Merck on Thursday reported third-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings that topped expectations as the company saw strong sales from its top-selling cancer drug Keytruda, recently launched treatments and its animal health business.
But Merck's vaccine that prevents cancer from HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S., posted another quarter of lighter-than-expected sales.
Revenue from the shot, Gardasil, fell 11% compared to the year-earlier period, mainly due to lower demand in China.
The company booked $16.66 billion in revenue for the third quarter, up 4% from the same period a year ago.
The loss of exclusive rights to the medicine will likely cause sales to fall, forcing the company to draw revenue from elsewhere.
Persons:
Keytruda, Curon, Merck
Organizations:
Merck, LSEG
Locations:
Rahway , New Jersey, U.S, China