Merck & Co Option Alert: Jul 18 $110 Calls Sweep (37) above Ask!: 20000 vs 21539 OI

Merck & Co Option Alert: Jul 18 $110 Calls Sweep (37) above Ask!: 20000 @ $0.511 vs 21539 OI; Ref=$84.865

Merck & Co (NYSE:MRK) 株価情報

MERCK & CO. INC.

Merck & Co

Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent pediatric diseases as well as human papillomavirus, or HPV. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the company's sales are generated in the United States.

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投資家の恐怖指数は改善｜ダウは350ポイント以上の下落を記録

Merck & Co Inc

Marker Therapeutics Inc

MARKY CORP by MARKY CORP.

Merck &amp; Co's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) short percent of float has fallen 9.26% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 37.13 million shares sold short, which is 1.47% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.31 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Merck &amp; Co Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743616827_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Merck &amp; Co has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Merck &amp; Co's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Merck &amp; Co's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.19%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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Merck (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced the first presentation of results from the Phase 3 ZENITH trial evaluating WINREVAIR&#x2122; (sotatercept-csrk) compared to placebo in adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, Group 1 PH) WHO&#x2A; functional class (FC) III or IV at high risk of mortality who were on maximum tolerated background PAH therapy. At a median follow-up of10.6 months (range, 0.3-26.1), WINREVAIR reduced the relative risk of major morbidity and mortality events (the composite of all-cause death, lung transplantation and PAH worsening-related hospitalization of ≥24 hours) by 76% (HR=0.24 [95% CI, 0.13-0.43]; p&lt;0.0001 [1-sided]) compared to placebo.For patients treated with WINREVAIR, 17.4% (n=15/86) experienced one or more major morbidity and mortality events, compared with 54.7% (n=47/86) of patients in the placebo arm. The safety profile of WINREVAIR in ZENITH was generally consistent with that observed in previous studies.

Biotech

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Merck Highlights Phase 3 ZENITH Trial Evaluating WINREVAIR; Says Trial Stopped Early Due To 'overwhelming efficacy demonstrated in the primary endpoint'

Subcutaneous pembrolizumab administered every six weeks with a median injection time of two minutes, in combination with chemotherapy, shows consistent results across reported efficacy and safety endpoints compared to IV KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy
A time and motion descriptive analysis shows nearly 50% reductions in patient chair and treatment room time, and in total active healthcare professional time related to treatment tasks, for subcutaneous pembrolizumab compared to IV KEYTRUDA
Applications for subcutaneous pembrolizumab are under review in the U.S. and Europe
Merck (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced the first data presentation from the pivotal 3475A-D77 Phase 3 trial, evaluating the subcutaneous administration of pembrolizumab, together with berahyaluronidase alfa (MK-3475A; from now on referred to as "subcutaneous pembrolizumab"). Berahyaluronidase alfa is a variant of human hyaluronidase developed and manufactured by Alteogen Inc. These results are being presented today at the European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) 2025 (Abstract #8MO) and published simultaneously in Annals of Oncology.
The study met its primary endpoints, demonstrating noninferior pharmacokinetics (PK) for subcutaneous pembrolizumab administered with chemotherapy with a median injection time of two minutes, versus intravenous (IV) KEYTRUDA&#xAE; (pembrolizumab) administered with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The secondary endpoints of objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and duration of response (DOR) and safety were consistent for subcutaneous pembrolizumab with chemotherapy compared to IV KEYTRUDA with chemotherapy. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached in either arm.
Based on these data, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review a Biologics License Application (BLA) seeking approval of subcutaneous pembrolizumab across all previously approved solid tumor indications for KEYTRUDA. The FDA has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), or target action, date of Sept. 23, 2025. Additionally, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has validated an extension application to introduce a new pharmaceutical form and new route of administration for KEYTRUDA.
In addition, results of a prospective, observational time and motion descriptive analysis conducted alongside study 3475A-D77 show that, compared to IV KEYTRUDA, subcutaneous pembrolizumab reduced time for patients spent in-chair and in the treatment room by 49.7% and 47.4%, respectively, and reduced the total active time spent by healthcare professionals (HCPs) on treatment preparation, administration process and patient monitoring by 45.7%. These results are being presented as a poster at ELCC (Poster #33P). Pharmacokinetic, efficacy, safety and time and motion results are described further below.

