRUDA reduced death risk by 29% (HR=0.71)
- Median overall survival: 32.7 months for KEYTRUDA vs. 15.9 months for ipilimumab
- Median modified progression-free survival: 9.4 months for KEYTRUDA vs. 3.8 months for ipilimumab
These results highlight KEYTRUDA's long-term efficacy in advanced melanoma treatment, showcasing its potential to improve patient outcomes significantly.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) and Eisai announced positive results from the Phase 3 LEAP-012 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) in combination with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for treating unresectable, non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study showed:
1. 34% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared to TACE alone
2. Median progression-free survival (PFS) of 14.6 months vs 10.0 months for TACE alone
3. Trend toward improved overall survival, though data not yet mature
4. Safety profile consistent with previous studies
The results, presented at ESMO Congress 2024, highlight the potential of this combination therapy to extend PFS in patients with unresectable, non-metastatic HCC.
Merck's KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) plus chemoradiotherapy (CRT) showed significant benefits in treating high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer. The Phase 3 KEYNOTE-A18 trial demonstrated:
- 33% reduction in death risk compared to CRT alone
- 36-month overall survival rate of 82.6% vs 74.8% for CRT alone
- First positive overall survival results for an immunotherapy-based regimen in this patient group
The study, presented at the ESMO Congress 2024, could potentially change the treatment paradigm for these patients. KEYTRUDA's safety profile was consistent with previous studies, with no new safety signals identified.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced significant overall survival (OS) results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-811 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy for first-line treatment of HER2-positive advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. The KEYTRUDA regimen demonstrated:
- 20% reduction in risk of death (HR=0.80) compared to trastuzumab and chemotherapy alone
- Median OS of 20.0 months vs 16.8 months
- 21% reduction in risk of disease progression or death in patients with PD-L1 expressing tumors (CPS ≥1)
- Consistent safety profile with previous studies
These results support the existing accelerated approval in the U.S. and recent approval in the EU for this indication.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced that Joseph Romanelli, president of Human Health International, will participate in a fireside chat at the Bank of America 2024 Global Healthcare Conference. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at 6:40 a.m. EDT / 11:40 a.m. BST.
Investors, analysts, media members, and the general public are invited to listen to a live audio webcast of the presentation. Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has provided a weblink for interested parties to access the live stream.
This participation in a major healthcare conference highlights Merck's ongoing engagement with the investment community and its commitment to sharing insights about its international human health operations.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) has announced positive top-line results from its Phase 3 trial evaluating GARDASIL®9, its 9-valent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, in Japanese males aged 16 to 26. The trial met its primary and secondary endpoints, demonstrating that a 3-dose regimen of GARDASIL 9 reduced the combined incidence of anogenital persistent infection caused by 9 types of HPV compared to placebo.
Dr. Eliav Barr, senior vice president at Merck Research Laboratories, emphasized the company's commitment to preventing HPV-related cancers through broad and equitable access globally. Merck plans to share these data with regulatory authorities in Japan and other countries to support licensure for use in males. Additionally, an ongoing confirmatory Phase 3 trial is evaluating the vaccine's efficacy in preventing HPV oral persistent infection to support effectiveness against HPV-related oropharyngeal and other head and neck cancers.
Daiichi Sankyo and Merck's ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd) shows promising results in treating extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) in the IDeate-Lung01 phase 2 trial. Key findings include:
- 54.8% objective response rate at 12 mg/kg dose
- Median overall survival of 11.8 months at 12 mg/kg dose
- 50% intracranial response rate in patients with brain lesions
- 12 mg/kg selected as optimal dose for further studies
The safety profile is consistent with previous trials, with no new safety signals identified. These results support the potential of B7-H3 as a target in SCLC treatment.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) will present new data for 10 investigational or approved medicines at the ESMO Congress 2024 in Barcelona. Key highlights include:
1. Overall survival (OS) data for KEYTRUDA in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer and locally advanced cervical cancer.
2. Ten-year OS data from KEYNOTE-006 and final OS data from KEYNOTE-811 for KEYTRUDA in advanced melanoma and HER2-positive gastric cancer.
3. Progress in Merck's pipeline of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), including patritumab deruxtecan, sacituzumab tirumotecan, and ifinatamab deruxtecan.
4. Data on WELIREG for advanced renal cell carcinoma and LENVIMA for hepatocellular carcinoma.
The presentations showcase Merck's continued progress in advancing clinical research across a broad portfolio and diverse pipeline of investigational candidates.
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