Merck Announces Third-Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Pharmaceutical Investing
Third-Quarter 2020 Worldwide Sales Were $12.6 Billion, an Increase of 1%; Excluding the Impact from Foreign Exchange, Sales Grew 2% KEYTRUDA Sales Grew 21% to $3.7 Billion Animal Health Sales Grew 9% to $1.2 Billion; Excluding the Impact from Foreign Exchange, Sales Grew 12% Third-Quarter 2020 GAAP EPS Was $1.16; Third-Quarter Non-GAAP EPS Was $1.74 Advanced and Expanded Broad Pipeline Announced Additional Positive ...
  • Third-Quarter 2020 Worldwide Sales Were $12.6 Billion, an Increase of 1%; Excluding the Impact from Foreign Exchange, Sales Grew 2%
    • KEYTRUDA Sales Grew 21% to $3.7 Billion
    • Animal Health Sales Grew 9% to $1.2 Billion; Excluding the Impact from Foreign Exchange, Sales Grew 12%
  • Third-Quarter 2020 GAAP EPS Was $1.16; Third-Quarter Non-GAAP EPS Was $1.74
  • Advanced and Expanded Broad Pipeline
    • Announced Additional Positive Phase 3 Results for Investigational Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (V114) in Adults
    • Presented Phase 3 Data for Investigational Gefapixant in Development for Chronic Cough; Early Data for MK-4830 in Oncology and MK-8507 for HIV
    • Expanded Pipeline with Seagen Collaborations in Oncology
  • Company Advances Research Programs and Clinical Trials for COVID-19-Related Vaccine and Orally Available Antiviral Research Candidates
  • Company Narrows and Raises 2020 Full-Year Revenue Range to be Between $47.6 Billion and $48.6 Billion, Including a Negative Impact from Foreign Exchange of Approximately 1.5%
  • Company Narrows and Lowers 2020 Full-Year GAAP EPS Range to be Between $4.55 and $4.65; Narrows and Raises 2020 Full-Year Non-GAAP EPS Range to be Between $5.91 and $6.01, Including a Negative Impact from Foreign Exchange of Approximately 2.5%

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2020.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201027005447/en/

"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."

Financial Summary

$ in millions, except EPS amounts

Third Quarter

2020

2019

Change

Change Ex-
Exchange

Sales

$12,551

$12,397

1%

2%

GAAP net income 1

2,941

1,901

55%

59%

Non-GAAP net income that excludes certain items 1,2 *

4,427

3,873

14%

17%

GAAP EPS

1.16

0.74

57%

62%

Non-GAAP EPS that excludes certain items 2 *

1.74

1.51

16%

18%

*Refer to table on page 11.

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) 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 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 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 BRCA 1/2 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 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 ( BRCA m) 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 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 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.

$ in millions

Third Quarter

2020

2019

Change

Change Ex-
Exchange

Total Sales

$12,551

$12,397

1%

2%

Pharmaceutical

11,320

11,095

2%

2%

KEYTRUDA

3,715

3,070

21%

21%

JANUVIA / JANUMET

1,327

1,311

1%

2%

GARDASIL / GARDASIL 9

1,187

1,320

-10%

-10%

PROQUAD, M-M-R II and

VARIVAX

576

623

-8%

-7%

PNEUMOVAX 23

375

237

58%

58%

BRIDION

320

284

13%

13%

ROTATEQ

210

180

16%

17%

SIMPONI

209

203

3%

0%

ISENTRESS / ISENTRESS HD

205

250

-18%

-18%

Lynparza*

196

123

59%

58%

IMPLANON / NEXPLANON

189

199

-5%

-4%

Lenvima*

142

109

30%

29%

Animal Health

1,220

1,122

9%

12%

Livestock

758

726

5%

8%

Companion Animals

462

396

17%

18%

Other Revenues**

11

180

-94%

-33%

*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

The tables below present selected expense information.

$ in millions

Third-Quarter 2020

GAAP

Acquisition- and
Divestiture-
Related Costs
3

Restructuring
Costs

Certain Other
Items

Non-GAAP 2

Cost of sales

$3,481

$285

$38

$−

$3,158

Selling, general and administrative

2,450

207

15

−

2,228

Research and development

3,390

16

19

1,082

2,273

Restructuring costs

114

−

114

−

−

Other (income) expense, net

(312)

−

−

(1)

(311)

Third-Quarter 2019

Cost of sales

$3,990

$941

$62

$−

$2,987

Selling, general and administrative

2,589

22

1

−

2,566

Research and development

3,204

6

1

982

2,215

Restructuring costs

232

−

232

−

−

Other (income) expense, net

35

6

–

−

29

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.

