v3.26.1
Collaborative Arrangements
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Collaborative Arrangements [Abstract]  
Collaborative Arrangements Collaborative Arrangements
Merck has entered into collaborative arrangements that provide the Company with varying rights to develop, produce and market products together with its collaborative partners. Both parties in these arrangements are active participants and exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of the activities of the collaboration. Merck’s more significant collaborative arrangements are discussed below.
AstraZeneca PLC
In 2017, Merck and AstraZeneca PLC (AstraZeneca) entered into a global strategic oncology collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialize AstraZeneca’s Lynparza (olaparib) for multiple cancer types. Independently, Merck and AstraZeneca are developing and commercializing Lynparza in combinations with their respective PD-1 and PD-L1 medicines,
Keytruda and Imfinzi. Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca and Merck share the development and commercialization costs for Lynparza monotherapy and non-PD-1/PD-L1 combination therapy opportunities.
Profits from Lynparza product sales generated through monotherapies or combination therapies are shared equally. AstraZeneca is the principal on Lynparza sales transactions. Merck records its share of Lynparza product sales, net of cost of sales and commercialization costs, as alliance revenue, and its share of development costs associated with the collaboration as part of Research and development expenses. Reimbursements received from AstraZeneca for research and development expenses are recognized as reductions to Research and development costs.
The initial collaboration agreement also included the joint development and commercialization of AstraZeneca’s Koselugo (selumetinib) for multiple indications, with revenues, costs and profits being accounted for similar to Lynparza. In August 2025, Merck and AstraZeneca amended the terms of the original collaboration agreement, which resulted in the discontinuation of the revenue and cost sharing provisions of the collaboration and the simplification of the governance structure related to Koselugo. In exchange, Merck received a $150 million upfront payment (which was recorded within Sales as alliance revenue in the third quarter of 2025) and $150 million in February 2026 (which was recorded within Sales as alliance revenue in the first quarter of 2026). Merck may also receive $150 million in the first quarter of 2027 and $100 million in the first quarter of 2028, subject to an annual election by AstraZeneca in January of each year as discussed below. Additionally, the amended agreement provided for Merck to receive contingent regulatory milestone payments of up to $175 million in the aggregate, all of which were triggered in 2025 and recorded within Sales as alliance revenue. Of these milestone amounts, $50 million was received from AstraZeneca in the second quarter of 2026, $50 million is due in the third quarter of 2027, and $75 million is due in the third quarter of 2028. The Company also receives tiered royalties ranging from 6% to 7% on net sales (which are included within Sales as alliance revenue). Merck remains eligible to receive future contingent payments for the achievement of sales-based milestones of up to $235 million. AstraZeneca has the option in January 2027 or January 2028 to revert back to the income and cost sharing terms of the original agreement (in which case any future annual, contingent milestone, and royalty payments referenced above would no longer be due) although Merck would retain any payments made by AstraZeneca prior to the exercise of that option and any amounts due from AstraZeneca would remain payable to Merck.
As part of the initial collaboration agreement, Merck made an upfront payment to AstraZeneca and also made payments over a multi-year period for certain license options. In addition, the initial collaboration agreement provides for contingent payments from Merck to AstraZeneca related to the successful achievement of sales-based and regulatory milestones. In the first six months of 2025, Merck made sales-based milestone payments aggregating $700 million (related to the original collaboration agreement) to AstraZeneca of which $600 million related to Lynparza and $100 million related to Koselugo (both of which had been previously accrued for). Potential future sales-based milestone payments of $2.0 billion have not yet been accrued as they are not deemed by the Company to be probable at this time. The partners have agreed that no future regulatory milestone payments from Merck to AstraZeneca are likely.
The intangible asset balances related to Lynparza and Koselugo (which reflect the capitalized sales-based and regulatory milestone payments attributed to each product) were $681 million and $33 million, respectively, at June 30, 2026 and are included in Other Intangibles, Net. The assets are being amortized over their estimated useful lives (through 2028 for Lynparza and through 2029 for Koselugo) as supported by projected future cash flows, subject to impairment testing.
