• Sales Reflect Sustained Growth, Particularly in Oncology and Vaccines
• Total Worldwide Sales Were $16.0 Billion, an Increase of 7% From Third Quarter 2022; Excluding LAGEVRIO, Growth Was 6%; Excluding LAGEVRIO and the Impact of Foreign Exchange, Growth Was 8%
  • KEYTRUDA Sales Grew 17% to $6.3 Billion; Excluding the Impact of Foreign Exchange, Sales Also Grew 17%
  • GARDASIL/GARDASIL 9 Sales Grew 13% to $2.6 Billion; Excluding the Impact of Foreign Exchange, Sales Grew 16%
  • LAGEVRIO Sales Grew 47% to $640 Million; Excluding the Impact of Foreign Exchange, Sales Grew 51%
• GAAP EPS Was $1.86; Non-GAAP EPS Was $2.13
• Announced Collaboration Agreement With Daiichi Sankyo for Three Clinical-Stage ADC Candidates
• Received FDA Approval of KEYTRUDA for Perioperative Treatment of Certain Patients With NSCLC in Combination With Chemotherapy, Based on KEYNOTE-671 Trial
• Obtained FDA Priority Review of Biologics License Application for Sotatercept
• Presented Compelling Data at ESMO 2023 Congress, Including:
  • Phase 3 KEYNOTE-671 Trial
  • Phase 3 KEYNOTE-A39/EV-302 Trial Conducted in Collaboration With Seagen and Astellas
• Initiating Phase 3 Trials in 2023 Across Multiple Therapeutic Areas, Including Oncology, Cardiometabolic and Immunology
• Full-Year 2023 Financial Outlook:
  • Raises and Narrows Expected Worldwide Sales Range To Be Between $59.7 Billion and $60.2 Billion, Including Negative Impact of Foreign Exchange of Approximately 2 Percentage Points; Outlook Includes Approximately $1.3 Billion of LAGEVRIO Sales
  • Now Expects Non-GAAP EPS To Be Between $1.33 and $1.38, Including the Negative Impact of Foreign Exchange of Approximately 6 Percentage Points; Outlook Reflects Negative Impact From Upfront Charge of $5.5 Billion, or $1.70 per Share, Related to the Collaboration Agreement With Daiichi Sankyo

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2023.

“Our strong results this quarter reflect our talented team’s commitment to bringing forward important innovation and pursuing breakthroughs for all those who count on us,” said Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “We continue to push the boundaries of science, making disciplined investments to augment our diverse pipeline and applying our expertise to accelerate potentially transformative treatments to address patient needs – including through our recently announced collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo. I am proud of our progress as we continue to execute at the highest level and work to generate strong and sustainable value, today and well into the future.”

Financial Summary

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) earnings per share (EPS) assuming dilution was $1.86 for the third quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP EPS was $2.13 for the third quarter of 2023. The increases in GAAP and non-GAAP EPS in the third quarter versus the prior year were primarily due to operational strength in the business, as well as $0.22 of charges recorded in 2022 related to collaboration and licensing agreements with Moderna, Inc. (Moderna), Orna Therapeutics (Orna) and Orion Corporation (Orion). The increase in GAAP EPS in the third quarter of 2023 was also driven by the impacts of intangible asset impairment charges recorded in 2022, compared with no such charges recorded in 2023, and lower losses from investments in equity securities in 2023. The increases in both GAAP and non-GAAP EPS in the third quarter were partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange.

Non-GAAP EPS excludes acquisition- and divestiture-related costs, costs related to restructuring programs, as well as income and losses from investments in equity securities.

Year-to-date results can be found in the attached tables.

Third-Quarter Sales Performance

The following table reflects sales of the company’s top products and significant performance drivers.

Third-Quarter Expense, EPS and Related Information

The table below presents selected expense information.

