Last update on 2024-03-05

Merck (MRK) Explained

An Overview of MRK: Its Business Strategy, Core Products, Major Competitors, and Essential Insights into its Role in the Drug Manufacturers - General Industry

Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firms immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent hepatitis B and pediatric diseases as well as HPV and shingles. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the companys sales are generated in the United States.

Current Business Strategy

Merck & Co., Inc., known as Merck in the United States and Canada and MSD outside, focuses on innovating new therapies and vaccines to address significant unmet medical needs. Their strategy encompasses a broad approach in areas like oncology, vaccines, hospital acute care, and animal health, with a significant emphasis on research and development (R&D) to bolster their pipeline. Furthermore, strategic collaborations, acquisitions, and licensing agreements play a pivotal role in their efforts to expand their product offerings and enter new markets.

Most known Products

Here is the list of the 5 most well-known products of Merck (MRK):

• Keytruda: An immunotherapy drug used for the treatment of various types of cancer by enhancing the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells.
• Gardasil: A vaccine designed to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, which can lead to cervical cancer, other HPV-associated cancers, and genital warts.
• Januvia: A medication used to lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, working by increasing levels of certain natural substances that lower blood sugar.
• Bravecto: An animal health product offering up to 12 weeks of protection against fleas and ticks in dogs and cats, supporting a critical segment of Merck's product lineup.
• Pneumovax 23: A pneumococcal vaccine that helps protect against infections caused by pneumococcus bacteria, such as meningitis and bloodstream infections.

Competitors

Here is the list of the main 5 competitors of Merck (MRK):

• PFE: Pfizer Inc. is a competitor primarily due to its vast portfolio in vaccines, oncology, and internal medicine, competing directly with Merck’s products such as Gardasil and Keytruda.
• JNJ: Johnson & Johnson operates across a broad spectrum of the healthcare industry, including pharmaceuticals where its products in oncology and immunology rival those of Merck.
• GSK: GlaxoSmithKline plc competes in various areas including vaccines and pharmaceuticals, notably in the respiratory and HIV segments, positioning it as a key competitor against Merck’s vaccine and therapeutic offerings.
• ABBV: AbbVie Inc., with its strong portfolio in immunology, oncology, and virology, including blockbuster drugs, competes in key therapeutic areas with Merck.
• BMY: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company has a significant presence in oncology and cardiovascular diseases, going head-to-head with Merck, especially in the rapidly growing area of immuno-oncology.