Merck: strong start to 2019, helped by Keytruda growth
(CercleFinance.com) - Merck said that it has had a "strong start" to 2019, with double-digit sales and EPS growth in the first quarter, thanks to the strength of its oncology and vaccines businesses.
Global sales increased by 8% to 10.8 billion dollars in the first quarter, although excluding a negative FX impact, they grew by 11%.
Net income rose by 13% to 3.2 billion dollars.
The sales of Keytruda - the company's revolutionary cancer drug - jumped by 55% to 2.3 billion dollars over the first three months of the year.
Merck raised its 2019 full-year revenue range to between 43.9 billion dollars and 45.1 billion dollars, and also upped its full-year EPS range.
The shares were up 1.3% in early morning trading on Tuesday.
Copyright (c) 2019 CercleFinance.com. All rights reserved.
Global sales increased by 8% to 10.8 billion dollars in the first quarter, although excluding a negative FX impact, they grew by 11%.
Net income rose by 13% to 3.2 billion dollars.
The sales of Keytruda - the company's revolutionary cancer drug - jumped by 55% to 2.3 billion dollars over the first three months of the year.
Merck raised its 2019 full-year revenue range to between 43.9 billion dollars and 45.1 billion dollars, and also upped its full-year EPS range.
The shares were up 1.3% in early morning trading on Tuesday.
Copyright (c) 2019 CercleFinance.com. All rights reserved.