Merck to Take Part in the Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference in London
Upcoming Event: Merck executives Jannie Oosthuizen and Dr. Marjorie Green will participate in a fireside chat at the Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference in London on November 20, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. GMT, with a live audio webcast available for the public.
Company Overview: Merck, known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada, focuses on using advanced science to improve global health through innovative medicines and vaccines, aiming to be a leading biopharmaceutical company.
Forward-Looking Statements: The announcement includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could lead to actual results differing from expectations due to various factors, including industry conditions and regulatory challenges.
Contact Information: Media and investor contacts are provided for further inquiries, including John Cummins and Michael Levey for media, and Peter Dannenbaum and Steven Graziano for investor relations.
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- Market Milestones: The S&P 500 recently hit the 7,000 mark but failed to close above it, indicating market fragility at high levels, which could affect investor confidence and lead to short-term volatility.
- Sector Leadership Shift: In 2026, sectors like energy, materials, and staples have shown impressive gains of 22.5%, 16.9%, and 13.3%, respectively, but these sectors typically lead near market tops, suggesting current leadership may lack sustainability.
- Healthcare Sector Recovery: The healthcare ETF (XLV) is up only 1.9% year-to-date, yet major components like Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and Amgen are trading near 52-week highs, indicating potential upside and positioning it as a likely next market leader.
- Investment Strategy Adjustment: Investors should focus on the healthcare sector's technical breakout, particularly the crucial $160 level; if cleared, upside targets could reach the mid-180s, signaling increasing investment opportunities in the healthcare sector within the current market environment.
- Clinical Trial Results: Merck's Enflonsia demonstrated safety and efficacy in a phase 3 trial for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) treatment, particularly in high-risk infants and children under two, indicating its potential for the second RSV season.
- SMART Trial Data: Data from the SMART trial revealed that monoclonal antibody (mAb) serum concentrations in high-risk children and infants treated with Enflonsia were comparable to those in healthy infants from a pivotal trial, underscoring the drug's effectiveness and safety.
- High-Risk Population: Nearly all participants in the SMART trial had chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease, suggesting that Enflonsia could provide essential protection for these vulnerable groups, with a potential need for an additional dose during the second RSV season.
- Researcher Insights: Paolo Manzoni, an investigator for the SMART trial, noted that these new findings highlight Enflonsia's potential to protect high-risk children, emphasizing the drug's significance in RSV treatment.
- Positive Trial Progress: Merck presented positive results from the Phase 3 SMART trial at the RSVVW Conference, indicating that Enflonsia's safety profile in children under 2 is consistent with previous studies, potentially providing additional protection for high-risk children and likely facilitating FDA's expanded indication approval.
- Clinical Data Support: The latest data from the SMART trial shows that monoclonal antibody concentrations of Enflonsia are similar to those in healthy infants from earlier studies, suggesting its potential effectiveness in the second RSV season, further solidifying its prospects for FDA approval in 2025.
- Strong Market Performance: Merck's stock is currently trading at $121.62, 5.9% above its 20-day simple moving average and has increased by 42.13% over the past 12 months, indicating robust market performance and proximity to 52-week highs.
- Optimistic Analyst Ratings: The stock carries a 'Buy' rating with an average price target of $119.95, and Guggenheim has raised its target to $140.00, reflecting analysts' confidence in its future performance.
- Positive Trial Results: Merck's Phase 3 SMART trial for ENFLONSIA (clesrovimab) in high-risk infants and children reported positive outcomes, indicating consistent safety during the second RSV season compared to the first, suggesting potential efficacy in this demographic.
- Safety Consistency: The safety profile observed in children under 2 years receiving ENFLONSIA aligns with that seen in the MK-1654-007 trial, reinforcing confidence in the drug's application for high-risk pediatric patients.
- Similar Antibody Concentrations: The monoclonal antibody serum concentrations in high-risk children under 2 years were comparable to those in healthy infants from the pivotal Phase 2b/3 CLEVER trial, indicating ENFLONSIA's potential effectiveness in this vulnerable population.
- Efficacy Extrapolation Support: Results from the SMART study support the extrapolation of ENFLONSIA's efficacy to children under 2 years at increased risk for severe RSV disease, enhancing Merck's competitive position in the RSV treatment market and laying a foundation for future clinical applications.

- Positive Trial Results: Merck presented findings from the Phase 3 SMART trial of ENFLONSIA (clesrovimab) at the RSVVW’26 conference in Rome, indicating consistent safety and efficacy in high-risk children, supporting global regulatory submissions.
- Safety Consistency: In the second RSV season, adverse reactions such as injection site erythema and fever were comparable to the first season, confirming the drug's safety profile in vulnerable populations and suggesting potential for additional protection.
- Efficacy Support: Results from the SMART trial demonstrated that a single dose of ENFLONSIA provides up to five months of protection in high-risk children, with a 3.0% RSV-related hospitalization rate in the second season, highlighting its preventive potential against severe RSV disease.
- Global Regulatory Submission: Merck plans to share the second season results with the FDA and global regulatory authorities to seek an expanded indication for ENFLONSIA in high-risk children, further solidifying its critical role in RSV prevention.
- Clinical Trial Results: At the 9th RSVVW Conference, Merck announced positive findings for ENFLONSIA (clesrovimab) during the second RSV season, demonstrating consistent safety and efficacy in high-risk infants, supporting global regulatory submissions.
- Safety Analysis: In the second RSV season, adverse reactions such as injection site erythema and fever were low among children receiving ENFLONSIA, indicating good safety in vulnerable populations and potential for additional protection.
- Serum Concentration Comparison: The serum concentrations of ENFLONSIA in high-risk children were similar to those in healthy infants from the pivotal CLEVER trial, further validating its potential in preventing severe RSV disease and supporting future treatment options.
- Market Outlook: Merck aims to expand ENFLONSIA's availability to all eligible high-risk children globally, with FDA approval anticipated in 2025, marking a significant advancement in RSV prevention efforts.










