Merck and Co., Inc (NYSE:MRK)
Merck beat estimates in the second quarter of 2018 with $10.5 billion in revenues and EPS of $1.06. They were buoyed in the quarter by their signature cancer drug KEYTRUDA which allows the body’s immune system to destroy cancerous cells by blocking a protective enzyme in cancer cells. Sales grew 89% in the quarter to $1.667 billion and are expected to continue to grow to upwards of $13 billion annually by 2026. Recently KEYTRUDA was approved in China and the EU for metastatic melanoma.
From Jeff Auxier (Trades, Portfolio)'s second quarter 2018 shareholder letter.
