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 has announced a voluntary licensing agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) for its investigational oral COVID-19 antiviral, molnupiravir. The agreement allows MPP to sublicense molnupiravir production in 105 low- and middle-income countries, ensuring affordable access without royalties for Merck, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, and Emory University as long as COVID-19 is a public health emergency. Merck aims to enhance global healthcare access through this initiative, marking MPP's first voluntary license for a COVID-19 treatment.
The Phase 2 clinical study has commenced, evaluating a once-weekly oral combination of islatravir and lenacapavir for HIV treatment, led by Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK). This collaboration aims to provide long-acting HIV therapies to address diverse patient needs. The study will assess safety and antiviral effects, with a primary endpoint of HIV-1 RNA viral load at Week 24. Both investigational drugs have shown promise in earlier trials, with the goal of addressing adherence and stigma issues in HIV treatment.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) reported positive outcomes from two pivotal Phase 3 trials (ILLUMINATE SWITCH A and B) assessing the investigational combination pill doravirine/islatravir (DOR/ISL) in HIV-1 patients on antiretroviral therapy. Both trials met primary efficacy endpoints after 48 weeks, showcasing comparable antiviral efficacy with existing treatments. The safety profile remained consistent with previous studies. These findings will support global regulatory submissions and future presentations at scientific congresses, demonstrating Merck's commitment to advancing HIV treatments.
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Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced the European Commission's approval of KEYTRUDA, an anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with chemotherapy for first-line treatment of locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in adults whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10). This approval, based on the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-355 trial, showed a 27% reduction in the risk of death and a 34% reduction in disease progression compared to chemotherapy alone. KEYTRUDA is now available in all 27 EU member states and additional regions, marking a significant advancement in TNBC treatment options.
The Next Practices Group has appointed Ray Kerins as the new CEO of The Next Security Group (NextSec) starting November 1, enhancing its focus on public affairs and security, including cybersecurity and physical protection.
Kerins, who previously served in senior roles at Bayer, Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), and Merck (NYSE: MRK), aims to bolster the company’s offerings to protect and promote client reputations.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced that the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has unanimously recommended updates to pneumococcal vaccination for adults 65 and older, and adults 19 to 64 with specific health conditions. The committee suggested a sequential regimen of VAXNEUVANCE followed by PNEUMOVAX 23, or a single dose of the 20-valent vaccine. These recommendations aim to address the significant unmet need for preventing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) among at-risk populations. The final guidelines will be published in the CDC’s MMWR.
Darwin Global Management has issued a letter urging shareholders of Acceleron Pharma Inc. (XLRN) to reject Merck's (MRK) proposed acquisition offer of
Merck (NYSE: MRK) is voluntarily recalling one lot of CUBICIN® (daptomycin for injection) due to a customer complaint reporting glass contamination in the vials. Approximately 22,000 vials from Lot 934778, expiring in June 2022, are affected. The recall is initiated to the user level and aims to prevent serious health risks associated with glass infusion. To date, there have been no reported adverse events linked to this issue. Customers with affected vials are instructed to contact Sedgwick for return instructions and prepaid shipping labels.
Merck (NYSE: MRK) and Eisai announced that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued positive opinions for the combination of KEYTRUDA and LENVIMA. This therapy targets advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and advanced endometrial carcinoma (EC), showing significant improvements in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in clinical trials. In the CLEAR/KEYNOTE-581 trial, KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA reduced the risk of death by 34% and disease progression by 61% compared to sunitinib. The decision from the European Commission is expected by Q4 2021.