The FINANCIAL — Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, on July 28 announced financial results for the second quarter of 2017.
“We continued to deliver strong results in the second quarter, driven by robust momentum for KEYTRUDA and good progress with other products in our portfolio,” said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “The company continues to invest in innovative science that addresses the critical needs of population health, which benefits patients while creating long-term value for shareholders.”
Worldwide sales were $9.9 billion for the second quarter of 2017, an increase of 1 percent compared with the second quarter of 2016, including a 1 percent negative impact from foreign exchange, according to Merck.
GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share assuming dilution (EPS) were $0.71 for the second quarter of 2017. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.01 for the second quarter of 2017 excludes acquisition- and divestiture-related costs, restructuring costs and certain other items.
Pipeline Highlights
Merck made significant advances in the development program for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), an anti-PD-1 therapy, receiving key regulatory approvals and a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) acceptance.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved KEYTRUDA under its Accelerated Approval program:
In combination with pemetrexed and carboplatin for the treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) regardless of PD-L1 expression. This is the first regulatory approval of KEYTRUDA in combination with another treatment. The National Cancer Care Network (NCCN) also recommended the combination for the treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC.
For the treatment of previously treated patients with advanced microsatellite instability-high cancers.
For the treatment of certain patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, a type of bladder cancer, for first-line use in patients who are ineligible for cisplatin-containing therapy.
The FDA approved KEYTRUDA for the treatment of certain patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in the second-line setting for patients who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy.
The European Commission approved KEYTRUDA for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma who have failed autologous stem cell transplant and brentuximab vedotin (BV), or who are transplant-ineligible and have failed BV.
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion recommending approval of KEYTRUDA for the treatment of certain patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, with a final decision expected in the third quarter of 2017.
The FDA accepted for review the sBLA for KEYTRUDA for the treatment of patients with recurrent or advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have already received two or more lines of chemotherapy. The FDA granted Priority Review with a PDUFA action date of Sept. 22, 2017.
The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for KEYTRUDA in combination with axitnib as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
The company previously announced that the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-040 trial investigating KEYTRUDA in previously treated patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma did not meet its primary endpoint of overall survival (HR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.67-1.01]; one-sided p = 0.03). The safety profile observed in KEYNOTE-040 was consistent with that observed in previously reported studies of KEYTRUDA without new safety signals identified. The final data from KEYNOTE-040 will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting.
At the 77th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, Merck in partnership with Pfizer presented data from two Phase 3 studies of ertugliflozin, an investigational oral SGLT-2 inhibitor in development to help improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes, which met their primary endpoints. Three New Drug Applications for medicines containing ertugliflozin are currently under review with the FDA and EMA.
Phase 3 results from the REVEAL (Randomized EValuation of the Effects of Anacetrapib through Lipid modification) outcomes study of anacetrapib met its primary endpoint, significantly reducing major coronary events (defined as the composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, and coronary revascularization) compared to placebo in patients at risk for cardiac events who are already receiving an effective LDL-C lowering regimen. The safety profile of anacetrapib in the early analysis was generally consistent with that demonstrated in previous studies of the drug, including accumulation of anacetrapib in adipose tissue, as has been previously reported. Merck plans to review the results of the trial with external experts, and will consider whether to file new drug applications with the FDA and other regulatory agencies.
New data from the company’s HIV portfolio and pipeline were presented at the 9th IAS Conference on HIV Science.
Week 96 results from the pivotal Phase 3 ONCEMRK study evaluating the efficacy and safety of ISENTRESS HD, a 1200 mg once-daily dose of the company’s integrase inhibitor, ISENTRESS (raltegravir), met its primary efficacy endpoint of non-inferiority to twice-daily ISENTRESS, with a similar safety and tolerability profile, reaffirming the comparable efficacy and safety of ISENTRESS HD. ISENTRESS HD is now approved in the United States and European Union.
