Ogsiveo recommended by NICE to treat rare soft tissue tumours

Merck will stop manufacturing and marketing Recarbrio, an antibiotic for complicated infections, in the US. The decision is part of a portfolio review and not due to safety issues. Experts note alternative treatments exist, but the move highlights challenges in the antibiotic market, particularly for pediatric use. Merck expanded Recarbrio's label to children in 2025.

Merck (MRK) shares fell 1.5% to $146.48 after acquiring rights to SciBrunch's KRAS G12D inhibitor for $400M upfront. The deal, valued at up to $2.13B, adds to Merck's pipeline but the drug is not yet in human trials. Merck faces Keytruda patent expirations later this decade.

AstraZeneca invested $2B in Summit Therapeutics for rights to Akeso's cancer drug ivonescimab. Merck also made a deal, boosting Chinese biotech. Akeso's shares surged. Analysts see potential in ivonescimab for combination therapies.

Mission Bio announced that Merck & Co. and Incyte will present new data using its Tapestri Platform at the World CDx Summit. Merck will share functional genomics findings, while Incyte will present clinical data on its CALR-targeted therapy. Mission Bio will also present data on single-cell MRD analysis in AML, showing 93% sensitivity compared to standard methods.

Merck (MRK) and Daiichi Sankyo withdrew a U.S. application for ifinatamab deruxtecan in lung cancer due to insufficient evidence. Phase 2 showed 48.2% tumor response, but no comparison to chemotherapy. Phase 3 trial enrollment is nearly complete. FDA had previously placed the trial on hold due to safety concerns. No new filing timeline was announced, delaying potential revenue and requiring further research spending.

Merck & Co. (MRK) reported positive Phase 2b/3 trial results for remigromig, a potential first-in-class treatment for diabetic macular edema. The drug met primary endpoints but showed higher rates of adverse events. Merck aims to diversify its pipeline as it prepares for KEYTRUDA's patent expiration, with Q2 sales reaching $16.6 billion. Recent acquisitions and pipeline developments are key to its long-term strategy, though safety concerns and earnings pressures pose near-term risks.