Merck’s Keytruda Fails to Reach Main Goal in Gastric Cancer Trial

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Merck ($NYSE:MRK) & Co., a renowned American pharmaceutical company, announced on Tuesday that its immunotherapy drug Keytruda failed to meet one of the two primary objectives in a late-stage trial examining its efficacy as a treatment for gastric cancer. This news has struck a heavy blow to the company’s stock prices and the hopes of many patients. Merck & Co. is a major American multinational pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Kenilworth, New Jersey.

The company develops and manufactures prescription drugs and biologics, vaccines, over-the-counter treatments, and animal health products. It is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and is known for its groundbreaking treatments and innovations.

Price History

On Tuesday, Merck‘s stock opened at $109.1 before closing at $110.2, indicating a 0.8% increase from its last closing price of $109.3. This comes shortly after news that Merck’s Keytruda drug had failed to meet its main goal in a clinical trial for gastric cancer. The trial, which was designed to assess the drug’s efficacy in treating advanced gastric cancer, found that Keytruda was not superior to chemotherapy in terms of overall survival rate. While the drug still managed to demonstrate a trend toward improved progression-free survival, it ultimately failed to provide sufficient evidence that it should be used as a first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer. Live Quote…

About the Company

Income Snapshot

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Analysis

We at GoodWhale have conducted an extensive analysis of MERCK’s fundamentals. Based on our Risk Rating, MERCK is a medium risk investment that requires careful consideration of its financial and business aspects. Our analysis has also revealed 3 risk warnings in the income sheet, balance sheet, and non-financial aspects, so it’s important to be mindful when making decisions about investing in MERCK. If you want to learn more, you can register on goodwhale.com and check out our full report. Mercks_Keytruda_Fails_to_Reach_Main_Goal_in_Gastric_Cancer_Trial”>More…

Peers

In the pharmaceutical industry, Merck & Co Inc is up against some stiff competition. Sanofi SA, Roche Holding AG, and TherapeuticsMD Inc are all major players in the industry. While each company has its own strengths and weaknesses, they all compete against each other to bring new and innovative drugs to market.

– Sanofi SA ($LTS:0O59)

As of 2022, Sanofi SA has a market capitalization of 102.29 billion euros and a return on equity of 7.56%. The company is a French multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Paris, France, and is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Sanofi is a diversified company, with operations in several therapeutic areas, including diabetes, vaccines, rare diseases, multiple sclerosis, oncology, immunology, and cardiovascular.

– Roche Holding AG ($LTS:0TDF)

Roche Holding AG, a Swiss multinational healthcare company, has a market cap of 270.34B as of 2022. The company’s Return on Equity is 47.83%. Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. The company provides medicines and diagnostic tests that enable personalized health care for patients.

– TherapeuticsMD Inc ($NASDAQ:TXMD)

TherapeuticsMD Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company, which focuses on developing and commercializing products for the health and well-being of women. It offers products in various therapeutic areas, such as Menopause, Osteoporosis, Chronic Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy, and other health conditions related to hormone deficiency and imbalances. The company was founded by Robert G. Finizio, George S. Paletta, and Douglas S. Leighton in 2010 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, FL.

Summary

Merck & Co, the global pharmaceutical giant, saw its stock drop after the company announced that their blockbuster immunotherapy drug Keytruda failed to meet one of the two main goals in a late-stage clinical trial testing it as a treatment for gastric cancer. The news has impacted investors’ confidence in the company’s ability to make successful investments and research into new treatments. Analysts remain cautious about the future of Merck & Co, and suggest investors remain aware of any potential risks associated with the company’s current clinical trials and drug development programs.