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Merck Halts Gardasil Shipments, Stock Plummets 11%

2/4/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Merck & Co. halted Gardasil shipments to China due to low demand, affecting its 2025 revenue forecast.
Projected sales range from $64.1 billion to $65.6 billion, falling short of the $67.3 billion analyst expectations.
Keytruda sales rose by 19%, but Gardasil revenue declined by 17%, alarming investors.
Following the news, Merck's stock fell over 11%, highlighting challenges in the Chinese market.

History

Historical Context

Merck's halt of Gardasil shipments to China echoes the vaccine's rocky history. Despite its success in reducing cervical cancer rates since 2006, early skepticism and high costs hindered widespread adoption. Similar challenges in other markets, like Japan's vaccine suspension, show how public perception impacts health initiatives and revenue.

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Story summary

Merck & Co. halted Gardasil shipments to China due to low demand, affecting its 2025 revenue forecast.
Projected sales range from $64.1 billion to $65.6 billion, falling short of the $67.3 billion analyst expectations.
Keytruda sales rose by 19%, but Gardasil revenue declined by 17%, alarming investors.
Following the news, Merck's stock fell over 11%, highlighting challenges in the Chinese market.

1 / 2