RAHWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE: MRK), today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an expanded label for BRAVECTO® QUANTUM (fluralaner for extended-release injectable suspension) in dogs. The updated indication adds treatment and control of Asian longhorned tick (H. longicornis) and Gulf Coast tick (A. maculatum) for 12 months. ...

Darmstadt, Germany, March 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Employee volunteer program brings hands-on science learning to communities worldwideMore than 600.000 students reached and nearly 200.000 employee volunteer hours Ambitious 2035 goals aim to double student reach and expand global impact Merck, a leading science and technology company, marks the 10th anniversary of SPARK™, its global employee volunteer program that connects employees with communities through hands-on science learning and local service ...

Core Viewpoint - Merck announced the presentation of new clinical and real-world data supporting the long-term effectiveness of its 9-valent HPV vaccine, GARDASIL®9, and its 4-valent HPV vaccine, GARDASIL, against certain HPV-related cancers and diseases at the EUROGIN International conference [1]. Group 1 - The company is reaffirming the effectiveness of its HPV vaccines through new data [1]. - GARDASIL®9 is a 9-valent Human Papillomavirus vaccine, while GARDASIL is a 4-valent version [1]. - The presentation will take place at the EUROGIN International conference, highlighting the importance of the findings [1].

Key Takeaways MRK faces 2028 LOE for Keytruda, which generated $31.7B in 2025, around 55% of pharmaceutical sales.Merck sees $70B in potential non-risk-adjusted commercial opportunities from its pipeline by the mid-2030s.New drugs like Capvaxive posted $759M & Winrevair posted $1.4B sales in 2025 while supporting growth.Merck (MRK) is focusing on driving long-term growth through the newer products and a promising set of pipelines as its blockbuster PD-1 inhibitor, Keytruda, approaches patent expiration in 2 ...

Artisan Partners, an investment management company, released its fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter for “Artisan Value Fund”.  A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund seeks to invest in undervalued companies with strong financial condition and attractive business economics. US equities ended a record year with robust fourth-quarter gains. AI remains the main theme of the market, and large-cap stocks led the rally in the fourth quarter. Against this backdrop, the portfolio outperformed the Rus ...

Group 1 - PepsiCo, Inc. is evaluated positively by Jim Cramer, emphasizing the importance of not selling good stocks due to short-term concerns, highlighting a 3.5% yield and effective leadership under CEO Ramon Laguarta [1] - The company produces a variety of products including beverages, snacks, cereals, dairy, and ready-to-drink items, with a focus on its snack division, Frito-Lay, which is currently facing challenges due to the impact of GLP-1 weight loss drugs [2] - Despite concerns regarding the snack division, PepsiCo's stock experienced a significant increase, closing almost five points higher, indicating potential positive market movements or reactions to broader industry performance [2] Group 2 - There is a belief that while PepsiCo has investment potential, certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and less downside risk, suggesting a shift in investment focus [3]

Core Insights - Merck & Co., Inc. is a global healthcare company facing competition from major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson [1] - Mohit Bansal from Wells Fargo has set a price target of $150 for MRK, indicating a potential increase of 29.07% from its current price of $116.22 [1][6] Sales Performance - Gardasil vaccine sales dropped by 39% year over year in 2025, totaling $5.2 billion, primarily due to weak demand in China [2][6] - The decline in Gardasil sales is compounded by reduced demand in Japan and other vaccines, with management not expecting a recovery in 2026 [3] Stock Performance - MRK's current stock price is $115.48, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.63% from the previous day, with a market capitalization of approximately $285.5 billion [4][6] - Over the past year, MRK has experienced stock price volatility, with a high of $125.14 and a low of $73.31 [4] Market Activity - Today's trading volume for MRK is 687,521 shares, indicating investor interest and market activity [5]