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP net income and EPS is provided in the table that follows.

$ in millions, except EPS amounts

Third Quarter

2020

2019

EPS

GAAP EPS

$1.16

$0.74

Difference

0.58

0.77

Non-GAAP EPS that excludes items listed below 2

$1.74

$1.51

Net Income

GAAP net income 1

$2,941

$1,901

Difference

1,486

1,972

Non-GAAP net income that excludes items listed below 1,2

$4,427

$3,873

Decrease (Increase) in Net Income Due to Excluded Items:

Acquisition- and divestiture-related costs 3

$508

$975

Restructuring costs

186

296

Charges for acquisitions and collaborations 4

1,082

982

Other

(1)

−

Net decrease (increase) in income before taxes

1,775

2,253

Income tax (benefit) expense 5

(289)

(281)

Decrease (increase) in net income

$1,486

$1,972

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 following table summarizes the company's full-year 2020 financial guidance.

GAAP

Non-GAAP 2

Revenue

$47.6 to $48.6 billion

$47.6 to $48.6 billion*

Operating expenses

Higher than 2019 by a low-single-digit rate

Lower than 2019 by a low-single-digit rate

Effective tax rate

Approximately 15%

Approximately 15.5%

EPS**

$4.55 to $4.65

$5.91 to $6.01

*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.

$ in millions, except EPS amounts

Full-Year 2020

GAAP EPS

$4.55 to $4.65

Difference

1.36

Non-GAAP EPS that excludes items listed below 2

$5.91 to $6.01

Acquisition- and divestiture-related costs

$2,300

Restructuring costs

800

Charges for collaborations

1,082

Net decrease (increase) in income before taxes

4,182

Income tax (benefit) expense 5

(715)

Decrease (increase) in net income

$3,467

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 https://www.merck.com/investor-relations/events-and-presentations/ . 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.

About Merck

For more than 125 years, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals – including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases – as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and LinkedIn .

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the "company") includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline products that the products will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of the global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company's 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's Internet site ( www.sec.gov ).

1

Net income attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.

2

Merck is providing certain 2020 and 2019 non-GAAP information that excludes certain items because of the nature of these items and the impact they have on the analysis of underlying business performance and trends. Management believes that providing this information enhances investors' understanding of the company's results and permits investors to understand how management assesses performance. Management uses these measures internally for planning and forecasting purposes and to measure the performance of the company along with other metrics. In addition, senior management's annual compensation is derived in part using non-GAAP pretax income. This information should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for or superior to, information prepared in accordance with GAAP. For a description of the items, see Table 2a attached to this release.

3

Includes expenses for the amortization of intangible assets and purchase accounting adjustments to inventories recognized as a result of acquisitions, intangible asset impairment charges, and expense or income related to changes in the estimated fair value measurement of liabilities for contingent consideration. Also includes integration, transaction and certain other costs related to business acquisitions and divestitures.

4

2020 includes $832 million related to the Seagen collaborations; 2019 represents a charge for the acquisition of Peloton.

5

Includes the estimated tax impact on the reconciling items, as well as a tax cost of $67 million, representing an adjustment to the tax benefits recorded in conjunction with the 2015 acquisition of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

MERCK & CO., INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME - GAAP
(AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE FIGURES)
(UNAUDITED)
Table 1
GAAP % Change GAAP % Change

3Q20

3Q19

Sep YTD
2020
Sep YTD
2019
Sales

$

12,551

$

12,397

1

%

$

35,479

$

34,972

1

%

Costs, Expenses and Other
Cost of sales (1)

3,481

3,990

-13

%

9,952

10,443

-5

%

Selling, general and administrative (1)

2,450

2,589

-5

%

7,383

7,726

-4

%

Research and development (1)

3,390

3,204

6

%

7,721

7,324

5

%

Restructuring costs (2)

114

232

-51

%

269

444

-39

%

Other (income) expense, net (1)

(312

)

35

*

(630

)

362

*

Income Before Taxes

3,428

2,347

46

%

10,784

8,673

24

%

Taxes on Income (1)

483

440

1,611

1,259

Net Income

2,945

1,907

54

%

9,173

7,414

24

%

Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests (1)

4

6

12

(73

)

Net Income Attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.

