Also known as: Merck, Merck & Co, Merck & Co., Merck & Co Inc, Merck & Co. Inc., MSD
BioNTech faces mixed analyst views as Bernstein initiates with a cautious Market Perform rating, while the company secures FDA Fast Track designation for BNT113 and prepares for a shareholder vote on capital restructuring and leadership transition.
FDA approves AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo's Datroway for first-line TNBC patients not eligible for PD-1/L1 inhibitors, based on Phase III TROPION-Breast02 data showing a 21% reduction in risk of death versus chemotherapy.
MSD said sacituzumab tirumotecan improved overall survival and progression-free survival in the Phase III TroFuse-005 trial in endometrial cancer. The study also met its objective response rate endpoint.
Trump secured agreements with 16 pharmaceutical companies tied to TrumpRx.gov, including most-favoured-nation pricing and direct-to-patient discounts. Several companies disclosed price cuts for obesity, diabetes, insulin and other medicines.
Merck's Enflonsia (clesrovimab) receives EU approval for RSV prevention in infants. Separately, researchers identify a monoclonal antibody cocktail from pediatricians' immune cells that shows potent protection against RSV and hMPV in animal studies.
The FDA approved Keytruda and Keytruda Qlex with paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab, for PD-L1-positive platinum-resistant ovarian-related cancers. The Phase III KEYNOTE-B96 trial showed improved progression-free and overall survival versus placebo.
Merck received FDA approval in early February 2026 for KEYTRUDA and KEYTRUDA QLEX in PD-L1-positive platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The decision marks the first approval of a PD-1 inhibitor regimen for this setting.
Merck is expanding its AI efforts through partnerships with Google Cloud and Mayo Clinic. The company said it will deploy AI across R&D and use multimodal clinical datasets to support drug discovery and precision medicine.
MSD signed a Google Cloud agreement worth up to $1 billion and entered an AI-focused R&D collaboration with Mayo Clinic. The deals expand AI use in drug discovery, development and broader operations.
Deutsche Bank upgraded Merck to Buy and raised its price target to $150 from $115, citing a clear path beyond Keytruda’s patent expiration. Merck meanwhile forecast 2026 revenue of $65.5 billion to $67.0 billion and said it faces a $2.5 billion headwind this year.
