The week in pharma: action, reaction and insight – week to August 4, 2023

6 August 2023

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

Two of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies - Merck & Co and Pfizer - last week reported second-quarter financial results that were seriously impacted by the decline in the need for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, but still came out with impressive figures. Troubled US biotech EQRx, which launched with the promise of reforming drug pricing, has given up its dream and accepted an all-stock merger proposal from Revolution Medicines. Japanese drugmakers Sumitomo Pharma and Otsuka suffered a setback in their two clinical trials of the schizophrenia candidate ulotaront.

Keytruda and Gardasil lead Merck’s earnings beat

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