$

2,941

$

1,901

55

%

$

9,161

$

7,487

22

%

Earnings per Common Share Assuming Dilution

$

1.16

$

0.74

57

%

$

3.61

$

2.89

25

%

Average Shares Outstanding Assuming Dilution

2,538

2,572

2,541

2,587

Tax Rate (3)

14.1

%

18.7

%

14.9

%

14.5

%

* 100% or greater
(1) Amounts include the impact of acquisition and divestiture-related costs, restructuring costs and certain other items. See accompanying tables for details.
(2) Represents separation and other related costs associated with restructuring activities under the company's formal restructuring programs.
(3) The effective income tax rates for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2019 include the unfavorable impact of a charge for the acquisition of Peloton Therapeutics, Inc. for which no tax benefit was recognized and the favorable impact of product mix. The effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2019 reflects a net tax benefit of $360 million related to the settlement of certain federal income tax matters.
MERCK & CO., INC.
GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
THIRD QUARTER 2020
(AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE FIGURES)
(UNAUDITED)
Table 2a
GAAP

Acquisition and
Divestiture-
Related Costs (1)
Restructuring
Costs (2)
Certain Other
Items (4)
Adjustment
Subtotal
Non-GAAP

Cost of sales

$

3,481

285

38

323

$

3,158

Selling, general and administrative

2,450

207

15

222

2,228

Research and development

3,390

16

19

1,082

1,117

2,273

Restructuring costs

114

114

114

-

Other (income) expense, net

(312

)

(1

)

(1

)

(311

)

Income Before Taxes

3,428

(508

)

(186

)

(1,081

)

(1,775

)

5,203

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)

483

(17

)

(3)

(25

)

(3)

(247

)

(3)

(289

)

772

Net Income

2,945

(491

)

(161

)

(834

)

(1,486

)

4,431

Net Income Attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.

2,941

(491

)

(161

)

(834

)

(1,486

)

4,427

Earnings per Common Share Assuming Dilution

$

1.16

(0.19

)

(0.06

)

(0.33

)

(0.58

)

$

1.74

Tax Rate

14.1

%

14.8

%

Only the line items that are affected by non-GAAP adjustments are shown.
Merck is providing certain non-GAAP information that excludes certain items because of the nature of these items and the impact they have on the analysis of underlying business performance and trends. Management believes that providing this information enhances investors' understanding of the company's results as it permits investors to understand how management assesses performance. Management uses these measures internally for planning and forecasting purposes and to measure the performance of the company along with other metrics. In addition, senior management's annual compensation is derived in part using non-GAAP pretax income. This information should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for or superior to, information prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(1) Amount included in cost of sales primarily reflects expenses for the amortization of intangible assets recognized as a result of business acquisitions. Amount included in selling, general and administrative expenses reflects $182 million related to the company's planned spin-off of Organon & Co., and other acquisition and divestiture-related costs.
(2) Amounts primarily include employee separation costs and accelerated depreciation associated with facilities to be closed or divested related to activities under the company's formal restructuring programs.
(3) Represents the estimated tax impact on the reconciling items based on applying the statutory rate of the originating territory of the non-GAAP adjustments. Acquisition and divestiture-related costs also includes a tax cost of $67 million, representing an adjustment to the tax benefits recorded in conjunction with the 2015 Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. acquisition.
(4) Amount included in research and development reflects expenses for upfront payments related to license and collaboration agreements.
MERCK & CO., INC.
GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
(AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE FIGURES)
(UNAUDITED)
Table 2b
GAAP Acquisition and
Divestiture-Related
Costs (1)
Restructuring
Costs (2)
Certain Other
Items (4)
Adjustment
Subtotal
Non-GAAP
Cost of sales

$

9,952

863

131

994

$

8,958

Selling, general and administrative

7,383

648

37

685

6,698

Research and development

7,721

(12

)

67

1,082

1,137

6,584

Restructuring costs

269

269

269

-

Other (income) expense, net

(630

)

52

(17

)

35

(665

)

Income Before Taxes

10,784

(1,551

)

(504

)

(1,065

)

(3,120

)

13,904

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)

1,611

(248

)

(3)

(59

)

(3)

(242

)

(3)

(549

)

2,160

Net Income

9,173

(1,303

)

(445

)

(823

)

(2,571

)

11,744

Net Income Attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.