Summarized financial information related to this collaboration is as follows:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
($ in millions)2026202520262025
Alliance revenue - Lynparza$365 $370 $706 $682 
Alliance revenue - Koselugo (1)
10 43 171 87 
Total alliance revenue$375 $413 $877 $769 
Cost of sales (2)
84 86 169 169 
Selling, general and administrative25 40 49 72 
Research and development16 15 28 
($ in millions)June 30, 2026December 31, 2025
Receivables from AstraZeneca included in Other current assets (3)
$375 $451 
Receivables from AstraZeneca included in Other assets (3)
125 125 
Payables to AstraZeneca included in Accrued and other current liabilities
(1)    Amount in the first six months of 2026 includes $150 million related to the amendment of the collaboration agreement noted above.
(2)    Represents amortization of capitalized milestone payments.
(3)    Includes milestone receivables.
Eisai Co., Ltd.
In 2018, Merck and Eisai Co., Ltd. (Eisai) announced a strategic collaboration for the worldwide co-development and co-commercialization of Lenvima (lenvatinib), an orally available TKI discovered by Eisai. Under the agreement, Merck and Eisai are developing and commercializing Lenvima jointly, both as monotherapy and in combination with Keytruda. Eisai records Lenvima product sales globally (Eisai is the principal on Lenvima sales transactions) and Merck and Eisai share applicable profits equally. Merck records its share of Lenvima product sales, net of cost of sales and commercialization costs, as alliance revenue. Expenses incurred during co-development are shared by the two companies in accordance with the collaboration agreement and reflected in Research and development expenses. Certain expenses incurred solely by Merck or Eisai are not shareable under the collaboration agreement, including costs incurred in excess of agreed upon caps, and costs related to certain combination studies of Keytruda and Lenvima, as well as Welireg and Lenvima.
Under the agreement, Merck made an upfront payment to Eisai and also made payments over a multi-year period for certain option rights. In addition, the agreement provides for contingent payments from Merck to Eisai related to the successful achievement of sales-based and regulatory milestones. Potential future sales-based milestone payments of $2.3 billion have not yet been accrued as they are not deemed by the Company to be probable at this time. There are no regulatory milestone payments remaining under the agreement.
The intangible asset balance related to Lenvima (which includes capitalized sales-based and regulatory milestone payments) was $175 million at June 30, 2026 and is included in Other Intangibles, Net. The amount is being amortized over its estimated useful life through 2029 as supported by projected future cash flows, subject to impairment testing.
Summarized financial information related to this collaboration is as follows:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
($ in millions)2026202520262025
Alliance revenue - Lenvima$283 $265 $539 $523 
Cost of sales (1)
13 60 26 121 
Selling, general and administrative29 35 56 66 
Research and development— 
($ in millions)June 30, 2026December 31, 2025
Receivables from Eisai included in Other current assets
$281 $271 
(1)    Represents amortization of capitalized milestone payments.
Bayer AG
In 2014, the Company entered into a worldwide clinical development collaboration with Bayer AG (Bayer) to market and develop soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) modulators including Bayer’s Adempas (riociguat) and Verquvo (vericiguat). The two companies have implemented a joint development and commercialization strategy. Under the agreement, Bayer commercializes Adempas in the Americas, while Merck commercializes in the rest of the world. For Verquvo, Merck commercializes in the U.S. and Bayer commercializes in the rest of the world. Both companies share in development costs and profits on sales. Merck records sales of Adempas and Verquvo in its marketing territories, as well as alliance revenue. Alliance revenue represents Merck’s share of profits from sales of Adempas and Verquvo in Bayer’s marketing territories, which are product sales net of cost of sales and commercialization costs. Cost of sales includes Bayer’s share of profits from sales in Merck’s marketing territories. The agreement provided for contingent payments from Merck to Bayer related to the successful achievement of sales-based milestones. There are no such payments remaining under this collaboration.
The intangible asset balances related to Adempas (which includes the acquired intangible asset balance, as well as capitalized sales-based milestone payments attributed to Adempas) and Verquvo (which reflects the portion of the final sales-based milestone payment that was attributed to Verquvo) were $203 million and $35 million, respectively, at June 30, 2026 and are included in Other Intangibles, Net. The assets are being amortized over their estimated useful lives (through 2027 for Adempas and through 2031 for Verquvo) as supported by projected future cash flows, subject to impairment testing.
