Merck projects continued investment and growth as Keytruda patent expires

Merck reported third‑quarter results on an investor call, saying sales expectations were above forecasts thanks to strong performance of subcutaneous Keytruda and the pulmonary arterial hypertension drug Winrevair.

The company acknowledged upcoming patent expirations for its flagship cancer therapy Keytruda and said it will lean on its pipeline and upcoming product launches to offset the anticipated revenue decline.

Chief Financial Officer Caroline Litchfield described 2027 as a year of investment, emphasizing continued funding for the pipeline and the pursuit of business development opportunities while preserving financial flexibility.

Chief Executive Officer Robert Davis expressed confidence that Merck can navigate the Keytruda loss, pointing to recent positive clinical readouts as supporting evidence.