Merck doped by its anti -cancer treatments in the 4th quarter

Keystone-SDA
The American laboratory Merck on Tuesday published sales up in the fourth quarter of 2024, still supported by its flagship drugs in oncology and animal health, but sales of its vaccine against the Gardasil papillomavirus fell.
(Keystone-ATS) The pharmaceutical group, known as Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) outside the United States and Canada, has garnered a turnover of $ 15.6 billion (14.3 billion francs) of October to the end of December (+7% over a year), he said in a statement. It is more than anticipated by a consensus of analysts interviewed by FostSet.
Throughout the year, turnover reaches $ 64.2 billion (+7%), in accordance with the group’s forecasts.
Net profit is displayed in the fourth quarter at $ 3.74 billion, against a loss of 1.2 billion a year earlier. The laboratory had then plunged into red due to a large -scale load with the Japanese Daiichi Sankyo.
Reported by action, and excluding exceptional elements, the profit reaches $ 1.72, also greater than the expectations of Wall Street analysts. Throughout the year, it appears at $ 7.65, a figure slightly lower than the laboratory forecasts.
In detail, Keytruda cancer treatment continues its exponential progression. This “blockbuster” status treatment, recommended in more and more indications against various types of cancer, reported $ 7.8 billion in revenues in the fourth quarter (+19% over a year). Throughout the year, its sales reach $ 29.5 billion (+18%).
Another carrier segment, the animal health division, which garnered $ 1.4 billion in revenues in the fourth quarter (+9% over one year), thanks in particular to higher prices, as well as a higher demand for Products for cattle.
Conversely, sales of the Gardasil vaccine, for the prevention of papillomavirus, dropped to $ 1.55 billion (-17% over a year) due to a decline in demand in China. In this context, the laboratory announced on Tuesday that it would temporarily interrupt the sale of this vaccine in China from February, and at least until the middle of the year.
By taking these new data into account, the group anticipates 2025 global sales in slight increase, between 64.1 and 65.6 billion dollars, and a profit per share – excluding exceptional elements – between 8.88 and 9, $ 03.
Around 12:30 p.m. GMT, in electronic exchanges before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange, the Merck title fell 8.4%.