Summarized financial information related to this collaboration is as follows:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
($ in millions)2026202520262025
Alliance revenue - Adempas/Verquvo$126 $123 $235 $229 
Net sales of Adempas recorded by Merck78 80 156 147 
Net sales of Verquvo recorded by Merck11 18 21 
Total sales$213 $214 $409 $397 
Cost of sales (1)
67 61 134 120 
Selling, general and administrative11 29 23 58 
Research and development10 20 27 43 
($ in millions)June 30, 2026December 31, 2025
Receivables from Bayer included in Other current assets
$166 $167 
Payables to Bayer included in Accrued and other current liabilities
86 81 
(1)    Includes amortization of intangible assets, cost of products sold by Merck, as well as Bayer’s share of profits from sales in Merck’s marketing territories.
Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP
In 2020, Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP (Ridgeback), a closely held biotechnology company, entered into a collaboration agreement to develop Lagevrio (molnupiravir), an investigational orally available antiviral candidate for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Merck gained exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize Lagevrio and related molecules. Under the terms of the agreement, Ridgeback received an upfront payment and is eligible to receive future contingent payments dependent upon the achievement of certain developmental and regulatory approval milestones. The agreement also provides for Merck to reimburse Ridgeback for a portion of certain third-party contingent milestone payments and royalties on net sales, which is part of the profit-sharing calculation. Merck is the principal on sales transactions, recognizing sales and related costs, with profit-sharing amounts recorded within Cost of sales. Profits from the collaboration are split equally between the partners. Reimbursements from Ridgeback for its share of research and development costs (deducted from Ridgeback’s share of profits) are reflected as decreases to Research and development expenses.
Following initial authorizations in certain markets in 2021, Lagevrio has since received multiple additional authorizations. In the U.S., where Lagevrio remains in Phase 3 development and is marketed under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provided advance notice on June 29, 2026 that the declaration supporting the EUAs pursuant to which Lagevrio and certain other COVID-19 drug and biologic products are marketed will terminate, effective June 29, 2027. Based on the Secretary’s June 2026 determination and advance notice of termination, the Company is working with the FDA to develop a plan for disposition of Lagevrio in the U.S. by June 29, 2027.
Summarized financial information related to this collaboration is as follows:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
($ in millions)2026202520262025
Net sales of Lagevrio recorded by Merck
$$83 $32 $185 
Cost of sales (1)
14 44 67 97 
Selling, general and administrative
14 19 28 
Research and development
10 14 
(1)    Includes cost of products sold by Merck, Ridgeback’s share of profits, royalty expense, amortization of capitalized milestone payments and inventory reserves.
Daiichi Sankyo
In 2023, Merck and Daiichi Sankyo entered into a global development and commercialization agreement for three of Daiichi Sankyo’s DXd ADC candidates: patritumab deruxtecan (MK-1022), ifinatamab deruxtecan (MK-2400) and raludotatug deruxtecan (MK-5909). All three potentially first-in-class DXd ADCs are in various stages of clinical development for the treatment of multiple solid tumors both as monotherapy and/or in combination with other treatments. The companies will jointly develop and potentially commercialize these ADC candidates worldwide, except in Japan where Daiichi Sankyo will maintain exclusive rights. Daiichi Sankyo will be solely responsible for manufacturing and supply.
Under the terms of the agreement, Merck made payments to Daiichi Sankyo totaling $4.0 billion in 2023. These payments included $1.0 billion ($500 million each for patritumab deruxtecan and ifinatamab deruxtecan), which may be refundable on a pro-rated basis in the event of early termination of development with respect to either program. In addition, the agreement provided for a continuation payment of $750 million related to patritumab deruxtecan (which Merck paid in October 2024) and a continuation payment of $750 million related to raludotatug deruxtecan (which Merck paid in October 2025). The
agreement also provides for contingent payments from Merck to Daiichi Sankyo of up to an additional $5.5 billion for each DXd ADC upon the successful achievement of certain sales-based milestones.