9,161

(1,303

)

(445

)

(823

)

(2,571

)

11,732

Earnings per Common Share Assuming Dilution

$

3.61

(0.51

)

(0.18

)

(0.32

)

(1.01

)

$

4.62

Tax Rate

14.9

%

15.5

%

Only the line items that are affected by non-GAAP adjustments are shown.
Merck is providing certain non-GAAP information that excludes certain items because of the nature of these items and the impact they have on the analysis of underlying business performance and trends. Management believes that providing this information enhances investors' understanding of the company's results as it permits investors to understand how management assesses performance. Management uses these measures internally for planning and forecasting purposes and to measure the performance of the company along with other metrics. In addition, senior management's annual compensation is derived in part using non-GAAP pretax income. This information should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for or superior to, information prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(1) Amount included in cost of sales primarily reflects expenses for the amortization of intangible assets recognized as a result of business acquisitions. Amount included in selling, general and administrative expenses reflects $466 million related to the company's planned spin-off of Organon & Co., approximately $95 million of costs related to the acquisition of ArQule, Inc., and other acquisition and divestiture-related costs. Amount included in research and development expenses primarily reflects a reduction in expenses related to a decrease in the estimated fair value measurement of liabilities for contingent consideration. Amount included in other (income) expense, net, primarily reflects an increase in the estimated fair value measurement of liabilities for contingent consideration related to the termination of the Sanofi-Pasteur MSD joint venture, partially offset by royalty income.
(2) Amounts primarily include employee separation costs and accelerated depreciation associated with facilities to be closed or divested related to activities under the company's formal restructuring programs.
(3) Represents the estimated tax impact on the reconciling items based on applying the statutory rate of the originating territory of the non-GAAP adjustments. Acquisition and divestiture-related costs also includes a tax cost of $67 million, representing an adjustment to the tax benefits recorded in conjunction with the 2015 Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. acquisition.
(4) Amount included in research and development reflects expenses for upfront payments related to license and collaboration agreements.
MERCK & CO., INC.
FRANCHISE / KEY PRODUCT SALES
(AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS)
(UNAUDITED)
Table 3

2020

2019

3Q Sep YTD
1Q 2Q 3Q Sep YTD 1Q 2Q 3Q Sep YTD 4Q Full Year Nom % Ex-Exch % Nom % Ex-Exch %
TOTAL SALES (1)

$12,057

$10,872

$12,551

$35,479

$10,816

$11,760

$12,397

$34,972

$11,868

$46,840

1

2

1

3

PHARMACEUTICAL

10,655

9,679

11,320

31,654

9,663

10,460

11,095

31,218

10,533

41,751

2

2

1

3

Oncology
Keytruda

3,284

3,388

3,715

10,387

2,269

2,634

3,070

7,973

3,111

11,084

21

21

30

31

Alliance Revenue – Lynparza (2)

145

178

196

519

79

111

123

313

132

444

59

58

66

67

Alliance Revenue – Lenvima (2)

