Merck bets on Asia growth with $338m Korea investment

Moderna and Merck are advancing their personalized melanoma therapy, intismeran, toward regulatory approval. Moderna's Q3 earnings show a 90% revenue drop from 2022 to 2025 due to reduced COVID-19 vaccine demand. The Phase 3 trial showed a 42% reduction in recurrence or death risk when combined with Keytruda. Moderna shares have risen over 700% this year, driven by investor excitement over the cancer program.

Lonza, a Swiss contract manufacturing firm, will acquire five US sites from Merck KGaA. The deal, valued in the low- to mid-triple-digit million Swiss francs, will expand Lonza's US manufacturing network. Details on the sites, products, and financing remain undisclosed.

Halozyme reported Q3 2026 revenue of $493M, up 39% YoY, with adjusted EBITDA rising 35% to $336.2M. The company raised full-year guidance and won a patent case against Merck in Europe, blocking Merck's Keytruda QLEX in eight markets. Royalty revenue surged 44% to $341M, driven by strong performance across multiple products.

Merck has initiated a Phase 3 trial (ENHANCE-3) for ensifentrine (Ohtuvayre), evaluating its efficacy in reducing COPD exacerbations. The global study will enroll 2,136 patients across 28 countries. Ohtuvayre, approved by the FDA in June 2024, is a dual-action inhaled therapy for COPD maintenance.

Merck reported that its dual GLP-1/glucagon agonist drug cleared a mid-stage trial for liver disease MASH, sharing biopsy data. The drug was licensed from South Korea's Hanmi.

A trial compared Amgen's Repatha (evolocumab) and generic ezetimibe for lowering LDL cholesterol. Repatha showed a 20% reduction in heart attack risk, according to the study.