Keytruda key to Merck & Co's estimate-topping profits

28 July 2017

Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) beat analyst predictions with its second quarter earnings, with soaring sales for the immuno-oncology drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) proving crucial.

The US drug giant achieved sales of $9.9 billion, a 1% rise on a year ago and above analysts’ expectations of $9.75 billion.

Sales of Keytruda, the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) monoclonal antibody which has become the leader of the first generation of immuno-oncology drugs, nearly tripled to $881 million in the quarter, beating consensus estimates of $777 million, according to Barclays.

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