Merck & Co. 10-Q 2021-09-30

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021

OR

For the transition period from ______ to ______

Commission File No. 1-6571

Merck & Co., Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) (908) 740-4000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of the close of business on October 31, 2021: 2,525,943,936

Table of Contents

Part I - Financial Information

MERCK & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(Unaudited, $ in millions except per share amounts)

MERCK & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited, $ in millions)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MERCK & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(Unaudited, $ in millions except per share amounts)

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Spin-Off of Organon & Co.

On June 2, 2021, Merck completed the spin-off of products from its women’s health, biosimilars and established brands businesses into a new, independent, publicly traded company named Organon & Co. (Organon) through a distribution of Organon’s publicly traded stock to Company shareholders. The distribution is expected to qualify as tax-free to the Company and its shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The established brands included in the transaction consisted of dermatology, non-opioid pain management, respiratory, select cardiovascular products, as well as the rest of Merck’s diversified brands franchise. Merck’s existing research pipeline programs continue to be owned and developed within Merck as planned. The historical results of the women’s health, biosimilars and established brands businesses that were contributed to Organon in the spin-off have been reflected as discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated financial statements through the date of the spin-off (see Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements).

Other Developments

Business Developments

Below is a summary of significant business development activity thus far in 2021. See Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

In January 2021, Merck entered into an exclusive license and research collaboration agreement with Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Artiva) to discover, develop and manufacture CAR-NK cells that target certain solid tumors using Artiva’s proprietary platform. Merck and Artiva agreed to engage in up to three different research programs, each covering a collaboration target. Merck has sole responsibility for all development and commercialization activities (including regulatory filing and approval). Under the terms of the agreement, Merck made an upfront payment of $30 million, which was included in Research and development expenses in the first nine months of 2021, for license and other rights for the first two collaboration targets and agreed to make another upfront payment of $15 million for license and other rights for the third collaboration target when it is selected by Merck and accepted by Artiva. In addition, Artiva is eligible to receive future contingent milestone payments and tiered royalties on future sales.

In March 2021, Merck and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Gilead) entered into an agreement to jointly develop and commercialize long-acting treatments in HIV that combine Merck’s investigational nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor, islatravir, and Gilead’s investigational capsid inhibitor, lenacapavir. The collaboration will initially focus on long-acting oral formulations and long-acting injectable formulations of these combination products, with other formulations potentially added to the collaboration as mutually agreed. There was no upfront payment made by either party upon entering into the agreement.

In April 2021, Merck acquired Pandion Therapeutics, Inc. (Pandion), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics designed to address the unmet needs of patients living with autoimmune diseases, for total consideration of $1.9 billion. Pandion is advancing a pipeline of precision immune modulators targeting critical immune control nodes.

In September 2021, Merck and Acceleron Pharma Inc. (Acceleron), a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company, entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck will acquire Acceleron for $180 per share in cash for an approximate total equity value of $11.5 billion. Acceleron is focused on harnessing the power of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily of proteins that is known to play a central role in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and repair. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, Merck, through a subsidiary, initiated a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Acceleron. The closing of the tender offer is subject to certain conditions, including the tender of shares representing at least a majority of the total number of Acceleron’s outstanding shares, receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, and other customary conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Update

Overall, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Merck is focused on protecting the safety of its employees, ensuring that its supply of medicines and vaccines reaches its patients, contributing its scientific expertise to the development of an antiviral therapy, supporting efforts to expand manufacturing capacity and supply of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 medicines and vaccines (see below), and supporting health care providers and Merck’s communities. Although COVID-19-related disruptions negatively affected results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2021, Merck continues to experience strong global underlying demand across its business.

In the third quarter and first nine months of 2021, the estimated negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to Merck’s sales was approximately $350 million and $1.3 billion, respectively, all of which related to the Pharmaceutical segment. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2020, the estimated negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to Merck’s Pharmaceutical sales was approximately $400 million and $1.7 billion, respectively. Roughly 75% of Merck’s

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Pharmaceutical segment revenue is comprised of physician-administered products, which, despite strong underlying demand, have been affected by social distancing measures and fewer well visits.

In April 2021, Merck announced it was discontinuing the development of MK-7110 (formerly known as CD24Fc) for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (see Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements). This decision resulted in charges of $207 million to Cost of sales in the first nine months of 2021.

