Call for Resignation: Senator Bernie Sanders has demanded the resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing his "dangerous policies" that threaten public health. This demand follows the controversial firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez.
Opposition from Medical Community: Sanders criticized Kennedy for continuing his anti-vaccine stance despite widespread opposition from the medical community and scientific experts.
CDC Leadership Crisis
Firing of CDC Director: Kennedy dismissed Monarez shortly after her appointment, as she refused to enforce new vaccine limitations that he claimed were scientifically unfounded. This led to the resignation of four senior CDC officials and mass walkouts at the CDC headquarters.
Monarez's Stance: Monarez, confirmed as CDC director in July 2025, has chosen to protect public health over political agendas, refusing to resign despite pressure from Kennedy.
Public Health Implications
Escalating Tensions: The conflict intensified when Monarez reached out to Senate Health Committee Chair Bill Cassidy regarding Kennedy's policies. CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry also resigned, emphasizing that scientific integrity should not be compromised by political influences.
Criticism from Other Senators: Senator Elizabeth Warren has condemned the administration's actions, highlighting the risks to public health as measles cases rise to record levels.
Impact on Pharmaceutical Stocks
Market Reaction: Kennedy's anti-vaccine policies have negatively affected pharmaceutical stocks since his confirmation in February. Companies like Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax are facing challenges with vaccine authorizations after Kennedy revoked emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines.
Vaccine Supply Concerns: Merck, the only U.S. supplier of the MMR vaccine, and GSK are at risk due to potential changes in childhood vaccination policies under Kennedy's leadership.
MRK
$98.27+Infinity%1D
Analyst Views on MRK
Wall Street analysts forecast MRK stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MRK is 104.40 USD with a low forecast of 82.00 USD and a high forecast of 139.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
14 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast MRK stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MRK is 104.40 USD with a low forecast of 82.00 USD and a high forecast of 139.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
6 Buy
8 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 100.260
Low
82.00
Averages
104.40
High
139.00
Current: 100.260
Low
82.00
Averages
104.40
High
139.00
BofA
Buy
maintain
$105 -> $120
2025-12-15
New
Reason
BofA
Price Target
$105 -> $120
2025-12-15
New
maintain
Buy
Reason
BofA raised the firm's price target on Merck to $120 from $105 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. Merck shares look attractive as the pipeline has "rounded out," says the analyst, who is shifting the firm's valuation toward the firm's new FY27 EPS estimate.
Morgan Stanley
Equal Weight
maintain
$100 -> $102
2025-12-12
New
Reason
Morgan Stanley
Price Target
$100 -> $102
2025-12-12
New
maintain
Equal Weight
Reason
Morgan Stanley raised the firm's price target on Merck to $102 from $100 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm expects many of the policy overhangs that dominated the biopharma conversation this year to wane in 2026, bringing the focus back to fundamentals, the analyst tells investors in a 2026 outlook note for the group.
HSBC
Rajesh Kumar
Buy
maintain
$100 -> $120
2025-12-10
Reason
HSBC
Rajesh Kumar
Price Target
$100 -> $120
2025-12-10
maintain
Buy
Reason
HSBC analyst Rajesh Kumar raised the firm's price target on Merck to $120 from $100 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares as part of a 2026 outlook for the pharma group. The firm believes the sector is well positioned to outperform in 2026, "even more so if AI panic kicks in." HSBC's preferred stocks are "growth bucket ideas," but says "fallen angels and value could work as well."
JPMorgan
Overweight
downgrade
2025-12-08
Reason
JPMorgan
Price Target
2025-12-08
downgrade
Overweight
Reason
JPMorgan lowered the firm's price target on Merck KGaA to EUR 150 from EUR 155 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares.
About MRK
Merck & Co., Inc. is a global health care company that delivers health solutions through its prescription medicines, including biologic therapies, vaccines and animal health products. Its Pharmaceutical segment includes human health pharmaceutical and vaccine products. The Company sells its human health pharmaceutical products primarily to drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, government agencies and managed health care providers. It sells these human health vaccines primarily to physicians, wholesalers, distributors and government entities. Its Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a range of veterinary pharmaceutical and vaccine products, as well as health management solutions and services, for the prevention, treatment and control of disease in all livestock and companion animal species. Its products include KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) injection, for intravenous use; WELIREG (belzutifan) tablets, for oral use; Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine) and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