Core Viewpoint - Merck & Co., Inc. is navigating challenges in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly with its Gardasil vaccine, while maintaining a strong market position and receiving positive ratings from analysts [1][3][4]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Merck's stock closed at $117.11, reflecting a 1.14% increase from the previous close, outperforming major indexes like the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq [2][4]. - The stock has shown resilience despite a prior decline of 5.04%, indicating investor confidence ahead of the upcoming earnings report [2]. Group 2: Financial Outlook - Analysts predict an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.57 for the upcoming earnings report on April 30, 2026, representing a significant year-over-year decline of 125.68% [2]. - Revenue is expected to increase by 3.09% to $16.01 billion, indicating some growth potential despite challenges [2][4]. Group 3: Product Challenges - Merck's Gardasil vaccine sales dropped by 39% in 2025, primarily due to reduced demand in China, impacting its partnership with Zhifei and halting shipments [3]. - There is no expected rebound in Gardasil sales for 2026, which may continue to pressure Merck's revenue streams [3]. Group 4: Analyst Ratings - Wells Fargo has reaffirmed an "Overweight" rating on Merck, raising the price target to $150, reflecting optimism about the company's future performance [1][4].

Core Viewpoint - Wells Fargo has raised its price target for Merck (MRK) to $150, driven by the potential of sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) to replace chemotherapy in various cancer treatments, alongside the growth of KEYTRUDA and a robust pipeline of 80 Phase 3 studies [1] Group 1: Stock Performance and Predictions - Merck's stock has gained 23% over the past year and 8% year-to-date, currently trading below its 52-week high of $125.14 [1] - The Street consensus price target for Merck is $127.22, while Wells Fargo's target of $150 suggests significant upside potential [1] - Achieving a $150 price target would imply a market capitalization exceeding $283.4 billion, necessitating positive late-stage data for sac-TMT and sustained growth for KEYTRUDA [1] Group 2: Key Drivers of Stock Performance - Emerging growth portfolio: WINREVAIR, Merck's treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension, generated $467 million in Q4 2025, reflecting a 133% year-over-year increase [1] - KEYTRUDA's revenue reached $8.337 billion in Q4 2025, up 6% year-over-year, with new FDA approvals expanding its indications [1] - The potential of sac-TMT to displace chemotherapy in multiple cancer types represents a significant commercial opportunity for Merck's oncology franchise [1] Group 3: Strategic Developments - The FDA awarded sac-TMT a Commissioner's National Priority Voucher, indicating strong regulatory support for its development [1] - A strategic financing agreement with Blackstone Life Sciences has been established to partially fund the development of sac-TMT [1]

Core Insights - Codexis is focusing on RNA medicine through its ECO Synthesis platform, which is expected to address a growing market for siRNA medicines projected to reach a $2 billion annual market in five years [3][4] Financial Performance - Q4 2025 revenue increased to $38.9 million, up from $21.5 million in Q4 2024, driven by a technology transfer agreement with Merck [5][17] - Full-year 2025 revenue was $70.4 million, compared to $59.3 million in 2024 [17] - Product gross margins improved to 64% for both Q4 and the full year, up from 56% in the previous year [18] - The net loss for Q4 2025 was $9.6 million, a significant improvement from a loss of $10.4 million a year earlier, while the full-year net loss narrowed to $44.0 million from $65.3 million [20] Technical Milestones - In 2025, Codexis achieved a milestone by synthesizing 10 grams of commercially relevant siRNA and is currently operating at a 100-gram scale, with a target of reaching half-kilogram scale by year-end 2026 [2][7] - The company is also developing capabilities for stereochemical control in siRNA production, which could enhance potency [15][16] Commercial Engagement - Codexis has a pipeline of 55 opportunities across 40 companies, including a low seven-figure contract to supply 50 grams of ECO-produced siRNA for preclinical work [6][12] - The company signed three CDMO agreements with Bachem, Nitto Denko Avecia, and Axolabs, exceeding its goal of one agreement for 2025 [14] Future Outlook - Codexis expects 2026 revenue to be between $72 million and $76 million, with a focus on signing longer-term contracts and pursuing new licensing deals [21][22] - The company plans to retrofit a GMP facility, with construction expected to begin in the second half of 2026 and be operational by the end of 2027 [9][22]