48 week data from DRIVE-AHEAD, the second of two pivotal Phase 3 studies evaluating doravirine (MK-1439), an investigational non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection showed that a once-daily single tablet, fixed-dose combination of doravirine, lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate met its primary endpoint. Based on these findings the company plans to file regulatory applications in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Results from a Phase 1 study of MK-8591, Merck’s investigational nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor in adult patients with HIV-1 infection.
Merck entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Teijin Pharma for the development, manufacture and commercialization of an investigational preclinical antibody candidate targeting the protein tau. Changes in tau are associated with a number of diseases affecting the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Recent Developments
Merck entered a global strategic oncology collaboration with AstraZeneca to co-develop and co-commercialize AstraZeneca’s Lynparza (olaparib), a PARP inhibitor, and investigational medicine selemetinib, a MEK inhibitor, as monotherapy and in combination treatments for multiple cancer types. Merck and AstraZeneca will independently develop and commercialize Lynparza and selumetinib in combinations with the companies’ respective PD-1 and PD-L1 immuno-oncology medicines KEYTRUDA and Imfinzi (durvalumab). The companies will share development and marketing costs equally, as well as gross profits from Lynparza and selumetinib.
Pharmaceutical Revenue
Second-quarter pharmaceutical sales increased 1 percent to $8.8 billion, including a 1 percent negative impact from foreign exchange. The growth was primarily driven by product launches and vaccines, largely offset by the loss of market exclusivity for several products, as well as lower sales in the diabetes franchise.
Growth in oncology was due to higher sales of KEYTRUDA as the company continues to launch the product with new indications globally. Strong momentum from NSCLC, as KEYTRUDA is the only anti-PD-1 approved in the first-line setting, contributed significantly to KEYTRUDA’s overall growth.
Growth in hepatitis C was driven by ZEPATIER (elbasvir and grazoprevir), a medicine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus genotypes 1 or 4 infection, due to ongoing launches globally.
Additionally, the ongoing launch of BRIDION (sugammadex) Injection 100 mg/mL, a medicine for the reversal of neuromuscular blockade induced by rocuronium bromide or vecuronium bromide in adults undergoing surgery, generated sales of $163 million and also contributed to growth during the second quarter of 2017.
Growth in vaccines was primarily driven by higher sales of GARDASIL [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16 and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant] and GARDASIL 9 (Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant), vaccines to prevent certain cancers and other diseases caused by HPV, reflecting strong demand in Asia Pacific and the timing of sales in Brazil. Growth in vaccines also reflects higher sales of PNEUMOVAX 23 (pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent), a vaccine to help prevent pneumococcal disease, largely driven by volume growth and pricing in the United States. Additionally, vaccines sales growth reflects incremental sales of approximately $70 million, of which approximately $40 million relates to GARDASIL and GARDASIL 9, due to the recording of vaccine sales from 19 European countries that were part of the Sanofi Pasteur MSD (SPMSD) vaccines joint venture, which was terminated on Dec. 31, 2016.
Pharmaceutical sales reflect a decrease in the diabetes franchise of JANUVIA and JANUMET (sitagliptin and metformin HCl), medicines that help lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, primarily due to lower sales in the United States, reflecting continued pricing pressure and lower customer inventory levels that were partially offset by continued volume growth. Pharmaceutical sales growth also was offset by the loss of U.S. market exclusivity for ZETIA (ezetimibe) in late 2016 and VYTORIN (ezetimibe/simvastatin) in April 2017, medicines for lowering LDL cholesterol, and the ongoing impacts of generic competition for CUBICIN (daptomycin for injection), an I.V. antibiotic, and biosimilar competition for REMICADE (infliximab), a treatment for inflammatory diseases, in the company’s marketing territories in Europe. In the aggregate, sales of these products declined $830 million during the second quarter of 2017 compared to the second quarter of 2016.
