On October 27, 2020 Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, reported financial results for the third quarter of 2020.
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"We continue to execute on our strategic priorities and remain confident we will achieve solid full-year revenue growth despite the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Demand for our products remains robust, and production, supply and distribution of our medicines, vaccines and animal health products are moving forward with minimal disruption," said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. "I am confident in our ability to advance our promising pipeline and clinical trials despite the challenging environment, and I believe that our leadership and track record of solid commercial execution will continue to drive long-term growth."
GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share assuming dilution (EPS) was $1.16 for the third quarter of 2020. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.74 for the third quarter of 2020 excludes acquisition- and divestiture-related costs, restructuring costs, pretax charges of $1.1 billion related to certain license and collaboration agreements, and certain other items. Year-to-date results can be found in the attached tables.
COVID-19 Research Highlights
Building on the company’s experience with antivirals and vaccines, Merck advanced its multiple scientific programs in an effort to help combat SARS-CoV-2, specifically,
Molnupiravir (formerly known as MK-4482) — an orally available antiviral candidate in development for the treatment of COVID-19 in collaboration with Ridgeback Bio with the initiation of two large pivotal Phase 2/3 trials: a trial anticipated to enroll approximately 1,450 non-hospitalized adult COVID-19 patients (outpatient) and another planned to enroll approximately 1,300 hospitalized adult COVID-19 patients;
V591 — a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate that uses a measles virus vector platform has entered Phase 1 development; and
V590 — a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate in development in collaboration with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) that uses a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) platform, the same platform used for Merck’s approved Ebola Zaire virus vaccine, will enter Phase 1 development shortly.
Oncology Pipeline Highlights
Merck continued to advance the development programs for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), the company’s anti-PD-1 therapy; Lynparza (olaparib), a PARP inhibitor being co-developed and co-commercialized with AstraZeneca; and Lenvima (lenvatinib mesylate), an orally available tyrosine kinase inhibitor being co-developed and co-commercialized with Eisai Co., Ltd. (Eisai), in addition to other notable developments as follows:
Merck announced the following regulatory milestones for KEYTRUDA:
Approval in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of an expanded indication as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) based on the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-204 trial and an updated pediatric indication for the treatment of pediatric patients with refractory cHL or cHL that has relapsed after two or more lines of therapy, both of which were previously approved under the FDA’s accelerated approval process; and
Two approvals in Japan: (1) as monotherapy for the treatment of patients whose tumors are PD-L1-positive and have radically unresectable, advanced or recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who have progressed after chemotherapy based on the KEYNOTE-181 trial; and (2) use at an additional recommended dosage of 400 mg every six weeks (Q6W) administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes across all adult indications, including KEYTRUDA monotherapy and combination therapy.
Merck presented results from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-590 trial for the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Virtual Congress 2020. In the study, KEYTRUDA in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil [5-FU]) significantly improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) versus chemotherapy regardless of histology or PD-L1 expression status.
Merck presented five-year survival results from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-024 trial at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Virtual Congress 2020, which demonstrated a sustained, long-term survival benefit and durable responses with KEYTRUDA versus chemotherapy as a first-line treatment in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (tumor proportion score [TPS] ≥50%) with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. Results from KEYNOTE-024 represent the longest follow-up survival data for an immunotherapy in a randomized Phase 3 study for the first-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC.
Merck presented long-term findings from the EORTC1325/KEYNOTE-054 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA as adjuvant therapy in resected, high-risk stage III melanoma at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Virtual Congress 2020.
Merck presented three-year survival data from the KEYNOTE-021 (Cohort G) study that evaluated KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy in patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC regardless of PD‑L1 expression with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations at the IASLC 2020 North America Conference on Lung Cancer (NACLC). Updated follow-up data from a Phase 1/2 study of quavonlimab (MK-1308), a novel investigational anti-CTLA-4 antibody, in combination with KEYTRUDA in patients with advanced NSCLC also was presented; a Phase 3 study of quavonlimab coformulated with KEYTRUDA in first-line advanced NSCLC is planned.
Merck and AstraZeneca announced the adoption of two positive opinions by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Lynparza:
As a first-line maintenance treatment with bevacizumab for homologous recombination deficient (HRD)-positive advanced ovarian cancer who are in complete or partial response following completion of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with bevacizumab based on the Phase 3 PAOLA-1 trial, and
As monotherapy for the treatment of BRCA1/2 metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients who have progressed following a prior therapy that included a new hormonal agent based on the Phase 3 PROfound trial. Final results from this study were recently presented at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Virtual Congress 2020.