Merck's Investigational Subcutaneous Pembrolizumab With Berahyaluronidase Alfa Demonstrates Noninferior Pharmacokinetics Compared To Intravenous KEYTRUDA In Pivotal 3475A-D77 Trial; A Time And Motion Descriptive Analysis Shows Nearly 50% Reductions In Patient Chair And Treatment Room Time

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Health Care

The European Commission Has Approved Merck's Capvaxive (Pneumococcal 21-valent Conjugate Vaccine) For Active Immunization For The Prevention Of Invasive Disease And Pneumonia Caused By Streptococcus Pneumoniae Serotypes In Individuals 18 Years Of Age And Older

The U.S. stock market had a mixed session on Tuesday. The Nasdaq Composite climbed nearly 80 points, or 0.5%, closing at 18,271.86, while the Dow remained largely flat at 42,587.50. The S&amp;P 500 edged up 0.2% to finish at 5,776.65.
Amidst these fluctuations, certain stocks grabbed the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day.
GameStop Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>)
GameStop&#8217;s stock decreased by 0.82%, closing at $25.40. The stock reached an intraday high of $25.77 and a low of $24.99, with a 52-week range of $64.83 to $9.95. In the after-hours trading the stock shot up more than 8%. The company reported its <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/general/gaming/25/03/44482313/gamestop-q4-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-beat-shares-surge-as-board-approves-bitcoin-as-treasury-reserve-asset">fourth-quarter results</a>, revealing revenue of $1.283 billion, which fell short of the $1.48 billion consensus estimate. However, adjusted earnings per share of 30 cents exceeded analyst expectations of eight cents. The board&#8217;s approval of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) as a treasury reserve asset added to the day&#8217;s developments.
FST Corp.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KBSX#NASDAQ">KBSX</a>)
FST Corp&#8217;s stock surged by 26.55%, closing at $2.86. The stock hit an intraday high of $2.96 and a low of $2.43, with a 52-week range of $15.48 to $1.26. The company announced the launch of a new graphite golf shaft under the KBS brand, designed to enhance shot distance and accuracy. This product is available in five weight classes at authorized dealers and custom fitting centers.
Merck &amp; Co Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>)
Merck&#8217;s stock fell by 4.81%, closing at $87.87. The stock recorded an intraday high of $92.31 and a low of $87.08, with a 52-week range of $134.63 to $81.04. The company entered an <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/03/44477157/merck-partners-with-hengrui-pharma-in-177-billion-deal-for-cardiovascular-treatment">exclusive license agreement</a> with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals for a cardiovascular treatment, valued at $1.77 billion. This agreement focuses on an investigational oral small molecule Lipoprotein(a) inhibitor.
United Parcel Service, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>)
UPS&#8217;s stock declined by 5.05%, closing at $109.95. The stock reached an intraday high of $116 and a low of $109.89, with a 52-week range of $157.99 to $109.4. UPS stock has been in focus after the <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44467974/postmaster-general-louis-dejoy-resigns-amid-9-5-billion-loss-and-growing-as-usps-faces-competitive-heat-from-amazon-fedex-and-ups">resignation</a> of U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy amid financial challenges and competitive pressures. UPS is one of the major competitors of USPS.
Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla&#8217;s stock rose by 3.45%, closing at $287.99. The stock hit an intraday high of $288.2 and a low of $271.28, with a 52-week range of $488.54 to $138.80. The electric vehicle manufacturer saw its weekly insured registrations in China <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44471753/teslas-china-weekly-insured-numbers-hit-new-year-to-date-high-gary-black-says-tslas-europe-sales-decline-not-relevant">reach a new high</a> for the year, driven by increased production of the refreshed Model Y. 
Image via Shutterstock
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Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading <a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/Premarket%20Movers%20&amp;%20News">with top premarket movers and news</a> by Benzinga.
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

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Merck & Company shares are trading lower. The company announced it entered into an exclusive license agreement with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals for HRS-5346.

Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) and Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd on Tuesday entered into an exclusive license agreement for HRS-5346, an investigational oral small molecule Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), inhibitor currently being evaluated in a Phase 2 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clinical trial in China</a>.
Lipoprotein (a), or Lp(a), is a type of lipoprotein produced in the liver that carries cholesterol, fats, and proteins in the blood.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/03/44440233/pharmaceutical-firms-say-uk-investment-is-unlikely-unless-payment-levy-is-adressed" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pharmaceutical Firms Say UK Investment Is &#8216;Unlikely&#8217; Unless Payment Levy Is Adressed</a>
Lp(a) can accumulate in blood vessel walls, forming atherosclerotic plaques similar to LDL cholesterol. These plaques can limit blood flow to vital organs and result in conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
Under the agreement, Hengrui Pharma has granted Merck exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize HRS-5346 worldwide, excluding the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44470230/merck-enters-exclusive-license-agreement-for-hrs-5346-an-investigational-oral-lipoprotein-a-inhibi" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greater China region</a>.
Hengrui Pharma will receive an upfront payment of $200 million and is eligible to receive milestone payments associated with certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones up to $1.77 billion and royalties on net sales of HRS-5346 if approved.
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.
Merck expects to record a pre-tax charge of $200 million, or approximately $0.06 per share, to be included in GAAP and non-GAAP results in the quarter the transaction closes.
Price Action: MRK stock is down 1.82% at $90.63 at the last check Tuesday.
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Photo: Shutterstock

Contracts

Merck Partners With Hengrui Pharma In $1.77 Billion Deal For Cardiovascular Treatment

On Tuesday, Mural Oncology plc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MURA#NASDAQ">MURA</a>) released data from the ARTISTRY-7 phase 3 trial of nemvaleukin alfa in combination with Merck &amp; Co Inc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) Keytruda (pembrolizumab) vs. investigator choice single agent chemotherapy for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
The company said it would not continue the final analysis and would cease the development of nemvaleukin for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/g44470114/mural-oncology-provides-update-on-phase-3-artistry-7-trial-of-nemvaleukin-in-combination-with-keyt" rel="noreferrer noopener">platinum-resistant ovarian cancer</a>.&nbsp;
In the pre-specified interim analysis conducted by the independent data monitoring committee, nemvaleukin, in combination with pembrolizumab, did not achieve a statistically significant improvement in overall survival versus the investigator&#8217;s choice of chemotherapy alone.
Mural Oncology says the study is highly unlikely to achieve success at the final analysis.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44463025/software-companies-poised-for-gains-as-ai-spending-accelerates-says-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">Which Stocks Benefit From AI Spending? Analyst Names IBM And More</a>
Median overall survival was 10.1 months for patients treated with nemvaleukin in combination with pembrolizumab and 9.8 months for patients treated with investigator&#8217;s choice chemotherapy (hazard ratio: 0.98).
Nemvaleukin has a well-characterized and favorable safety profile, both as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. Over 800 patients were treated across the broader clinical program.
In the interim analysis of ARTISTRY-7, the safety profile was generally consistent with previously reported data.
Nemvaleukin is being evaluated in a potentially registrational phase 2 trial, ARTISTRY-6, cohort 2, in mucosal melanoma. The topline data readout is expected in Q2 2025.
The preliminary data readouts for less-frequent intravenous dosing of nemvaleukin in patients with cutaneous melanoma are expected in the second quarter of 2025 for cohort 3 of ARTISTRY-6 (monotherapy) and the second half of 2025 for cohort 4 of ARTISTRY-6 (combination therapy).
Price Action: MURA stock is down 49.6% at $1.93 during the premarket session at the last check Tuesday.
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Photo: Shutterstock

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Mural Oncology's Ovarian Cancer Combo Drug Trial Disappoints, Stock Plunges

Merck expects to record a pre-tax charge of $200 million, or approximately $0.06 per share, to be included in GAAP and non-GAAP results in the quarter the transaction closes.&nbsp;

Merck And Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Entered Into An Exclusive License Agreement For HRS-5346, An Investigational Oral Small Molecule Lipoprotein(a) Inhibitor Currently In A Phase 2 Trial In China, Hengrui Pharma Will Receive An Upfront Payment Of $200M And $1.77B In Milestone Payments

On Friday, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Summit Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMMT#NASDAQ">SMMT</a>), citing shares <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/pharmaceuticals">as 67% undervalued</a>.
The company&#8217;s lead candidate ivonescimab (SMT112) is an investigational, potentially first-in-class bispecific antibody combining the effects of immunotherapy via a blockade of PD-1 with the anti-angiogenesis effects associated with blocking VEGF <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech" rel="noreferrer noopener">into a single molecule</a>.
Akeso Inc. engineered Ivonescimab, which is currently in multiple Phase 3 clinical trials. Over 2,300 patients have been treated with ivonescimab in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/b43907719/summit-therapeutics-reports-financial-results-and-operational-progress-for-the-fourth-quarter-and-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clinical studies globally</a>.
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Analyst Eric Schmidt writes, &#8220;Simply put, should ivonescimab continue to deliver superior efficacy relative to a PD-(L)1 class ($50 billion and growing in 2024 sales), it could become one of the most successful drugs ever.&#8221;
Cantor analyst has initiated Summit Therapeutics <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SMMT/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">with an Overweight rating</a>.
Cantor writes that ivonescimab is effective and safe, standing out from single-antibody combinations due to its unique cooperative binding mechanism. While other VEGF x PD-(L)1 bispecific drugs might share some similarities, ivonescimab has a significant head start and could launch in the U.S. by late 2026.
In September, Summit Therapeutics&nbsp;released data from the primary analysis of the Phase 3 HARMONi-2 trial of ivonescimab conducted in China.
Ivonescimab monotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the trial&#8217;s primary endpoint, progression-free survival, compared to monotherapy Merck &amp; Co Inc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) Keytruda (pembrolizumab), achieving a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/09/40771038/summit-therapeutics-lung-cancer-candidate-surpasses-mercks-multi-billion-dollar-keytruda-cuts-ris" rel="noreferrer noopener">hazard ratio (HR) of 0.51</a>.
Cantor writes that progression-free survival is likely to translate into improved overall survival, with data anticipated by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
&#8220;Growing conviction in HARMONi-2 should enhance investor optimism for Summit&#8217;s three ongoing Phase 3 trials in NSCLC with readouts expected in 2025-2028,&#8221; analyst Schmidt writes.
Cantor notes that ivonescimab could achieve around 50% share in the over $100 billion market for VEGF x PD-(L)1s.
Price Action: Summit Therapeutics stock is up 3.44% at $20.43 at the last check Monday.
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SMMT

Analyst Initiates Coverage On 'Undervalued' Summit Therapeutics

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) is urging ministers to address excessive levies on manufacturers to ensure the sector remains competitive globally.
The life sciences industry, a key pillar of the UK&#8217;s economic strategy, could struggle to attract investment unless payment rates are adjusted.
Last week, the government <a href="https://www.abpi.org.uk/media/news/2025/march/uk-set-to-demand-a-third-of-pharmaceutical-company-revenue-in-second-half-of-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proposed</a> raising the Statutory Scheme payment rate for newer branded medicines from 15.5% to 32.2% of subject companies&#8217; National Health Service (NHS) sales in the second half of 2025.
The payment rate is the revenue companies must hand back to the government on their sales of branded medicines to the NHS. It is an additional charge to the taxes paid by companies.
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UK pharmaceutical leaders from Amgen Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>), AstraZeneca Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>), Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIIB#NASDAQ">BIIB</a>), Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>), Daiichi Sankyo Ltd (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DSNKY#OTC">DSNKY</a>), Gilead Sciences Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GILD#NASDAQ">GILD</a>), Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), Novartis AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVS#NYSE">NVS</a>), Pfizer Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), Roche Holdings AG (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RHHBY#OTC">RHHBY</a>), Sanofi SA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNY#NASDAQ">SNY</a>), Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAK#NYSE">TAK</a>) and UCB SA (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UCBJY#OTC">UCBJY</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UCBJF#OTC">UCBJF</a>) point to the challenges to investing in the U.K.
The pharmaceutical sector <a target="_blank" href="https://www.abpi.org.uk/media/news/2025/march/medicine-levy-makes-the-uk-un-investable-say-pharma-leaders/" rel="noreferrer noopener">contributes</a> over 17.6 billion pounds ($22.76 billion) directly to the U.K. economy, with an additional 45 billion generated through research and development spillovers.
However, companies argue that growth is being stifled due to escalating mandatory payments. Under the current system, firms must pay between 23.5% and 35.6% of their branded medicine sales revenue to the NHS. This is significantly higher than other European nations, where comparable rates range from 5.7% to 9%, ABPI writes.
The ABPI report highlights that while the UK once led in medicine availability, it has slipped to ninth place in Europe over the past decade. One year after launch, medicine usage in England is only 52% of the average of comparable nations, rising to 62% after five years.
Additionally, the UK has dropped from fourth to tenth in global rankings for phase 3 clinical trials, lagging behind Spain, Germany and Italy.
Investment in UK pharmaceutical research has also declined, with the country&#8217;s share of global R&amp;D investment falling from 7.3% to 5.7% in just three years.
This marks the fastest decline of any European G7 nation. Meanwhile, NHS funding has grown by 33% in real terms over the past decade, but spending on branded medicines has been capped at annual growth rates between 1.1% and 2%, declining by 11% when adjusted for inflation.
The industry and government have long collaborated on agreements to ensure NHS access to medicines.
The latest, the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines, Pricing, Access, and Growth (VPAG), was intended to realign UK payment rates with international standards. While rates for newer medicines briefly dropped to 15.1% in 2024, they surged again in 2025 to 23.5% for newer medicines, with companies still paying 10.6%-35.6% for older products.
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UCBJY

Pharmaceutical Firms Say UK Investment Is 'Unlikely' Unless Payment Levy Is Adressed

Merck Announced That Health Canada Approved Keytruda (Pembrolizumab), Merck's Anti-PD-1 Therapy, In Combination With Carboplatin And Paclitaxel, Followed By Keytruda As A Single Agent, For The Treatment Of Adult Patients With Primary Advanced Or Recurrent Endometrial Carcinoma

Merck, Known As MSD Outside Of The United States And Canada, Announced That New Clinical And Outcomes Research Data Will Be Presented At The American College Of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session And Expo In Chicago From March 29-31

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Merck &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in MRK usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 11 extraordinary options activities for Merck &amp; Co. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 63% leaning bullish and 36% bearish. Among these notable options, 6 are puts, totaling $487,682, and 5 are calls, amounting to $170,536.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $70.0 and $130.0 for Merck &amp; Co, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Merck &amp; Co options trades today is 4151.7 with a total volume of 2,340.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Merck &amp; Co's big money trades within a strike price range of $70.0 to $130.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Merck &amp; Co Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742324544_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$36.45</td>
<td>$35.3</td>
<td>$35.49</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$134.8K</td>
<td>8</td>
<td align="right">38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$9.6</td>
<td>$9.45</td>
<td>$9.6</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$130.5K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td align="right">136</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$2.94</td>
<td>$2.94</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$88.2K</td>
<td>10.9K</td>
<td align="right">378</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$2.23</td>
<td>$2.22</td>
<td>$2.22</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$59.0K</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
<td align="right">323</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$5.35</td>
<td>$5.2</td>
<td>$5.35</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$42.2K</td>
<td>3.8K</td>
<td align="right">86</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Merck &amp; Co</h3>
Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent pediatric diseases as well as human papillomavirus, or HPV. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the company's sales are generated in the United States.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Merck &amp; Co, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Merck &amp; Co's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 4,446,683, the price of MRK is down by -0.09%, reaching $94.7.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 37 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Merck &amp; Co</h3>
Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $105.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Deutsche Bank lowers its rating to Hold with a new price target of $105.
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Merck &amp; Co, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Merck & Co's Options: A Look at What the Big Money is Thinking

ATNM

Actinium Pharmaceuticals Announces A Clinical Trial Program For Solid Tumors Combining Actimab-A With PD-1 Checkpoint Inhibitors KEYTRUDA And OPDIVO; Clinical Proof Of Concept Data Expected In 2025

