1. Scrip
  2. >>Business
  3. >>Earnings

Merck Confident In Keytruda’s Dominance In Lung Cancer, Despite Competitors’ Data

 
• By Joseph Haas

With Keytruda sales of more than $3bn during Q3 and roughly 80% market share in lung cancer, Merck indicates little worry about recent data readouts for BMS and AstraZeneca in NSCLC.

Two leading hard currencies - US Dollar versus Euro
Keytruda's revenue topped $3bn during the third quarter

Merck & Co. Inc.’s third- quarter revenue growth of 15% was driven largely by its cancer and vaccine portfolios, as Keytruda (pembrolizumab) notched worldwide sales of nearly $3.1bn, good for 62% growth year-over-year. The pharma told its quarterly earnings call on 29 October that it expects Keytruda to maintain its strong market-share hold in lung cancer despite positive readouts in the past week for competing immuno-oncology regimens from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and AstraZeneca PLC.

Overall, Merck reported sales of $12.4bn for the third quarter as its vaccines business, headed up by the HPV preventative...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Earnings

Top 10 Drugs Q1 2025: Keytruda Dominates; Mounjaro Climbs

 
• By Eleanor Malone

Lilly’s Mounjaro for diabetes rose from sixth to third position among the top-selling drugs in the first quarter of 2025, Rival Ozempic retained second position and Merck & Co’s immuno-oncology blockbuster Keytruda stayed far ahead.

Stock Watch: Generics Firms Trapped Between US Tariffs And European Austerity

 
• By Andy Smith

Successive annual reductions in European drug prices following the pandemic are affecting the global sales of generic pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, the imposition of US import tariffs may result in generic drug supply becoming unprofitable.

Stock Watch: On Q1 Vaccine Sales And Measles Outbreaks

 
• By Andy Smith

A recent study suggested that measles could become endemic in the US due to low vaccination rates. However, first-quarter vaccine sales offered a more nuanced picture.

Loss Of Exclusivity Product Launches To Fuel Aurobindo’s FY26 Europe Growth

 
• By Vibha Ravi

Aurobindo is banking on launches of loss of exclusivity products and biosimilars to fuel sales in Europe as it awaits a US announcement on tariffs and predicts high single-digit growth overall during FY26 for now

More from Business

BerGenBio Plumps For Oncoinvent From Long List Of 50 Suitors

 
• By Kevin Grogan

The merger with a fellow Norwegian biotech comes a few months after its lead asset, bemcentinib, bit the dust.

Global Pharma Interest In Korea Undeterred Despite Political Roller Coaster

 
• By Jung Won Shin

Despite recent political turmoil, outside investor and corporate interest in South Korean biopharma innovation appears robust or even increasing.

Protagonist Hopes To Come From Behind In Obesity With Oral Triple Agonist

 
• By Jessica Merrill

The company announced plans to move an oral GLP-1/GIP/GCG receptor agonist peptide into clinical development for obesity in 2026.