2018 results show Merck KGaA battling currency headwinds

7 March 2019

Germany’s Merck KGaA (MRK: DE) has released its final quarter and full year results statement for 2018, showing that net sales increased over the year, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) fell due to the effect of foreign exchange.

The firm’s performance in its Healthcare division was driven byimmuno-oncology (I-O) therapy Bavencio (avelumab) and multiple sclerosis therapy Mavenclad (cladribine), which together helped the unit to produce organic sales growth of 5.2% in 2018.

For the fourth quarter, group sales rose by 6.6% to 3.9 billion euros ($4.4 billion), attributable to strong organic growth of 7.2% driven by all three business sectors. Earnings per share (EPS) amounted to 1.22 euros in the fourth quarter.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free. A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Try before you buy

Free

7 day trial access

Take a Free Trial

All the news that moves the needle in pharma and biotech
Exclusive features, podcasts, interviews, data analyses and commentary from our global network of life sciences reporters.
Receive The Pharma Letter daily news bulletin, free forever.

Become a subscriber

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now

Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription

The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK