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Merck Revenue Soars, Setting High Bar For Future Growth

Business Development A Priority For New Spending

 
• By Mandy Jackson

With pharma sales up 13% in Q3, questions mount about investments in its pipeline to diversify beyond Keytruda and keep the momentum going after its top seller faces biosimilars in 2028. 

Businessman plans business growth with increases through 2022
Merck expects double-digit growth in full-year 2022 revenue as well • Source: Shutterstock

Merck & Co., Inc. delivered double-digit revenue growth during the third quarter, largely driven by increasing use of its market-leading PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in new indications, including earlier lines of cancer treatment. The success of its top seller brings both investor enthusiasm about current gains and concerns about keeping the growth momentum going into the future, especially as the prospect of Keytruda biosimilars in 2028 edges closer.

Merck’s Q3 earnings report on 27 October showed how dependent the company currently is on the immuno-oncology asset, which generated...

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