Merck and AstraZeneca presented positive five-year follow-up data from the Phase 3 SOLO-1 trial, which demonstrated a long-term PFS benefit of Lynparza versus placebo as a first-line maintenance treatment in patients with newly diagnosed, advanced BRCA-mutated (BRCAm) ovarian cancer who were in complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy.
Merck and Eisai presented first-time data from two studies evaluating KEYTRUDA plus Lenvima at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Virtual Congress 2020: data from the Phase 2 LEAP-004 study for the second-line treatment of patients with unresectable or advanced melanoma who progressed on anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy and from the Phase 2 LEAP-005 study in previously-treated patients with six tumor types, including biliary tract cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, ovarian cancer and triple-negative breast cancer.
Merck also presented new data for three investigational medicines from its oncology pipeline at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Virtual Congress 2020:
New Phase 1 data for the company’s anti-TIGIT therapy vibostolimab (MK-7684) as monotherapy and in combination with KEYTRUDA in patients with metastatic NSCLC,
First-time Phase 1 results for the novel anti-immunoglobulin-like transcript 4 (ILT4) therapy MK-4830 in patients with advanced solid tumors, and
New Phase 2 data evaluating the hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor MK-6482 in von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) patients with non-renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumors and updated data in VHL patients with clear cell RCC.
Other Pipeline Highlights
Merck announced that two Phase 3 adult studies [the pivotal PNEU-AGE trial (V114-019) as well as the PNEU-TRUE trial (V114-020)] and separately two other Phase 3 adult studies [the PNEU-PATH (V114-016) and PNEU-DAY (V114-017) trials], evaluating the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of V114, the company’s investigational 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, each met their primary immunogenicity objectives. These findings, and additional Phase 3 data from the clinical program, will form the basis of global regulatory licensure applications beginning with the FDA before the end of the year.
Merck presented results from two pivotal Phase 3 trials (COUGH-1 and COUGH-2) evaluating gefapixant, an investigational, orally administered selective P2X3 receptor antagonist, in which gefapixant 45 mg twice daily demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in 24-hour cough frequency compared to placebo at Week 12 and 24 in adult patients with refractory or unexplained chronic cough. The gefapixant 15 mg twice daily treatment arms did not meet the primary efficacy endpoint in either Phase 3 study. The results were presented at the Virtual European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2020.
Merck presented Week 96 data from the Phase 2b trial that showed islatravir, the company’s investigational oral nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor (NRTTI), in combination with doravirine (PIFELTRO), maintained viral suppression in treatment-naïve adults with HIV-1 infection. Also presented at the virtual 2020 International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection (HIV Glasgow 2020 Virtual) were results from Phase 1/1b studies for MK-8507, the company’s investigational once-weekly, oral non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), that support further investigation for once-weekly oral administration as part of combination antiretroviral therapy.
The FDA has granted V181, the company’s investigational dengue vaccine in Phase 1 development, Fast Track designation.
Business Developments
Merck and Seagen Inc. (formerly known as Seattle Genetics, Inc.) announced two strategic oncology collaborations, in which Merck will make $810 million of upfront payments in the aggregate as well as acquire a $1 billion equity stake in Seagen common stock:
Companies to co-develop and co-commercialize Seagen’s ladiratuzumab vedotin, an investigational antibody-drug conjugate targeting LIV-1, globally; and
Companies enter into exclusive license and co-development agreement to accelerate global reach of Tukysa (tucatinib), a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor for the treatment of HER-2 positive cancers. Merck was granted an exclusive license to commercialize Tukysa in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America and other regions outside of the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Merck and Hanmi Pharmaceutical announced that the companies have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for the development, manufacture and commercialization of efinopegdutide (formerly HM12525A), Hanmi’s investigational once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/glucagon receptor dual agonist, for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH);
Merck announced the completion of its acquisition of IdentiGEN, a leader in DNA-based animal traceability solutions for livestock and aquaculture; and
Merck announced the completion of its acquisition of the worldwide rights to VECOXAN (diclazuril), an oral suspension for the prevention of coccidiosis in calves and lambs.
Organon & Co.
Merck continued to make progress on the Organon & Co. (Organon) spinoff, including additional leadership appointments, and expects the transaction to be completed in the second quarter of 2021.
Third-Quarter Financial Impact of COVID-19
In the third quarter, the estimated negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to Merck’s pharmaceutical revenue was approximately $475 million, bringing the company’s year-to-date negative impact on revenue to approximately $2.1 billion. Lower back-to-school demand negatively impacted vaccine sales, in particular GARDASIL 9 (Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant) in the U.S. In addition, access to health care providers remains reduced, although improved from the second quarter. The negative impact to Animal Health sales in the third quarter was immaterial.
Operating expenses were positively impacted in the third quarter by approximately $115 million, primarily driven by lower promotional and selling costs as well as lower research and development (R&D) expenses, net of investments in COVID-19-related antiviral and vaccine research programs.
Third-Quarter Revenue Performance
The following table reflects sales of the company’s top pharmaceutical products, as well as sales of animal health products.
*Alliance revenue for these products represents Merck’s share of profits, which are product sales net of cost of sales and commercialization costs.
**Other revenues are comprised primarily of third-party manufacturing sales and miscellaneous corporate revenues, including revenue hedging activities.
Pharmaceutical Revenue
Third-quarter pharmaceutical sales increased by $225 million, or 2%, to $11.3 billion. The increase was driven primarily by growth in oncology and certain hospital acute care products, partially offset by the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing impacts of the loss of market exclusivity for several products.
Growth in oncology was largely driven by higher sales of KEYTRUDA, which grew 21% to $3.7 billion in the quarter. In the U.S., sales of KEYTRUDA grew 24% to $2.2 billion. Global sales growth of KEYTRUDA reflects continued strong momentum from the NSCLC indications as well as continued uptake in other indications, including adjuvant melanoma, RCC, bladder, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) cancers as well as uptake following the recent launch of the Q6W dosing regimen in the U.S., partially offset by the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and pricing in Japan. Also contributing to growth in oncology was higher alliance revenue related to Lynparza and Lenvima reflecting continued uptake in approved indications in the U.S., Europe and China.
Performance in hospital acute care reflects higher demand globally for BRIDION (sugammadex), a medicine for the reversal of neuromuscular blockade induced by rocuronium bromide or vecuronium bromide in adults undergoing surgery and the ongoing launch of PREVYMIS (letermovir), a medicine for prophylaxis (prevention) of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in adult CMV-seropositive recipients of an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
In addition, sales of JANUVIA (sitagliptin) and JANUMET (sitagliptin and metformin HCI) increased slightly in the quarter reflecting strong demand from certain international markets, partially offset by continued pricing pressure in the U.S.
Vaccine sales performance reflects higher sales of PNEUMOVAX 23 (pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent), a vaccine to help prevent pneumococcal disease, primarily driven by higher volumes in the U.S., Europe and Japan attributable in part to increased demand for pneumococcal vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vaccine sales were negatively affected by declines in sales of GARDASIL [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6,11,16 and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant]/GARDASIL 9, vaccines to prevent certain cancers and other diseases caused by HPV, largely due to lower demand in the U.S. and Hong Kong, SAR, PRC attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by higher volumes in China and in Europe.
Combined sales of pediatric vaccines VARIVAX (Varicella Virus Vaccine Live), a vaccine to help prevent chickenpox; PROQUAD (Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella Virus Vaccine Live), a combination vaccine to help protect against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella; and M-M-R II (Measles, Mumps and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live), a vaccine to help prevent measles, mumps and rubella, declined in the third quarter, primarily due to lower demand in the U.S. related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pharmaceutical sales in the quarter were negatively affected by the ongoing impacts from the loss of market exclusivity, including for NUVARING (etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring), NOXAFIL (posaconazole) and EMEND (aprepitant)/EMEND (fosaprepitant dimeglumine) for Injection.
Animal Health Revenue
Animal Health sales totaled $1.2 billion in the third quarter of 2020, an increase of 9% compared with the third quarter of 2019; excluding the unfavorable effect from foreign exchange, Animal Health sales grew 12%. Growth in companion animal products was driven largely by higher demand in companion animal vaccines and higher demand for the BRAVECTO (fluralaner) line of products for parasitic control. Performance in livestock products reflects higher demand globally for ruminant, poultry and swine products.
Third-Quarter Expense, EPS and Related Information
GAAP Expense, EPS and Related Information
Gross margin was 72.3% for the third quarter of 2020 compared to 67.8% for the third quarter of 2019. The increase reflects lower acquisition- and divestiture-related costs and the favorable effect of product mix, partially offset by the unfavorable effects of pricing pressure, inventory write-offs, higher amortization of intangible assets related to collaborations and foreign exchange.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.5 billion in the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of 5% compared to the third quarter of 2019. The decrease primarily reflects lower administrative and selling costs, including less travel and meeting expenses, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by higher acquisition- and divestiture-related costs, primarily reflecting costs related to the company’s planned spinoff of Organon.
Research and development expenses were $3.4 billion in the third quarter of 2020, an increase of 6% compared with the third quarter of 2019. The increase was primarily driven by higher upfront payments related to collaborations and license agreements, higher expenses related to clinical development and increased investment in discovery research and early drug development, partially offset by lower charges for the acquisitions of businesses, as well as lower laboratory, travel and meeting expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other (income) expense, net, was $312 million of income in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $35 million of expense in the third quarter of 2019, primarily due to higher income from investments in equity securities, net, which was $360 million in 2020 compared with $16 million in 2019, largely from the recognition of unrealized gains on securities.
The effective income tax rate was 14.1% for the third quarter of 2020 compared to 18.7% in the third quarter of 2019. The effective income tax rate in 2019 reflects the unfavorable impact of a charge for the acquisition of Peloton Therapeutics, Inc. (Peloton) for which no tax benefit was recognized.
GAAP EPS was $1.16 for the third quarter of 2020 compared with $0.74 for the third quarter of 2019.
Non-GAAP Expense, EPS and Related Information
Non-GAAP gross margin was 74.8% for the third quarter of 2020 compared to 75.9% for the third quarter of 2019. The decrease in non-GAAP gross margin reflects the unfavorable effects of pricing pressure, inventory write-offs, higher amortization of intangible assets related to collaborations and foreign exchange, partially offset by the favorable effect of product mix.
Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.2 billion in the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of 13% compared to the third quarter of 2019. The decrease primarily reflects lower administrative and selling costs, including less travel and meeting expenses, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Non-GAAP R&D expenses were $2.3 billion in the third quarter of 2020, a 3% increase compared to the third quarter of 2019. The increase was primarily driven by higher expenses related to clinical development and increased investment in discovery research and early drug development, partially offset by lower laboratory, travel and meeting expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Non-GAAP other (income) expense, net, was $311 million of income in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $29 million of expense in the third quarter of 2019, primarily due to higher income from investments in equity securities, net, which was $360 million in 2020 compared with $16 million in 2019, largely from the recognition of unrealized gains on securities.
The non-GAAP effective income tax rate was 14.8% for the third quarter of 2020 compared to 15.7% for the third quarter of 2019, reflecting the favorable impact of earnings mix.
Non-GAAP EPS was $1.74 for the third quarter of 2020 compared with $1.51 for the third quarter of 2019.
Financial Outlook
The updated full-year guidance that Merck is providing below includes its current assumption of the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, which is expected to continue to be offset by favorability from underlying business strength. The company continues to assume that the majority of the negative impact occurred during the second quarter. However, it now expects some residual negative impacts in the fourth quarter, largely in Europe and certain emerging markets. In addition, the phasing of the recovery of GARDASIL 9 demand is slower than originally anticipated, in particular in the U.S.
For the full-year 2020, Merck now expects an unfavorable impact to revenue of approximately $2.35 billion (excluding the impact of foreign exchange) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, comprised of approximately $2.3 billion for pharmaceuticals and approximately $50 million for Animal Health, including the impacts in the first three quarters of the year.
For the full-year 2020, Merck now expects a net favorable impact to operating expenses of approximately $625 million, reflecting continued lower spending due to the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by spending on its COVID-19-related antiviral and vaccine research programs.
Merck narrowed and raised its full-year 2020 revenue range to be between $47.6 billion and $48.6 billion, including a negative impact from foreign exchange of approximately 1.5% at mid-October exchange rates. The company’s guidance assumes $120 million of revenue for the replenishment of doses of GARDASIL 9 that were borrowed from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pediatric Vaccine Stockpile in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Merck narrowed and lowered its full-year 2020 GAAP EPS range to be between $4.55 and $4.65. Merck narrowed and raised its full-year 2020 non-GAAP EPS range to be between $5.91 and $6.01, including a negative impact from foreign exchange of approximately 2.5% at mid-October exchange rates. The non-GAAP range excludes acquisition- and divestiture-related costs, costs related to restructuring programs and certain other items.
The company does not have any non-GAAP adjustments to revenue.
**EPS guidance for 2020 assumes a share count (assuming dilution) of approximately 2.54 billion shares.
A reconciliation of anticipated 2020 GAAP EPS to non-GAAP EPS and the items excluded from non-GAAP EPS are provided in the table below.
Earnings Conference Call
Investors, journalists and the general public may access a live audio webcast of the call today at 8:00 a.m. EDT on Merck’s website at View Source Institutional investors and analysts can participate in the call (833) 353-0277 or toll free (469) 886-1947 and using ID code number 4664137. Members of the media are invited to monitor the call by dialing (833) 353-0277 or toll free (469) 886-1947 and using ID code number 4664137. Journalists who wish to ask questions are requested to contact a member of Merck’s Media Relations team at the conclusion of the call. (Press release, Merck & Co, OCT 27, 2020, View Source [SID1234569103])