Merck & Co. Business Summary

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK), known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada, is a research-intensive biopharmaceutical leader that generates revenue through the discovery, development, and sale of prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. The company operates through two primary segments: Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. The Pharmaceutical segment is anchored by its immuno-oncology blockbuster Keytruda, which remains the world’s top-selling drug, alongside a robust portfolio in vaccines (Gardasil, Capvaxive), infectious diseases, and cardiometabolic disorders. For fiscal year 2026, Merck projects total revenues between $65.5 billion and $67.0 billion, driven by oncology expansion and new launches like Winrevair for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Merck competes directly with global giants such as Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, AbbVie, and Eli Lilly, maintaining a dominant market position in oncology while aggressively diversifying its pipeline to mitigate upcoming patent expirations for Keytruda and Januvia. The company is led by Chairman and CEO Robert M. Davis, who assumed the role in 2021 after serving as Merck’s CFO and previously holding senior leadership positions at Baxter International. The executive leadership team includes Caroline Litchfield as EVP and CFO, a 30-year company veteran, and Dr. Dean Y. Li, who serves as EVP and President of Merck Research Laboratories, overseeing the global R&D engine. Dave Williams serves as the Chief Information and Digital Officer, spearheading the firm’s technological and data-driven initiatives. Founded in 1891 by George Merck, the company is governed by a high-profile board of directors featuring notable members such as Lead Independent Director Thomas H. Glocer (former CEO of Thomson Reuters), Douglas M. Baker Jr. (former CEO of Ecolab), and Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey (former President of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation).