Merck beats Q4 forecasts amid broad jump in sales

Merck blasted past analysts' estimates for its fourth quarter earnings, helped by sales of its new Covid-19 treatment Molnupiravir.

"We enter 2022 with strong momentum and are moving with speed to bring forward innovations that address critical unmet needs and contribute to global health," Merck boss robert M.Davis said.

"This remains at the core of our strategy, and why we are focused on benefitting the patients we serve, and in turn creating long-term value for our shareholders."

The US pharmaceutical giant posted for pro forma earnings per share of $1.80 (consensus: $1.53).

Continuing sales meanwhile raced ahead by 24% to reach approximately $13.5bn.

Sales of its anti-cancer drug Keytruda were ahead by a fifth to $17.2bn, while those of its HPV vaccine Gardasil surged 44% to $5.7bn, alongside 18% growth in animal health sales to reach $5.6bn.

To date, the company said that it had shipped 4.0m courses of the oral anti Covid-19 drug that it had developed together with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, molnupiravir.

Roughly 3.0m of those courses had been delivered to the US government.

For all of 2021 the company recorded a 17% jump in revenues to $48.7bn.

Looking ahead, the outfit guided towards full-year 2022 sales of $56.1-57.6bn and pro forma EPS of $7.12-7.27.

As of 1329 GMT, shares of Merck were slipping 1.6% to $80.70.