Merck (MRK) Stock Surges 8% on Breakthrough Heart Drug Trial Data—Wall Street Finally Wakes Up

Merck just gave investors a shot of adrenaline. The pharma giant's stock spiked after announcing positive Phase 3 results for its experimental cardiovascular treatment—proving even dinosaurs can innovate when their patent cliff looms.

The juice: Trial data showed 28% reduction in cardiac events versus placebo. Analysts immediately upgraded price targets, with one quipping 'This might actually justify their P/E ratio... for a quarter.'

Market impact: MRK options volume exploded 300% intraday as hedge funds played catch-up. The rally added $12B to Merck's market cap—enough to buy three mid-tier crypto exchanges.

Reality check: FDA approval remains 18 months out, and we all remember how Pfizer's 'next Viagra' turned out. But for now, Merck gets to enjoy that rare pharma combo: saving lives while temporarily beating the S&P 500.

TLDR

• Merck released Phase 3 trial data for enlicitide decanoate, an oral PCSK9 inhibitor that showed strong LDL cholesterol reduction in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and at-risk adults
• The stock jumped 8.5% following the announcement, with the drug showing a safety profile similar to placebo and high patient adherence rates
• Merck reported Q3 adjusted earnings of $2.58 per share, beating Wall Street expectations, with total revenues reaching $17.3 billion
• KEYTRUDA received European Commission approval as a standalone treatment for head and neck cancer, expanding Merck’s market presence in Europe
• Merck secured a $700 million funding agreement with Blackstone Life Sciences to accelerate research on sacituzumab tirumotecan for various cancer treatments

Merck shares climbed 8.5% after the company released Phase 3 data for its experimental cholesterol medication. The oral drug, enlicitide decanoate, targets LDL cholesterol reduction in high-risk patients.

Merck & Co., Inc., MRK

The drug showed strong results in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and adults at risk for cardiovascular disease. Merck presented the data at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025.

Enlicitide decanoate is a once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor. The trial data showed sustained reductions in LDL cholesterol levels across multiple measurements.

Patient adherence rates were high throughout the study period. The safety profile matched that of placebo, which addresses a key concern for any new cardiovascular medication.

The drug represents Merck’s entry into the competitive cholesterol treatment market. Current PCSK9 inhibitors on the market require injection, making an oral alternative appealing to patients and doctors.

Strong Financial Performance Supports Stock Gains

Merck reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.58 per share. This beat analyst expectations and showed the company’s pricing power in a competitive market.

Total revenues reached $17.3 billion for the quarter. The company raised its full-year 2025 guidance following these results.

The EBIT margin came in at 35.4%. This reflects tight expense control while maintaining high research and development spending.

Merck’s enterprise value sits around $238 billion. The current ratio of 1.7 shows solid liquidity management.

KEYTRUDA Expansion Continues

The European Commission approved KEYTRUDA as a standalone treatment for head and neck cancer. This approval opens new markets for Merck’s top-selling drug.

KEYTRUDA combined with WELIREG showed effectiveness in clear cell renal carcinoma cases after surgery. The combination therapy approach extends KEYTRUDA’s reach in oncology.

Oncology sales continue to drive Merck’s revenue growth. KEYTRUDA remains the primary earnings driver for the company.

Merck signed a $700 million funding deal with Blackstone Life Sciences. The money will go toward research on sacituzumab tirumotecan, a drug candidate for multiple cancer types.

The partnership reflects Merck’s focus on expanding its cancer treatment portfolio. Sacituzumab tirumotecan could address several different cancer indications if trials prove successful.

Merck’s revenue projections call for $72 billion by 2028. This requires 4.2% annual revenue growth from current levels.

Earnings are expected to reach $24.3 billion by 2028, up from $16.4 billion today. Meeting these targets depends on successful drug launches and maintaining KEYTRUDA’s market position.

The stock traded up 2.39% in early Tuesday trading following the clinical data release. The market responded positively to both the cardiovascular and oncology developments.

Community analysts value Merck shares anywhere from $74.77 to $228.66. The wide range reflects different views on how quickly new drugs will contribute to earnings.