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLRX#NASDAQ">PLRX</a>)&nbsp;released on Monday data from the first three of five potential cohorts of its ongoing Phase 1 dose escalation trial of PLN-101095, in combination with Merck &amp; Co Inc.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) Keytruda (pembrolizumab), in patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-refractory advanced or <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metastatic solid tumors</a>.
Interim results demonstrated PLN-101095 antitumor activity in combination with pembrolizumab, with three partial responses observed in cohort three at the 1000 mg administered orally twice daily (BID) dose, representing a 50% objective response rate (ORR) at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/g44353808/pliant-therapeutics-announces-interim-phase-1-data-for-pln-101095-in-patients-with-immune-checkpoi" rel="noreferrer noopener">highest dose tested to date</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/03/44120576/pliant-therapeutics-drops-ipf-drug-trial-after-review-analyst-flags-uncertain-future" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pliant Therapeutics Drops IPF Drug Trial After Review, Analyst Flags Uncertain Future</a>
PLN-101095 was generally well tolerated across all doses tested.
Nine patients with six different tumor types were enrolled in cohorts one through three of the trial.
Patients were treated for 14 days with PLN-101095 at doses of 250 mg, 500 mg or 1000 mg administered orally BID, followed by treatment with a combination of PLN-101095 and pembrolizumab at 200 mg administered intravenously every three weeks (Q3W):&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Across all doses tested, PLN-101095 was generally well tolerated.</li>
<li>Of the six patients treated at the 1000 mg BID dose of PLN-101095, three (50%) confirmed partial responses were observed. All three patients remain on treatment.
<ul>
<li>Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC):&nbsp;Confirmed partial response with a 74% reduction in tumor size at Week 18; initial partial response was observed at Week 10.</li>
<li>Cholangiocarcinoma: Confirmed partial response with a 48% reduction in tumor size at Week 42; initial partial response was observed at Week 34.</li>
<li>Melanoma: Confirmed partial response with a 42% reduction in tumor size at Week 27; initial partial response was observed at Week 18.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
The Phase 1 trial of PLN-101095 is currently enrolling the fourth of five potential cohorts. The fourth cohort is evaluating PLN-101095 at 1000 mg, three times daily (TID).
PLRX Price Action: Pliant Therapeutics stock is up 12.99% at $1.74 at publication Monday.
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Photo: Shutterstock

PLRX

Pliant Therapeutics' Investigational Cancer Drug Shows Antitumor Activity Across Multiple Tumor Types

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Merck &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the positions showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with MRK, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 13 options trades for Merck &amp; Co.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 38% bullish and 38%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $34,000, and 12, calls, for a total amount of $1,087,462.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $65.0 to $115.0 for Merck &amp; Co over the recent three months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Merck &amp; Co's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Merck &amp; Co's whale activity within a strike price range from $65.0 to $115.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Merck &amp; Co Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741979734_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$5.45</td>
<td>$5.2</td>
<td>$5.45</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$229.9K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td align="right">446</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$7.05</td>
<td>$6.8</td>
<td>$6.8</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$208.0K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td align="right">31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$5.55</td>
<td>$5.3</td>
<td>$5.5</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$205.7K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td align="right">825</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$2.99</td>
<td>$2.66</td>
<td>$2.8</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$168.0K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
<td align="right">880</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$22.1</td>
<td>$22.1</td>
<td>$22.1</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$46.4K</td>
<td>36</td>
<td align="right">21</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Merck &amp; Co</h3>
Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent pediatric diseases as well as human papillomavirus, or HPV. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the company's sales are generated in the United States.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Merck &amp; Co, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Current Position of Merck &amp; Co</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 5,950,824, the price of MRK is down -0.67% at $94.08. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 41 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Merck &amp; Co</h3>
A total of 1 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $105.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Deutsche Bank downgraded its action to Hold with a price target of $105. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Merck &amp; Co options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

A Closer Look at Merck & Co's Options Market Dynamics

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-14/us-measles-cases-so-far-this-year-surpass-total-for-all-2024" title="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-14/us-measles-cases-so-far-this-year-surpass-total-for-all-2024">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-14/us-measles-cases-so-far-this-year-surpass-total-for-all-2024</a>

