Merck & Co (MRK) Jefferies London Healthcare Conference 2024 summary

Government and regulatory environment

• Maintains consistent engagement with global governments to ensure access to innovations, regardless of political changes.

• Emphasizes the societal value of vaccines and ongoing collaboration with healthcare stakeholders.

• Confident in science-driven outcomes and adaptability to new administrations.

Oncology strategy and pipeline development

• Expanding PD-1/VEGF bispecific collaborations, including with Exelixis and Eisai, to address multiple cancer types.

• Focused on improving therapeutic index and leveraging internal expertise for rapid drug development.

• Maintains a robust pipeline with over 27 drugs in phase II or III, aiming to address cancer heterogeneity through combinations.

• Utilizes biomarker-driven approaches and data from global studies to inform development plans.

Subcutaneous (subq) Keytruda and patient access

• Subq Keytruda offers flexibility, reducing infusion center visits and benefiting both metastatic and curative settings.

• Adoption rates vary by healthcare system, with higher uptake expected in markets prioritizing outpatient care.

• Initial focus is on early-stage and curative indications, with potential for broader use in the future.