# Merck Type: Company (MRK) Source: Biotech Intelligence Brief — https://getbiobrief.com/entity/merck Canonical HTML page: https://getbiobrief.com/entity/merck ## Timeline - **2028**: Keytruda Patent Expiry — Merck faces biosimilar competition for its top-selling immunotherapy drug. - **2028-01-01**: Keytruda Patent Cliff — Expected loss of exclusivity for Merck's top-selling cancer drug, Keytruda. - **2027**: TERN-701 Data Readout — Key clinical milestones for the leukemia candidate are expected to drive valuation. - **2026-07-16**: FDA Approves Lipfendra — The FDA approved Lipfendra (enlicitide), the first once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor, for adults with hypercholesterolemia including inherited forms, based on Phase 3 CORALreef trials showing 56-59% LDL-C reduction. - **2026-Q3**: Expected Closing — The deal is anticipated to close following regulatory approvals and Terns shareholder vote. - **2026-03-25**: Acquisition Announced — Merck and Terns Pharmaceuticals sign a definitive agreement for a $6.7B buyout. - **2026-03-25**: Terns Acquisition Announced — Merck agrees to buy Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion to acquire TERN-701. - **2026-03-24**: Analyst Sentiment Review — Major firms maintain ratings, citing steady execution of the strategic pivot. - **2026-03-12**: 2026 Guidance Issued — Management outlines $72M-$76M revenue target driven by ECO Synthesis. - **2026-03-11**: Q4 2025 Earnings Release — Codexis reports significant beats on both top and bottom lines. - **2023-04-16**: Prometheus Acquisition — Merck buys Prometheus Biosciences for $10.8 billion to bolster its immunology pipeline. - **2021-09-30**: Acceleron Acquisition — Merck acquires Acceleron Pharma for $11.5 billion to expand in cardiovascular disease. ## Recent coverage (7 stories) ### Merck’s oral PCSK9 inhibitor hits 59% LDL cut, leapfrogging injectable rivals 2026-07-16 22:00:10 · Sentiment: Strongly positive · Impact: 9/10 · Sources: 132 Merck won FDA approval for Lipfendra, a small-molecule oral PCSK9 inhibitor that achieved 56-59% LDL-C reductions in Phase 3. This breakthrough in oral delivery challenges the dominance of injectable biologics from Amgen and Sanofi/Regeneron. Full story: https://getbiobrief.com/story/merck-lipfendra-fda-approval-oral-pcsk9-59-percent ### Merck to Acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7B to Bolster Oncology Pipeline 2026-03-25 19:18:13 · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2 Merck has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion, securing a promising allosteric BCR-ABL inhibitor for leukemia. The deal is a strategic move to diversify Merck's oncology portfolio as it prepares for the 2028 patent expiration of its blockbuster drug, Keytruda. Full story: https://getbiobrief.com/story/merck-terns-pharmaceuticals-acquisition-6-7b ### Merck to Acquire Terns for $6.7B to Mitigate Keytruda Patent Cliff 2026-03-25 16:35:08 · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2 Merck has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion in cash, a strategic move to diversify its oncology pipeline. The deal centers on Terns' promising leukemia candidate, TERN-701, as Merck prepares for the 2028 patent expiration of its blockbuster immunotherapy, Keytruda. Full story: https://getbiobrief.com/story/merck-terns-acquisition-oncology-strategy ### Codexis Sustains Analyst Confidence Following Q4 Beat and 2026 Revenue Guidance 2026-03-24 23:00:34 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 2 Codexis (CDXS) has maintained steady analyst sentiment following a strong Q4 2025 performance that exceeded revenue and earnings expectations. The company’s strategic pivot toward its ECO Synthesis platform for RNA manufacturing is gaining commercial traction, supported by a 2026 revenue target of $72M–$76M. Full story: https://getbiobrief.com/story/codexis-cdxs-earnings-analyst-sentiment-2026 ### Wall Street Zen Upgrades Codexis and Enovis on Strong 2026 Growth Outlooks 2026-03-16 06:31:28 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 2 Wall Street Zen has upgraded the stock ratings for Codexis (CDXS) and Enovis (ENOV), signaling increased confidence in their long-term strategic pivots. The upgrades follow robust quarterly performances and the unveiling of ambitious 2026 revenue targets driven by high-margin technological innovations. Full story: https://getbiobrief.com/story/codexis-enovis-stock-upgrades-wall-street-zen ### Biotech Sector Pivots: Codexis, Elutia, and Biote Signal Strategic Shifts 2026-03-12 00:14:38 · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 6/10 · Sources: 9 Q4 2025 earnings for specialized biotech firms reveal a sector-wide shift toward high-margin manufacturing and strategic divestitures. While Codexis capitalizes on its Merck partnership and ECOsynthesis platform, Elutia has cleared its debt through an $88 million divestiture to Boston Scientific. Full story: https://getbiobrief.com/story/biotech-q4-2025-earnings-strategic-pivots ### Merck and Mayo Clinic Launch AI-Driven Drug Discovery Collaboration 2026-02-19 11:27:00 · Sentiment: Positive · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2 Merck and Mayo Clinic have entered a multi-year research and development collaboration to leverage artificial intelligence for drug discovery and personalized patient care. The partnership integrates Merck's pharmaceutical expertise with Mayo Clinic's clinical data and AI capabilities to accelerate the development of targeted therapies. Full story: https://getbiobrief.com/story/merck-mayo-clinic-ai-drug-discovery-partnership --- This page is a machine-readable summary. Sentiment measures the directional read of each development for this entity, not the tone of the reporting; impact weights consequence, not syndication reach. See https://getbiobrief.com/guides/methodology for the full editorial methodology.