'U.S. Measles Cases In 2025 Have Already Surpassed The Total For The Entire Year Of 2024' - Bloomberg

Merck &amp; Co's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) short percent of float has risen 26.56% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 40.94 million shares sold short, which is 1.62% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.43 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Merck &amp; Co Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741808785_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Merck &amp; Co has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Merck &amp; Co's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Merck &amp; Co's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.07%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

On Wednesday, Merck&nbsp;&amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) announced the presentation of results from two Phase 3 trials of doravirine/islatravir (DOR/ISL) in adults with HIV-1 infection that is virologically suppressed on bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamidei&nbsp;(BIC/FTC/TAF) in trial&nbsp;MK-8591A-052) or antiretroviral therapy (bART) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care" rel="noreferrer noopener">in trial&nbsp;MK-8591A-051</a>.
In both trials, DOR/ISL met the primary efficacy success criterion for non-inferiority to comparator antiretroviral therapies and primary safety <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44280630/merck-announces-positive-data-from-phase-3-trials-that-show-the-investigational-once-daily-oral-tw" rel="noreferrer noopener">objectives at Week 48</a>.
The company released the topline data from both studies <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/12/42600482/mercks-investigational-two-drug-regime-for-hiv-meets-primary-goal-in-two-late-stage-trials" rel="noreferrer noopener">in December 2024</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/03/44252770/merck-injects-1-billion-to-expand-vaccine-production-in-us" rel="noreferrer noopener">Merck Injects $1 Billion To Expand Vaccine Production In US</a>
Merck plans to begin submitting applications for marketing authorization to regulatory agencies by mid-2025.
<ul>
<li>In the trial MK-8591A-052, results for the primary endpoint (HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/mL) showed that 1.5% of participants who switched to DOR/ISL had a viral load of ≥50 copies/mL at Week 48, compared to 0.6% on BIC/FTC/TAF.</li>
<li>At Week 48, 91.5% of participants who switched to DOR/ISL maintained viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA &lt;50 copies/mL) compared to 94.2% of participants who continued receiving BIC/FTC/TAF.</li>
</ul>
In the trial MK-8591A-051, results for the primary endpoint showed that 1.4% of participants who received DOR/ISL had a viral load of ≥50 copies/mL at Week 48, compared to 4.9% on bART.
<ul>
<li>At Week 48, 95.6% of participants who switched to DOR/ISL maintained viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA &lt;50 copies/mL) compared to 91.9% of participants who continued on bART.</li>
</ul>
Price Action: MRK stock is down 0.65% at $94.11 at the last check Wednesday.
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Photo Courtesy of Merck

Merck Plans Regulatory Submission For Two-Drug Regime For HIV Infection By Mid-2025

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Merck to Hold First-Quarter 2025 Sales and Earnings Conference Call April 24

Legal

MERCK & CO., INC. (NYSE: MRK) DEADLINE ALERT: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reminds Merck & Co., Inc. Investors of Upcoming Deadline

Levi & Korsinsky Reminds Shareholders of a Lead Plaintiff Deadline of April 14, 2025 in Merck Lawsuit – MRK

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Reminds Investors That Class Action Lawsuits Have Been Filed Against FMC, TransMedics, Intellia, and Merck and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

MRK Investors Have Final Opportunity to Lead Merck & Co., Inc. Securities Fraud Lawsuit with the Schall Law Firm

ONGOING DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims on Behalf of Investors of Merck & Co.

Merck & Co (MRK) Investors Who Lost Money Have Opportunity to Lead Securities Fraud Lawsuit

MRK DEADLINE ALERT: ROSEN, LEADING TRIAL ATTORNEYS, Encourages Merck & Co., Inc. Investors with Losses in Excess of $100K to Secure Counsel Before Important April 14 Deadline in Securities Class Action – MRK

MRK Deadline: MRK Purchasers with Losses in Excess of $100K Have Opportunity to Lead Merck & Co., Inc. Securities Fraud Lawsuit

Class Action Filed Against Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Seeking Recovery for Investors - Contact The Gross Law Firm

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