Merck and Daiichi Sankyo equally share research and development costs, except for raludotatug deruxtecan, for which Merck is responsible for 75% of the first $2.0 billion of research and development expenses. Merck includes its share of development costs associated with the collaboration as part of Research and development expenses. Following regulatory approval, Daiichi Sankyo will generally record sales worldwide (Daiichi Sankyo will be the principal on sales transactions) and the companies will equally share expenses as well as profits worldwide except for Japan where Daiichi Sankyo retains exclusive rights and Merck will receive a 5% sales-based royalty. Merck will record its share of product sales, net of cost of sales and commercialization costs, as alliance revenue. In July 2026, Merck and Daiichi Sankyo amended their agreement, whereby certain clinical development expenses may be incurred solely by Merck and are not shareable under the collaboration agreement, but may be partially reimbursed subject to certain conditions.
In 2024, Merck and Daiichi Sankyo expanded their agreement to include gocatamig (MK-6070), an investigational DLL3 targeting T-cell engager, which Merck obtained through its acquisition of Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc. The companies are evaluating gocatamig in combination with ifinatamab deruxtecan in certain patients with small cell lung cancer, with plans to evaluate other potential combinations. Merck received an upfront cash payment of $170 million from Daiichi Sankyo (recorded within Other (income) expense, net) and has also satisfied a contingent quid obligation from the original collaboration agreement. The companies will jointly develop and commercialize gocatamig worldwide and share research and development costs, as well as commercialization expenses. Research and development expenses related to gocatamig in combination with ifinatamab deruxtecan will be shared in a manner consistent with the original agreement for ifinatamab deruxtecan. Merck will be solely responsible for manufacturing and supply of gocatamig. If approved, Merck will generally record sales for gocatamig worldwide (Merck will be the principal on sales transactions) and the companies will equally share expenses as well as profits worldwide, except for Japan where Merck retains exclusive rights and Daiichi Sankyo will receive a 5% sales-based royalty.
Summarized financial information related to this collaboration is as follows:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
($ in millions)2026202520262025
Selling, general and administrative $12 $$24 $13 
Research and development
181 193 341 321 
($ in millions)June 30, 2026December 31, 2025
Receivables from Daiichi Sankyo included in Other current assets
$27 $15 
Payables to Daiichi Sankyo included in Accrued and other current liabilities
100 113 
Moderna, Inc.
In 2022, Merck exercised its option to jointly develop and commercialize intismeran autogene (V940/mRNA-4157), an investigational individualized neoantigen therapy, pursuant to the terms of an existing collaboration and license agreement with Moderna, Inc. (Moderna). Intismeran autogene is currently being evaluated in combination with Keytruda or Keytruda Qlex in multiple clinical trials. Merck and Moderna share costs and will share any profits equally under this worldwide collaboration. Merck records its share of development costs associated with the collaboration as part of Research and development expenses. Any reimbursements received from Moderna for research and development expenses are recognized as reductions to Research and development costs. Merck has also capitalized a net $226 million of shared facility costs at June 30, 2026, primarily reflected within Other Assets. These costs are amortized over the assets’ estimated useful lives.
Summarized financial information related to this collaboration is as follows:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
($ in millions)2026202520262025
Selling, general and administrative $$$17 $12 
Research and development (1)
94 90 184 176 
($ in millions)June 30, 2026December 31, 2025
Receivables from Moderna included in Other current assets
$15 $— 
Payables to Moderna included in Accrued and other current liabilities
— 13 
(1)    Includes amortization of shared facility costs.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Reblozyl (luspatercept-aamt) is a first-in-class erythroid maturation recombinant fusion protein that is being commercialized through a global collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS). Reblozyl is approved in the U.S., Europe and certain other markets for the treatment of anemia in certain rare blood disorders and is also being evaluated for additional indications for hematology therapies. BMS is the principal on sales transactions for Reblozyl. Merck receives tiered royalties ranging from 20% to 24% based on sales levels. This royalty will be reduced by 50% upon the earlier of patent expiry or generic entry on an indication-by-indication basis in each market. Additionally, Merck is eligible to receive future contingent sales-based milestone payments of up to $80 million. Alliance revenue related to this collaboration, consisting of royalties (recorded within Sales), was $122 million and $270 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2026, respectively, compared with $107 million and $226 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2025, respectively.