GAAP Expense, EPS and Related Information

Gross margin was 73.3% for the third quarter of 2023 compared with 73.7% for the third quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange, higher LAGEVRIO sales, which have a low gross margin, and higher acquisition- and divestiture-related costs. The gross margin decline was partially offset by lower revenue from third-party manufacturing arrangements, lower manufacturing-related costs and the favorable impact of product mix.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $2.5 billion in both the third quarters of 2023 and 2022, primarily reflecting increased promotional spending, offset by lower administrative costs.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $3.3 billion in the third quarter of 2023 compared with $4.4 billion in the third quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to charges recorded in 2022 of $887 million for intangible asset impairments, largely related to nemtabrutinib, and $690 million for collaboration and licensing agreements with Moderna, Orna and Orion. The decrease in R&D expenses was partially offset by higher compensation and benefit costs in 2023, reflecting in part increased headcount, higher investments in discovery research and early drug development and higher clinical development spending.

Other (income) expense, net, was $126 million of expense in the third quarter of 2023 compared with $429 million of expense in the third quarter of 2022, primarily due to lower net losses from investments in equity securities.

The effective tax rate was 15.5% for the third quarter of 2023 compared with 9.2% in the third quarter of 2022.

GAAP EPS was $1.86 for the third quarter of 2023 compared with $1.28 for the third quarter of 2022.

Non-GAAP Expense, EPS and Related Information

Non-GAAP gross margin was 77.0% for both the third quarters of 2023 and 2022, due to the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange, and higher LAGEVRIO sales, which have a low gross margin, offset by lower revenue from third-party manufacturing arrangements, lower manufacturing-related costs and the favorable impact of product mix.

Non-GAAP SG&A expenses were $2.5 billion in both the third quarters of 2023 and 2022, primarily reflecting increased promotional spending, offset by lower administrative costs.

Non-GAAP R&D expenses were $3.3 billion in the third quarter of 2023 compared with $3.5 billion in the third quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to charges of $690 million in 2022 related to collaboration and licensing agreements with Moderna, Orna and Orion. The decrease in R&D expenses was partially offset by higher compensation and benefit costs in 2023, reflecting in part increased headcount, higher investments in discovery research and early drug development and higher clinical development spending.

Non-GAAP other (income) expense, net, was $133 million of expense in the third quarter of 2023 compared with $105 million of expense in the third quarter of 2022.

The non-GAAP effective tax rate was 15.0% for the third quarter of 2023 compared with 13.6% in the third quarter of 2022.

Non-GAAP EPS was $2.13 for the third quarter of 2023 compared with $1.85 for the third quarter of 2022.

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP net income and EPS is provided in the table that follows.

Pipeline and Portfolio Highlights

Merck continued to achieve regulatory and clinical milestones across its expansive pipeline and portfolio. The company is initiating Phase 3 trials in 2023 in multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, cardiometabolic and immunology, and in new modalities. These include investigational individualized neoantigen therapy V940 in combination with KEYTRUDA, antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) MK-2870 and lysine-specific demethylase-1 inhibitor MK-3543 in oncology, oral PCSK9 inhibitor candidate MK-0616 in cardiovascular, and humanized monoclonal antibody MK-7240 in immunology.

In oncology, the company received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of KEYTRUDA for the treatment of certain patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as a neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment, the company’s eighth approval of KEYTRUDA in earlier-stage cancer. The FDA also granted priority review to two supplemental New Drug Applications (sNDAs): for WELIREG in certain previously treated patients with advanced RCC, and for KEYTRUDA in cervical cancer. Notably, Merck presented compelling new data at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2023 that showcased the company’s progress in earlier stages of cancers, its foundational position in metastatic disease and continued momentum in its diverse oncology pipeline.

In cardiovascular disease, Merck received priority review from the FDA for a new Biologics License Application (BLA) for sotatercept, the company’s novel investigational activin signaling inhibitor for the treatment of adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (World Health Organization Group 1), based on clinically meaningful results from the Phase 3 STELLAR trial. The FDA set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), or target action, date of March 26, 2024. If approved, sotatercept would be the first in its class, bringing a novel approach to address a rare and progressive disease of the pulmonary arteries. Merck’s submission for sotatercept to the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in the European Union (EU) has also been completed.