Operating expenses reflect a minor positive effect in the third quarter and first nine months of 2021 as investments in COVID-19-related research programs largely offset the favorable impact of lower spending in other areas due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Operating expenses were positively affected in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 by approximately $100 million and $500 million, respectively, primarily driven by lower promotional and selling costs, as well as lower research and development expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Merck continues to believe that global health systems and patients have largely adapted to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that while certain negative impacts will persist, the trend will continue to improve. For the full year of 2021, Merck assumes a net unfavorable impact to sales of less than 3% due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of which relates to the Pharmaceutical segment.

In November 2021, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom (U.K.) granted authorization for molnupiravir (MK-4482, EIDD-2801), an investigational oral antiviral medicine, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults with a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test and who have at least one risk factor for developing severe illness. The authorization is based on positive results from a planned interim analysis from the Phase 3 MOVe-OUT clinical trial, which evaluated molnupiravir in non-hospitalized, unvaccinated adult patients with laboratory-confirmed mild-to-moderate COVID-19, symptom onset within five days of study randomization and at least one risk factor associated with poor disease outcomes. In the U.K., Lagevrio is the planned trademark for molnupiravir. In October 2021, Merck submitted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for molnupiravir for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at risk for progress

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There have been no material changes in market risk exposures that affect the disclosures presented in “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K filed on February 25, 2021.

Management of the Company, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures over financial reporting. Based on their evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that as of September 30, 2021, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. For the third quarter of 2021, there were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

CAUTIONARY FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS

This report and other written reports and oral statements made from time to time by the Company may contain so-called “forward-looking statements,” all of which are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. One can identify these forward-looking statements by their use of words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “will,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “projects” and other words of similar meaning, or negative variations of any of the foregoing. One can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements are likely to address the Company’s growth strategy, financial results, product approvals, product potential, development programs and include statements related to the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. One must carefully consider any such statement and should understand that many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s forward-looking statements. These factors include inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of other risks and uncertainties, including some that are known and some that are not. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially.

The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement. One should carefully evaluate such statements in light of factors, including risk factors, described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. In Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed on February 25, 2021, in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021, filed on May 5, 2021, in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021, as filed on August 9, 2021, and in this Form 10-Q, the Company discusses in more detail various important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from expected or historic results. The Company notes these factors for investors as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. One should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, the reader should not consider any such list to be a complete statement of all potential risks or uncertainties.

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PART II - Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The information called for by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to Note 9 included in Part I, Item 1, Financial Statements (unaudited) — Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

For a discussion of risks that affect the Company’s business, please refer to Part I, Item IA, “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. There have been no material changes to the risk factors as previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as follows:

The global COVID-19 pandemic is having an adverse impact on the Company’s business, operations and financial performance. The Company is unable to predict the full extent to which the pandemic and related impacts will continue to adversely impact its business, operations, financial performance, results of operations, and financial condition.

The Company’s business and financial results have been negatively impacted by the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The duration, spread and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, rapidly changing and difficult to predict. The degree to which COVID-19 impacts the Company’s results will depend on future developments, beyond the Company’s knowledge or control, including, but not limited to, the duration and spread of the outbreak, its severity, the actions taken to contain the virus or treat its impact, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.

Merck continues to believe that global health systems and patients have largely adapted to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that while negative impacts will persist, the trend will continue to improve. For the full year of 2021, Merck assumes a net unfavorable impact to sales of less than 3% due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of which relates to the Pharmaceutical segment. To the extent these assumptions prove to be incorrect, the Company’s results may differ materially from the estimates set forth herein.

For the third quarter and first nine months of 2021, the estimated negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to Merck’s sales was approximately $350 million and $1.3 billion, respectively, all of which related to the Pharmaceutical segment. Roughly 75% of Merck’s Pharmaceutical segment revenue is comprised of physician-administered products, which, despite strong underlying demand, have been affected by social distancing measures and fewer well visits.

Operating expenses reflect a minor positive effect in the third quarter and first nine months of 2021 as investments in COVID-19-related research programs largely offset the favorable impact of lower spending in other areas due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer purchases of equity securities for the three months ended September 30, 2021 were as follows:

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

(1) Shares purchased during the period were made as part of a plan approved by the Board of Directors in October 2018 to purchase up to $10 billion of Merck’s common stock for its treasury.

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

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