Merck & Co., Inc. reported a
strong financial start to 2019, with an eight percent increase in it
first-quarter earnings, due partly to vaccine sales. Worldwide
sales for the pharmaceutical company in the
first quarter reached $10.8 billion, up from approximately $10 billion in the first quarter of 2018. Merck attributed the overall growth to sales of its vaccines and oncology products.1
Sales of Gardasil (quadrivalent) and Gardasil 9 (nine-valent) HPV vaccines aimed at preventing certain cancers and genital warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), increased by 27 percent for a total of $838 million in Gardasil vaccine sales in the first quarter of 2019.1
International sales represented 58 percent of Merck’s total first-quarter earnings, with China leading the market, particularly with the commercial launch of Gardasil in the country. HPV vaccine rates are increasing for both boys and girls in Europe, which created higher demand and sales for vaccines. Meanwhile, this international sales growth offset lower sales for HPV vaccines in the U.S.1
Further, Merck experienced a 27 percent boost in first-quarter sales from 2018 to 2019 in pediatric vaccines, which include Varivax (varicella virus vaccine live) to prevent chickenpox, and Proquad (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella virus vaccine live) and M-M-R II (measles, mumps, rubella virus vaccine live), two combination vaccines. Sales for the three vaccine products totaled $496 million in the first quarter of 2019.1
Given Merck’s higher-than-expected first-quarter profit, the firm raised its outlook for the full-year earnings, forecasting a range between $43.9 billion to $45.1 billion.1
“Our strong start to 2019, with double-digit sales and earnings per share growth in the first quarter, demonstrates our execution across all aspects of our business and the strength of our key growth pillars, including oncology and vaccines,” said Merck’s chairman and chief executive officer, Kenneth Frazier. “Our investments in research and development are paying off, and we are confident in our science-driven strategy, growth prospects and ability to sustainably deliver value to patients and shareholders.”1
Referenc
first quarter reached $10.8 billion, up from approximately $10 billion in the first quarter of 2018. Merck attributed the overall growth to sales of its vaccines and oncology products.1
Sales of Gardasil (quadrivalent) and Gardasil 9 (nine-valent) HPV vaccines aimed at preventing certain cancers and genital warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), increased by 27 percent for a total of $838 million in Gardasil vaccine sales in the first quarter of 2019.1
International sales represented 58 percent of Merck’s total first-quarter earnings, with China leading the market, particularly with the commercial launch of Gardasil in the country. HPV vaccine rates are increasing for both boys and girls in Europe, which created higher demand and sales for vaccines. Meanwhile, this international sales growth offset lower sales for HPV vaccines in the U.S.1
Further, Merck experienced a 27 percent boost in first-quarter sales from 2018 to 2019 in pediatric vaccines, which include Varivax (varicella virus vaccine live) to prevent chickenpox, and Proquad (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella virus vaccine live) and M-M-R II (measles, mumps, rubella virus vaccine live), two combination vaccines. Sales for the three vaccine products totaled $496 million in the first quarter of 2019.1
Given Merck’s higher-than-expected first-quarter profit, the firm raised its outlook for the full-year earnings, forecasting a range between $43.9 billion to $45.1 billion.1
“Our strong start to 2019, with double-digit sales and earnings per share growth in the first quarter, demonstrates our execution across all aspects of our business and the strength of our key growth pillars, including oncology and vaccines,” said Merck’s chairman and chief executive officer, Kenneth Frazier. “Our investments in research and development are paying off, and we are confident in our science-driven strategy, growth prospects and ability to sustainably deliver value to patients and shareholders.”1
Referenc
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