Merck(US:MRK) Guo Ji Jin Rong Bao·2025-07-31 13:28Core Insights - Merck's total revenue for the first half of the year was $31.335 billion, a 2% year-over-year decline, with pharmaceutical revenue at $27.688 billion, down 3% [2] - Sales of the core HPV vaccine plummeted, with revenue in China dropping 70% to $1.075 billion, representing only 3.9% of Merck's global pharmaceutical business [2] - Keytruda (pembrolizumab) sales increased by 7% to $15.16 billion, but the growth rate has slowed significantly compared to 18% in the first half of 2024 [2] - The HPV vaccine Gardasil/Gardasil9 also saw a significant decline, with sales of $2.453 billion, down 48% year-over-year [2] Cost-Saving Measures - In response to the decline in performance, Merck initiated a cost-saving plan aimed at saving $3 billion annually until the end of 2027, with funds reinvested to support new product launches across multiple therapeutic areas [2] - As part of this plan, Merck approved a restructuring project that will involve cutting administrative, sales, and R&D positions while continuing to hire in strategic growth areas [2] - The company will also reduce its global real estate footprint and optimize its manufacturing network [2] Future Outlook and Challenges - The slowdown in core product growth is expected to impact Merck's annual and future performance, with key patents for Keytruda expiring in 2028 and competition from biosimilars and domestic PD-1 drugs threatening market share [3] - Geopolitical tensions and trade wars pose additional risks, with potential tariffs on goods from various countries, including a 15% to 50% tariff on imports, affecting Keytruda's production base in Ireland [3] - Merck has taken measures to mitigate these risks by transferring sufficient inventory to the U.S. to ensure supply is not affected by tariff policies before the end of 2025 [3] - For the full year 2025, Merck projects global sales between $64.3 billion and $65.3 billion, raising questions about finding new growth drivers [3] Investment Plans - Merck is looking to invest in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a potential growth area, announcing a $10 billion acquisition of Verona Pharma, which focuses on respiratory diseases [3] - The acquisition centers on Ensifentrine, a dual inhibitor of phosphodiesterase-3 and phosphodiesterase-4, which is expected to be a breakthrough therapy for COPD, with market sales projected to exceed $1 billion and potentially reach $4 billion [3]