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News Breaks October 27, 2011 14:07 EDT MRK Earnings Preview: Merck trading up ahead of Q3 earnings Merck (MRK) is expected to report Q3 earnings before the market open on Friday, October 28 with a conference call scheduled for 8:00 am ET. Analysts are looking for EPS of 91c on revenue of $11.61B. The consensus range is 83c-93c for EPS, and $11.47B-$11.95B for revenue, according to First Call. In Q2, Merck reported in-line EPS and better-than-expected revenue. It also reported sales growth for Singular, Remicade, and Animal Health, while raising the full-year EPS to $3.68-$3.76. In its previous conference call, the company announced plans to reduce the workforce by 12%-13% by 2015. The measure would save the company $3.5B by the end of FY12. To accelerate the goal, the Associated Press reported the company may speed up the layoffs to reach that goal. In the previous quarter, Merck announced positive clinical results for several drugs: Isentress, Delura, Odanacatib, and Gardasil. In fact, the CDC voted to expand the use of Gardasil. Investors will also look for updates on the progress of its new type 2 diabetes treatment Juvisync, which recently received FDA approval. Meanwhile, the company signed various research and colloboration agreements with AbD Serotec, Serum Institute of India, and BGI. The company may also mention its sale of its 50% interest in the Johnson & Johnson-Merck joint venture for $175M. Merck was upgraded to Buy at Jeffries, citing valuation and capital allocation. Barron's also said Merck was attractive for its dividend yield, restructuring savings, and expansion in emerging markets. News For MRK From The Last 14 Days Check below for free stories on MRK the last two weeks. Sign up for a free trial to see the rest of the stories you've been missing. May 22, 2013 16:16 EDT MRK FDA panel votes 13-3 that Merck insomnia drug safe in low doses, Bloomberg says Subscribe for More Information 16:00 EDT MRK Options Update; May 22, 2013 Subscribe for More Information 14:52 EDT MRK FDA panel says Merck insomnia drug effective as sleep aid, Bloomberg reports Subscribe for More Information 09:39 EDT MRK Active equity option families trading Subscribe for More Information 07:45 EDT MRK FDA Peripheral & Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee holds a meeting Subscribe for More Information May 21, 2013 18:56 EDT MRK On The Fly: After Hours Movers Subscribe for More Information 17:03 EDT MRK Merck announces $5B share repurchase Subscribe for More Information 17:01 EDT MRK Merck announces $5B accelerated share repurchase Subscribe for More Information 07:44 EDT MRK Sachs Associates to host a forum Subscribe for More Information May 20, 2013 17:49 EDT MRK Merck sleep drug effective, dosages questioned, WSJ reports Subscribe for More Information 07:32 EDT MRK Society for Information Display / IHS to host a conference Display Week 2013 is being held in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 19-24. May 16, 2013 08:55 EDT MRK BofA/Merrill's pharmaceuticals analysts hold analyst/industry conference call Subscribe for More Information May 14, 2013 17:39 EDT MRK Moody's lowers Merck's guaranteed debt to A1 from Aa3; stable outlook Moody's Investors Service lowered the long-term ratings of Merck by one notch, including the guaranteed senior unsecured rating to A1 from Aa3 and the non-guaranteed senior unsecured rating to A2 from A1. This action concludes a review for downgrade initiated on May 1, 2013. At the same time, Moody's affirmed Merck's Prime-1 commercial paper rating. The rating outlook is stable. May 10, 2013 11:48 EDT MRK Drugmakers to face pressure on U.S. prices, Reuters says Subscribe for More Information 06:53 EDT MRK GlaxoSmithKline, Merck to discount cancer vaccine in poor nations, NY Times says Subscribe for More Information May 9, 2013 07:22 EDT MRK Merck awarded significant portion of UNICEF HPV vaccine tender Subscribe for More Information May 8, 2013 08:32 EDT MRK Merck says FDA accepts biologics license application for allergy tablet Merck announced that the Biologics License Application for its investigational ragweed pollen sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet has been accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The BLA for Merck’s investigational ragweed pollen sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet is supported by five studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of the tablet in adults, 18 years of age or older, with ragweed induced allergic rhinitis. On March 27, Merck announced that the FDA had also accepted the BLA for its investigational Timothy grass pollen sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet. Merck expects the FDA’s review for both to be completed in the first half of 2014. Sign up for a free trial to see the rest of the stories you've been missing.