128

151

142

421

74

97

109

280

124

404

30

29

50

50

Emend

43

33

39

115

117

121

98

336

53

388

-60

-59

-66

-65

Vaccines (3)
Gardasil / Gardasil 9

1,097

656

1,187

2,941

838

886

1,320

3,044

693

3,737

-10

-10

-3

-2

ProQuad / M-M-R II / Varivax

435

378

576

1,390

496

675

623

1,794

481

2,275

-8

-7

-23

-22

Pneumovax 23

256

117

375

748

185

170

237

592

334

926

58

58

26

27

RotaTeq

222

168

210

601

211

172

180

564

227

791

16

17

7

8

Vaqta

60

28

51

139

47

58

62

167

71

238

-18

-17

-17

-15

Hospital Acute Care
Bridion

299

224

320

843

255

278

284

817

313

1,131

13

13

3

4

Noxafil

94

73

79

247

190

193

177

560

103

662

-55

-55

-56

-55

Prevymis

60

63

77

200

32

38

45

115

50

165

72

69

74

74

Primaxin

51

64

74

189

59

71

77

207

67

273

-4

-4

-9

-7

Invanz

64

43

51

159

72

78

57

206

57

263

-10

-6

-23

-19

Cancidas

55

43

50

148

61

67

62

191

58

249

-20

-19

-22

-20

Cubicin

46

32

39

116

88

67

52

207

50

257

-26

-25

-44

-43

Zerbaxa

37

32

43

112

26

27

35

88

32

121

22

24

27

29

Immunology
Simponi

215

191

209

615

208

214

203

625

205

830

3

-2

-1

Remicade

88

73

82

242

123

98

101

322

89

411

-19

-20

-25

-24

Neuroscience
Belsomra

79

84

81

244

67

76

80

223

83

306

1

9

8

Virology
Isentress / Isentress HD

245

196

205

646

255

247

250

752

223

975

-18

-18

-14

-12

Zepatier

55

39

28

122

114

108

83

304

66

370

-67

-67

-60

-59

Cardiovascular
Zetia

145

137

103

384

140

156

147

443

146

590

-30

-30

-13

-13

Vytorin

53

39

47

139

97

76

57

231

54

285

-17

-16

-40

-38

Atozet

122

115

111

348

94

92

97

283

108

391

14

12

23

25

Alliance Revenue - Adempas (4)

53

79

83

216

42

51

50

144

60

204

67

67

50

50

Adempas (5)

56

57

55

167

48

53

57

158

57

215

-5

-7

6

6

Diabetes (6)
Januvia

774

854

821

2,449

824

908

807

2,539

943

3,482

2

2

-4

-3

Janumet

503

490

506

1,499

530

533

503

1,567

475

2,041

2

-4

-2

Women's Health
Implanon / Nexplanon

195

132

189

515

199

183

199

581

206

787

-5

-4

-11

-10

NuvaRing

63

63

58

184

219

240

241

700

179

879

-76

-76

-74

-73

Diversified Brands
Singulair

155

100

82

338

191

160

152

503

195

698

-46

-46

-33

-32

Cozaar / Hyzaar

102

98

91

292

103

109

116

329

113

442

-21

-20

-11

-9

Arcoxia

70

65

68

204

75

75

72

221

67

288

-5

-2

-8

-5

Nasonex

71

49

41

161

96

72

58

226

67

293

-30

-29

-29

-27

Follistim AQ

41

44

50

136

57

63

62

182

58

241

-18

-18

-26

-25

Other Pharmaceutical (7)

1,194

1,103

1,186

3,478

1,082

1,203

1,149

3,431

1,183

4,615

3

4

1

3

ANIMAL HEALTH

1,214

1,101

1,220

3,535

1,025

1,124

1,122

3,271

1,122

4,393

9

12

8

12

Livestock

739

648

758

2,145

611

671

726

2,007

777

2,784

5

8

7

11

Companion Animals

475

453

462

1,390

414

453

396

1,264

345

1,609

17

18

10

12

Other Revenues (8)

188

92

11

290

128

176

180

483

213

696

-94

-33

-40

-12

Sum of quarterly amounts may not equal year-to-date amounts due to rounding.
(1) Only select products are shown.
(2) Alliance Revenue represents Merck's share of profits, which are product sales net of cost of sales and commercialization costs.
(3) Total Vaccines sales were $2,155 million, $1,418 million and $2,521 million in the first, second and third quarters of 2020 and $1,887 million, $2,037 million, $2,517 million and $1,928 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2019, respectively.
(4) Alliance Revenue represents Merck's share of profits from sales in Bayer's marketing territories, which are product sales net of cost of sales and commercialization costs.
(5) Net product sales in Merck's marketing territories.
(6) Total Diabetes sales were $1,353 million, $1,418 million and $1,405 million in the first, second and third quarters of 2020 and $1,402 million, $1,480 million, $1,360 million and $1,472 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2019, respectively.
(7) Includes Pharmaceutical products not individually shown above.
(8) Other Revenues are comprised primarily of Healthcare Services segment revenues, third-party manufacturing sales and miscellaneous corporate revenues, including revenue hedging activities.

Media:

Pamela Eisele
(267) 305-3558

Patrick Ryan
(201) 452-2409

Investors:

Peter Dannenbaum
(908) 740-1037

Michael DeCarbo
(908) 740-1807

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