Merck & Co.'s Transitional Year Is Off To A Sluggish Start

The company, in the midst of a leadership and structural transition, said the pandemic negatively impacted revenues by about $600m.

Turtle — Merck & Co. got off to a slow financial start • Source: Alamy

Merck & Co., Inc..'s first quarter earnings call on 29 April was the last for CEO Ken Frazier, who is passing the leadership reins to president Robert Davis on 30 June. The financial results weren't a strong way for Frazier to go out, as Merck & Co.'s financials were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and even the company's crown jewel – Keytruda – posted slower growth.

With about 70% of the company's pharmaceutical portfolio made up of physician administered products, including vaccines, Merck & Co. said health care disruptions caused by the pandemic continued to weigh...

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