Merck

Senator Maggie Hassan is questioning Merck about its patent and pricing practices for the cancer drug Keytruda, alleging the company uses excessive patents to delay cheaper alternatives. The letter highlights concerns that Merck's strategies have kept prices high and limited patient access, with an investigation suggesting the new injectable version could delay competition until the 2030s.

Congress is investigating Merck and AbbVie over clinical trials conducted in China, specifically at military facilities and in Xinjiang. A bipartisan House committee has requested details on hundreds of these studies.

German drugmaker Merck is acquiring US medical tools maker Bio-Techne in a $11.3 billion deal, marking the German group's largest acquisition in over a decade.

Enliven Therapeutics' leukemia drug, ELVN-001, achieved a 48% major molecular response rate in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) at 24 weeks. The drug showed higher efficacy in earlier-stage CML patients and outperformed existing treatments from Novartis and Merck in early-stage study results.

Chemist Tim Cernak transitioned from pharmaceuticals to conservation, using AI and protein-modeling software like AlphaFold to design targeted treatments for animals and ecosystems. He works with species like Gila monsters, bald eagles, and loggerhead sea turtles, advocating for 'conservation chemistry' to address ecological health.

GSK acquired Nuvalent, a cancer drug developer, in a $10.6 billion deal to expand its oncology portfolio, while Merck and Gilead Sciences reported success in final-stage trials for a once-weekly HIV pill combining their experimental drugs. The GSK acquisition highlights ongoing biopharma industry consolidation as companies bolster pipelines amid generic competition.

GSK acquired cancer drugmaker Nuvalent for $10.6 billion, reflecting the rising significance of cancer in the pharmaceutical market. The move aims to leverage Nuvalent’s antibody therapies to compete with companies like Merck, as cancer becomes more prevalent and treatable due to aging populations and advancements in detection and treatment.

A reverse-aging drug was injected into a human for the first time by Boston-based biotech startup Life Biosciences. The treatment targets age-related diseases through cellular reprogramming, with initial testing on a patient with glaucoma. Billionaires and pharmaceutical companies, including Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, Eli Lilly, and Merck, are investing in this longevity science.

Mexican federal authorities seized vials labeled as Keytruda during a raid to dismantle a counterfeit medication ring, with five vials found in a March operation alongside other illicit drugs and items. Merck, the drug's manufacturer, cannot confirm the vials' authenticity, and the high cost of Keytruda has driven counterfeit production, leading to patient harm.

A new personalized mRNA cancer therapy, intismeran autogene, combined with KEYTRUDA, reduced melanoma recurrence or death risk by 49% over five years in a phase 2b study. The treatment, developed by Merck and Moderna, showed sustained benefits and a manageable safety profile in high-risk melanoma patients. It is now in phase 3 trials.

A global coalition is fast-tracking three vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, with $62 million in funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). The current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo lacks a licensed vaccine, as Merck’s Ervebo only targets the Zaire ebolavirus.

A personalized mRNA vaccine developed by Moderna and Merck shows promise in reducing the recurrence of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, according to a five-year follow-up of a Phase 2b study.

Peyton Greenside, CEO of BigHat Biosciences, critiques the hype around AI-driven drug development, emphasizing that while AI can rapidly design proteins, the actual drug-making process remains time-consuming and costly. The company, founded in 2019, partners with major pharmaceutical firms like Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and Amgen.

EU and US regulatory advisers have diverged in their assessment of AstraZeneca's breast cancer drug, signaling potential approval challenges. The disagreement highlights different regulatory approaches between the two regions on this oncology treatment.

Biogen and Denali Therapeutics' experimental Parkinson's drug targeting the LRRK2 protein failed to slow disease progression in a clinical trial, dealing a setback to a promising scientific approach. Separately, Genentech is offering researchers up to $125,000 in grants to produce papers on pharmaceutical pricing policies and innovation, raising questions about the independence of such research.

Merck and China-based Kelun-Biotech's drug sacituzumab tirumotecan demonstrated a 65% reduction in tumor progression risk in Phase 3 lung cancer trials. The study represents the first successful combination of an antibody-drug conjugate with PD-1 immunotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients, with preliminary survival benefits observed.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists hosted a live Q&A discussing its Cancer Calculus investigation, which examines how pharmaceutical industry practices related to patents, pricing, and billing affect access to cancer treatments. The event featured ICIJ reporter Sydney P. Freedberg, health economist Bill Pajerowski, and digital producer Carmen Molina Acosta.

A new treatment for endometrial cancer, sacituzumab tirumotecan, demonstrated strong potential in a Phase 3 clinical trial, meeting its primary endpoints of overall survival and progression-free survival. The trial involved 776 patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. The results show promise for addressing a critical unmet need for certain patients.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading rapidly and is already the fourth largest on record. There is no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo species of the virus, but the existing licensed Ebola vaccine, Merck's Ervebo, may offer some protection. The outbreak is occurring in a conflict zone, making containment a challenge.

Merck is selling high-grade bonds to fund a deal, with the company's headquarters located in Rahway, New Jersey. The bond sale consists of seven parts. Merck aims to raise funds through this financial transaction.