1. Scrip
  2. >>Business
  3. >>Strategy

Merck: It’s Not Just Keytruda Driving Future Growth

 
• By Mandy Jackson

The company will depend on Keytruda for growth after spinning out some franchises, but executives argued during its Q4 earnings call that there will be much more to Merck than the cancer blockbuster.

Merck_New_Jersey
Merck posted 11% pharma sales growth in 2019

Merck & Co. Inc. issued an earnings day surprise for investors when it announced on 5 February that it will spin out a handful of older franchises in a new company, leaving Merck with a portfolio dominated by the immuno-oncology blockbuster Keytruda (pembrolizumab).

Executives objected to analyst concerns that Merck going forward will be too dependent on the PD-1 inhibitor, noting during the...

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 Strategy

Finance Watch: Lila Sciences Raises $235m To Refine Its AI Factories For Drugs And More

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Private Company Edition: Flagship’s Lila secures big series A cash six months after $200m seed funding announced in March. Also, Reunion Neuroscience increases its series A to $133m, Dualitas launches with $65m and Tasca grows its series A to $67m as its lead drug enters Phase I/II.

Nanobiotix/J&J Early Melanoma Data Show Potential For Future Indication

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Radiotherapy enhancer JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) generated a 47% ORR and 78.9% DCR in melanoma patients after multiple prior rounds of treatment. Discussions about development in additional cancers are ongoing with partner J&J.

Roche Makes Major MASH Bid, Offering $2.4bn For 89Bio

 
• By Joseph Haas

About four months after GSK paid $1.2bn up front for another FGF21 analog in MASH, Roche looks to buy 89Bio, adding Phase III pegozafermin to its growing cardiometabolic pipeline.

Vepdegestrant Up For Grabs As Pfizer And Arvinas Step Aside

 
• By Manas Mishra

Pfizer and Arvinas have agreed to out-license their PROTAC breast cancer candidate, vepdegestrant, with Arvinas cutting jobs and refocusing on early-stage assets.

More from Business

Publisher’s Spotlight: Shortlist Unveiled For Citeline Japan Awards

 
• By Ian Haydock

Shortlists of potential winners in all categories of the Citeline Japan Awards 2025 have now been released. Join us at the event in Tokyo on October 21, it’s not too late to book your table!

Asia Deal Watch: Aditum Founds Kalexo With Mabwell To Develop Dual-Target SiRNA Asset

 
• By Joseph Haas, Xu Hu, Anju Ghangurde, Vibha Ravi, and Lisa Takagi

Plus deals involving Adagene/Exelixis, Biocytogen/Tubulis, Kwangdong/Ocugen, Dr. Reddy’s/J&J, Zydus/Synthon, Stallergenes/Nuance, Argo/Novartis, XW Pharma/Avadel, Biocytogen/Merck & Co., JCR/Medipal, Novatim/Radiance and more.

Roivant Sets The Stage For Commercial Return With Brepocitinib Data

 
• By Jessica Merrill

Positive Phase III data positions Roivant to launch the oral TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor for dermatomyositis, with an NDA filing planned in early 2026.