Core Insights - Merck reported Q1 2025 adjusted EPS of $2.22, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15, with a year-over-year earnings increase of 7% on a reported basis and 12% excluding foreign exchange impacts [1][2] - Revenues declined 2% year-over-year to $15.53 billion, but still surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $15.39 billion [2] Sales Performance - Keytruda, Merck's flagship product, generated sales of $7.21 billion, a 6% increase, but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.55 billion due to timing issues in wholesaler purchases [3] - Alliance revenues from Lynparza and Lenvima contributed positively, with Lynparza sales increasing 8% to $312 million and Lenvima revenues totaling $258 million, up 2% [4] - Welireg sales surged 63% to $137 million, driven by higher demand in the U.S. [5] Vaccine Sales - Sales of HPV vaccines Gardasil and Gardasil 9 fell 40% to $1.33 billion, primarily due to lower demand in China [6] - Combined sales of Proquad, M-M-R II, and Varivax vaccines decreased 5% to $539 million, while sales of the pneumococcal 15-valent conjugate vaccine Vaxneuvance rose 7% to $230 million [7][8] Diabetes and Other Products - Sales of the Januvia/Janumet franchise rose 21% year-over-year to $796 million, benefiting from higher net pricing in the U.S. [9] - New PAH drug Winrevair generated $280 million in sales, up from $200 million in the previous quarter [9] Animal Health Segment - The Animal Health segment generated revenues of $1.59 billion, up 5% year-over-year, driven by higher demand for livestock products [11] Cost and Margin Analysis - Adjusted gross margin was 82.2%, up 100 basis points year-over-year, while adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses rose 3% to $2.53 billion [12] - Adjusted R&D spending decreased 9% to $3.61 billion, attributed to lower business development charges [13] 2025 Guidance - Merck maintained its sales guidance for 2025, expecting revenues between $64.1 billion and $65.6 billion, with a revised negative impact from foreign exchange of around 1% [14] - Adjusted EPS guidance was revised to a range of $8.82 to $8.97, accounting for a one-time charge related to a licensing agreement [16] Market Reaction and Future Outlook - Shares of Merck traded higher in pre-market following the earnings report, despite a 21% year-to-date decline compared to a 3% fall in the industry [19] - The company is aware of its reliance on Keytruda and is taking steps to diversify its portfolio, with a late-stage pipeline that has nearly tripled over the past three years [21]

Financial Performance - First-quarter worldwide sales reached $15.5 billion, a 2% decrease compared to the previous year, but increased 1% excluding exchange rate fluctuations[1,19] - Human Health sales were $13.6 billion, a 3% decrease, but increased 5% excluding GARDASIL sales in China[19] - Animal Health sales grew by 10% to $1.6 billion[20,36] - KEYTRUDA sales increased by 6% to $7.2 billion, driven by increased uptake in earlier-stage cancers and metastatic indications[21,22] - Non-GAAP EPS increased by 7% to $2.22[39] Product Performance - GARDASIL sales decreased by 40% to $1.3 billion, due to soft demand in China[27,28] - WINREVAIR global Q1 sales reached $280 million[33] - CAPVAXIVE sales were $107 million, driven by retail pharmacy demand[27] Pipeline and Regulatory Updates - The FDA accepted the BLA for subcutaneous pembrolizumab with berahyaluronidase alfa[10,76] - The FDA accepted the sBLA for KEYTRUDA in earlier-stage HNSCC[10,76] - The European Commission granted conditional approval for WELIREG for certain RCC and other tumors[52,76] - GARDASIL 9 was approved in China for males aged 16-26[49,73] Financial Outlook - The company maintained its revenue guidance of $64.1 billion to $65.6 billion for 2025[40] - Non-GAAP EPS guidance was updated to $8.82 to $8.97, including a ~$0.06 charge related to a license agreement with Hengrui Pharma[40]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported total revenues of $15.5 billion, reflecting a decrease of 2% year-over-year, or an increase of 1% when excluding foreign exchange impacts [23][12] - Earnings per share (EPS) were reported at $2.22, with a gross margin of 82.2%, an increase of one percentage point due to a favorable product mix [35][34] - The company maintained its full-year revenue guidance of between $64.1 billion and $65.6 billion, representing growth of 1% to 3% excluding foreign exchange impacts [36][35] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In oncology, sales of Keytruda grew 6% to $7.2 billion, driven by increased uptake in earlier-stage cancers and robust demand for metastatic indications [25] - GARDASIL sales decreased by 40% to $1.3 billion, primarily due to reduced demand in China, while global growth excluding China was strong at 16% [27][24] - The animal health business saw sales increase by 10%, reflecting higher demand across all species and contributions from the Aqua portfolio acquired from Elanco [32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The decline in GARDASIL sales in China was approximately $1.1 billion, which reduced growth excluding foreign exchange by seven percentage points [24] - Outside of the US and China, GARDASIL experienced strong demand, particularly from a catch-up cohort in Japan [27] - The company noted that the ongoing launch of WinRevair generated global sales of $280 million, with significant uptake in both the US and international markets [30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on balancing its manufacturing footprint and has invested $12 billion in US manufacturing since 2018, with an additional commitment of over $9 billion through 2028 [11][10] - The strategic direction emphasizes the advancement of a robust pipeline, with over 20 promising new products expected to launch in the coming years, potentially generating over $50 billion in commercial opportunities by the mid-2030s [16][19] - The company is committed to maintaining its dividend and prioritizing investments in business development to drive growth and returns for shareholders [42][44] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the outlook for improved growth in the second half of the year, despite challenges from tariffs and foreign exchange impacts [12][13] - The company is well-positioned to navigate the potential impacts of tariffs due to its global supply chain and inventory management strategies [13][70] - Management highlighted the importance of scientific leadership and innovation as key drivers for long-term value creation [20][19] Other Important Information - The company has nearly tripled its late-phase pipeline since 2021, with significant advancements in oncology, cardiometabolic diseases, and HIV treatments [16][14] - The FDA has set PDUFA dates for several key products, including subcutaneous pembrolizumab and doravirine-based regimens, indicating a strong pipeline of upcoming approvals [60][56] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss Merck's strategies to mitigate tariffs? - Management highlighted ongoing efforts to rebalance the supply chain and invest in US manufacturing to mitigate the impact of existing tariffs, with a focus on optimizing supply chain strategies [70][72] Question: What is the long-term guidance for KEYTRUDA? - Management emphasized confidence in the long-term potential of the pipeline, with over 20 new products expected to drive significant revenue growth, but did not provide specific line-by-line guidance [78][79] Question: Can you comment on the FDA's recent changes and their impact on vaccines? - Management noted that while there are active dialogues with the FDA regarding imminent PDUFA dates, the long-term impact of personnel transitions remains uncertain [85][86] Question: What is the environment for business development given current macroeconomic conditions? - Management acknowledged the complexities in the current environment but reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing science-driven business development opportunities [92][94] Question: What are the expectations for GARDASIL growth moving forward? - Management indicated that while GARDASIL growth is expected to slow, strong growth is anticipated outside of China, and they are focused on maximizing opportunities in the market [132][131]

Core Insights - Merck reported revenue of $15.53 billion for Q1 2025, a decrease of 1.6% year-over-year, with an EPS of $2.22, up from $2.07 in the same quarter last year, exceeding both revenue and EPS consensus estimates [1][2] Financial Performance - Revenue of $15.53 billion compared to Zacks Consensus Estimate of $15.39 billion, resulting in a surprise of +0.93% [1] - EPS of $2.22 compared to consensus estimate of $2.15, leading to an EPS surprise of +3.26% [1] Key Metrics - Merck's stock has returned -10.6% over the past month, underperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -5.1% change [3] - Current Zacks Rank for Merck is 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market [3] Oncology Sales - Keytruda U.S. sales were $4.31 billion, below the average estimate of $4.47 billion, but up 4.6% year-over-year [4] - Keytruda International sales were $2.90 billion, compared to the $3.08 billion estimate, reflecting a 2.4% year-over-year increase [4] - Lynparza U.S. sales reached $145 million, exceeding the $121.96 million estimate, with a year-over-year increase of 7.4% [4] - Lynparza International sales were $168 million, below the $178.66 million estimate, but up 7% year-over-year [4] - Total Keytruda sales amounted to $7.21 billion, compared to the $7.55 billion estimate, marking a 3.7% year-over-year increase [4] Other Product Sales - Zerbaxa sales in Hospital Acute Care were $70 million, surpassing the $63.07 million estimate, with a 25% year-over-year increase [4] - Animal health sales were $1.59 billion, slightly below the $1.61 billion estimate, but up 5.1% year-over-year [4] - Prevymis sales were $208 million, exceeding the $190.69 million estimate, with a significant year-over-year increase of 19.5% [4] - Reblozyl sales reached $119 million, above the $101.77 million estimate, reflecting a substantial year-over-year increase of 67.6% [4]

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, The ...

Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) has reversed its premarket lead, down 2% at $77.20 at last glance. The company posted better-than-expected first-quarter results but cut its profit outlook, expecting a $200 million dent from tariffs. Creeping back down toward its April 16 three-year low of $75.95, MRK is down 22.7% since the start of the year. So far today, MRK has seen 21,000 calls and 29,000 puts exchanged -- triple the overall options volume typically seen at this point. The May 75 put is t ...

智通财经APP获悉，生物科技公司Halozyme Therapeutics Inc.(HALO.US)起诉默沙东(MRK.US)，试图阻 止其推出更易使用的重磅抗癌药Keytruda新剂型，指控这家制药巨头侵犯其知识产权。 根据周四向美国新泽西地区法院提交的诉讼文件，默沙东在开发可皮下注射版Keytruda(替代静脉输注 剂型)时，故意侵犯了Halozyme的专利。Halozyme要求法院禁止新版Keytruda的商业化上市——该产品 预计将于今年晚些时候推出。 Keytruda在2024年为默沙东创造近300亿美元收入，已成为癌症治疗的基石和制药史上最畅销产品。但 这款占默沙东近半数营收的药物，预计将在2028年面临低价竞争和政府定价谈判。默沙东计划在该剂型 获批后尽快让患者转换用药，这意味着任何上市延迟都可能打乱公司的长期规划。 Halozyme首席执行官海伦·托利今年3月表示，公司希望与默沙东达成授权协议，仅当计划落空时才会采 取法律行动。 皮下注射剂型对默沙东的未来增长至关重要。该公司未立即回应就诉讼置评的请求。默沙东此前曾表 示，认为Halozyme相关专利无效，并对自身法律立场充满信心。为开发注射 ...

美国生物技术公司Halozyme对默沙东提起专利侵权诉讼 智通财经4月24日电，美国生物技术公司Halozyme当地时间4月24日在美国地区法院对默沙东公司提起 专利侵权诉讼。Halozyme公司认为，默沙东公司的抗肿瘤药物可瑞达（Keytruda）侵犯了Halozyme公司 从2011年开始申请的多项专利。 ...

Merck (MRK) came out with quarterly earnings of $2.22 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15 per share. This compares to earnings of $2.07 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non- recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 3.26%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this pharmaceutical company would post earnings of $1.69 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.72, delivering a surprise of 1.78%. Over the last four quarters, the com ...

Market Overview - US stock index futures are all down, with Dow futures down 0.47%, S&P 500 futures down 0.31%, and Nasdaq futures down 0.26% [1] - European indices also show declines, with Germany's DAX down 0.07%, UK's FTSE 100 down 0.04%, France's CAC40 down 0.14%, and the Euro Stoxx 50 down 0.18% [2] - WTI crude oil increased by 1.25% to $63.05 per barrel, while Brent crude rose by 1.03% to $66.80 per barrel [2] US Stock Market Insights - Jefferies highlights a critical point for the S&P 500 index at 5500, which needs to be breached to recover from a 19% drop since February's historical high [3] - Christopher Wood from Jefferies suggests that the golden era for US stocks is over, predicting further declines in US equities, bonds, and the dollar [5] Automotive Industry - Japanese automakers saw a surge in US sales in March, with Toyota's sales up 8% to 231,336 units, Honda's up 13%, and Nissan's up 10% [4] Company Earnings Reports - Merck's Q1 earnings exceeded expectations with sales of $15.5 billion, although they anticipate a $200 million loss due to tariffs by 2025 [9] - American Airlines withdrew its 2025 profit guidance, reporting a Q1 net loss of $473 million, worsened by tariff pressures and government spending uncertainties [9] - Procter & Gamble lowered its annual organic sales growth forecast from 3%-5% to 2% due to tariff pressures and fluctuating consumer demand [10] - Sanofi's Q1 earnings surpassed expectations, driven by strong demand for its Dupixent drug, with sales of €9.89 billion [10] - IBM reported Q1 sales of $14.5 billion, exceeding expectations, but concerns remain regarding the impact of tariffs and government spending cuts on business [11] - Texas Instruments provided a positive Q2 earnings outlook, with expected revenue between $4.17 billion and $4.53 billion, driven by improved demand in industrial and automotive sectors [12] Technology Sector - Google Chrome's potential market value is estimated at over $50 billion, according to competitors, amid ongoing antitrust scrutiny [13] - TSMC plans to begin production using A14 chip technology in 2028, aiming to maintain its leadership in the semiconductor industry [13]