Merck Rises 1.9% on MMR Split Order as Standalone Vaccines May Take 10 Years
Updated
Updated · ts2.tech · Aug 12
Merck Rises 1.9% on MMR Split Order as Standalone Vaccines May Take 10 Years
3 articles · Updated · ts2.tech · Aug 12
Summary
$132.88 marked Merck’s late-morning price on Wednesday, up 1.89% after a presidential directive told agencies to work with drugmakers on separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines.
No standalone measles, mumps or rubella shot is approved in the U.S., and Merck has said developing, testing, winning approval for and launching three new vaccines could take more than 10 years.
Roughly $591 million in quarterly sales from ProQuad, M-M-R II and Varivax—about 3.6% of Merck revenue—limits any near-term earnings impact, especially with that segment down 3% last quarter.
Keytruda remains the main valuation driver at $8.37 billion in quarterly sales, while analysts’ average $135.50 target implies only about 2% upside and leaves execution, pricing and government procurement terms as the key unknowns.