Additionally, Merck entered into a collaboration agreement with Daiichi Sankyo for three potentially first-in-class clinical-stage DXd ADCs for the treatment of multiple solid tumors, both as monotherapy and/or in combination with other treatments. This collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo will further augment and diversify Merck’s oncology pipeline.

Notable recent news releases on Merck’s pipeline and portfolio are provided in the table that follows.

Sustainability Highlights

Merck issued its 2022/2023 Impact Report highlighting the company’s performance across its sustainability efforts, reflecting strong progress toward its commitments to advance access to health and operate responsibly. The report noted how the company reached more than 500 million people around the world with its innovations in 2022 and expanded two of its 2025 Access to Health goals.

Full-Year 2023 Financial Outlook

The following table summarizes the company’s full-year financial outlook.

Merck has not provided a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP other (income) expense, net, non-GAAP effective tax rate and non-GAAP EPS to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, given it cannot predict with reasonable certainty the amounts necessary for such a reconciliation, including intangible asset impairment charges, legal settlements, and income and losses from investments in equity securities either owned directly or through ownership interests in investment funds, without unreasonable effort. These items are inherently difficult to forecast and could have a significant impact on the company’s future GAAP results.

Merck continues to experience strong sustained demand for key growth products, particularly in oncology and vaccines. As a result, Merck is raising and narrowing its full-year sales outlook. Merck now expects full-year sales to be between $59.7 billion and $60.2 billion, including a negative impact of foreign exchange of approximately 2 percentage points, at mid-October 2023 exchange rates. This full-year outlook includes approximately $1.3 billion of LAGEVRIO sales.

Merck’s full-year non-GAAP effective income tax rate is expected to be between 39.0% and 40.0%, which includes an approximate 24.5 percentage point negative impact related to business development activity.

Merck now expects its full-year non-GAAP EPS to be between $1.33 and $1.38, including a negative impact of foreign exchange of approximately 6 percentage points, at mid-October 2023 exchange rates. This revised non-GAAP EPS range reflects the following, which were not previously included in the outlook:

• Additional strength in the business of approximately $0.15 per share.
• A pretax charge of $5.5 billion, or $1.70 per share, for the collaboration agreement with Daiichi Sankyo.
• Estimated expense in the fourth quarter of 2023 of approximately $0.04 per share to advance the ADC assets and finance the transaction with Daiichi Sankyo.
• A 1%, or approximately $0.05 per share, incremental negative impact of foreign exchange.

The non-GAAP EPS range excludes acquisition- and divestiture-related costs, costs related to restructuring programs, income and losses from investments in equity securities, and a previously disclosed charge related to settlements with certain plaintiffs in the Zetia antitrust litigation.

Earnings Conference Call

Investors, journalists and the general public may access a live audio webcast of the earnings conference call on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 9 a.m. ET via this weblink. A replay of the webcast, along with the sales and earnings news release, supplemental financial disclosures, prepared remarks and slides highlighting the results, will be available at www.merck.com.

All participants may join the call by dialing (888) 769-8514 (U.S. and Canada Toll-Free) or (517) 308-9208 and using the access code 8206435.

About Merck

At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of the global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Appendix

Generic product names are provided below.

Pharmaceutical

BRIDION (sugammadex)

GARDASIL (Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent [Types 6, 11, 16 and 18] Vaccine, Recombinant)

GARDASIL 9 (Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant)

JANUMET (sitagliptin and metformin HCl)

JANUVIA (sitagliptin)

KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab)

LAGEVRIO (molnupiravir)

Lenvima (lenvatinib)

Lynparza (olaparib)

M-M-R II (Measles, Mumps and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live)

PREVYMIS (letermovir)

PROQUAD (Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella Virus Vaccine Live)

VARIVAX (Varicella Virus Vaccine Live)

VAXNEUVANCE (Pneumococcal 15-valent Conjugate Vaccine)

WELIREG (belzutifan)

Animal Health

BRAVECTO (fluralaner)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231026033195/en/