Animal Health Revenue
Animal Health sales totaled $955 million for the second quarter of 2017, an increase of 6 percent compared with the second quarter of 2016, including a 1 percent negative impact from foreign exchange. Growth was primarily due to sales increases in companion animal products, driven by the BRAVECTO (fluralaner) line of products that kill fleas and ticks in dogs and cats for up to 12 weeks, and the NOBIVAC Canine Flu Bivalent vaccine, as well as sales increases in ruminants products, reflecting the positive impact of the Vallée S.A. acquisition.
GAAP Expense, EPS and Related Information
On a GAAP basis, the gross margin was 69.0 percent for the second quarter of 2017 compared to 63.7 percent for the second quarter of 2016. The increase in gross margin for the second quarter of 2017 was primarily driven by lower acquisition- and divestiture-related costs and restructuring costs, which reduced gross margin by 8.6 percentage points in the second quarter of 2017 compared with 12.0 percentage points in the second quarter of 2016. The increase also reflects the favorable effects of product mix and lower inventory write-offs.
Marketing and administrative expenses were $2.4 billion in the second quarter of 2017, a 1 percent decrease compared to the second quarter of 2016. The decrease primarily reflects lower restructuring costs partially offset by higher administrative costs including costs associated with the company now operating its European vaccines business in the countries that were part of the SPMSD vaccines joint venture, which was terminated on Dec. 31, 2016, and higher promotion expenses related to product launches.
Research and development (R&D) expenses were $1.7 billion in the second quarter of 2017, a 19 percent decrease compared to the second quarter of 2016. The decrease primarily reflects lower intangible asset impairment charges and licensing costs.
GAAP EPS was $0.71 for the second quarter of 2017 compared with $0.43 for the second quarter of 2016.
Non-GAAP Expense, EPS and Related Information
The non-GAAP gross margin was 77.6 percent for the second quarter of 2017 compared to 75.7 percent for the second quarter of 2016. The increase in non-GAAP gross margin was largely driven by the favorable effects of product mix and lower inventory write-offs.
Non-GAAP marketing and administrative expenses were $2.4 billion in the second quarter of 2017, an increase of 3 percent compared to the second quarter of 2016. The increase was driven primarily by higher administrative costs, including costs associated with the company now operating its European vaccines business in the countries that were previously part of the SPMSD vaccines joint venture, and higher promotion expenses related to product launches.
Non-GAAP R&D expenses were $1.7 billion in the second quarter of 2017, an 8 percent decrease compared to the second quarter of 2016. The decrease primarily reflects lower licensing costs.
Non-GAAP EPS was $1.01 for the second quarter of 2017 compared with $0.93 for the second quarter of 2016.
Financial Outlook
On June 27, 2017, the company experienced a network cyber-attack that led to a disruption of its worldwide operations, including manufacturing, research and sales operations. While the company does not yet know the magnitude of the impact of the disruption, which remains ongoing in certain operations, it continues to work to minimize the effects.
The company is in the process of restoring its manufacturing operations. To date, Merck has largely restored its packaging operations and has partially restored its formulation operations. The company is in the process of restoring its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient operations but is not yet producing bulk product. The company’s external manufacturing was not impacted. Throughout this time, Merck has continued to fulfill orders and ship product.
The company is confident in the continuous supply of key products such as KEYTRUDA, JANUVIA and ZEPATIER. In addition, Merck does not currently expect a significant impact to sales of its other top products; however, the company anticipates that it will have temporary delays in fulfilling orders for certain other products in certain markets.
The financial outlook below reflects the current state of the company’s manufacturing operations as well as its plans to restore those operations and potential costs associated with the remediation efforts.
Merck has reduced its full-year 2017 GAAP EPS range to be between $1.60 and $1.72. The change in the GAAP EPS range reflects the inclusion of licensing expenses related to the collaboration with AstraZeneca. Merck has maintained its full-year 2017 non-GAAP EPS range to be between $3.76 and $3.88, including an approximately 1 percent negative impact from foreign exchange at mid-July 2017 exchange rates.
Merck has narrowed and raised its full-year 2017 revenue range to be between $39.4 billion and $40.4 billion, including an approximately 1 percent negative impact from foreign exchange at mid-July 2017 exchange rates.
