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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 13, 2026 (October 9, 2026)
Merck & Co., Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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New Jersey | 1-6571 | 22-1918501 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S Employer Identification No.) |
| | | | | | | | |
126 East Lincoln Avenue |
Rahway | New Jersey | 07065 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) (908) 740-4000
Not applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| | | | | | | | |
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| | | | | | | | |
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock ($0.50 par value) | MRK | New York Stock Exchange |
| 3.250% Notes due 2032 | MRK/32 | New York Stock Exchange |
| 2.500% Notes due 2034 | MRK/34 | New York Stock Exchange |
| 1.375% Notes due 2036 | MRK 36A | New York Stock Exchange |
| 3.500% Notes due 2037 | MRK/37 | New York Stock Exchange |
| 3.700% Notes due 2044 | MRK/44 | New York Stock Exchange |
| 3.750% Notes due 2054 | MRK/54 | New York Stock Exchange |
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| Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). |
| Emerging growth company ☐ | |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ |
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(d) Incorporated by reference is a press release issued by Merck & Co., Inc. (the “Company”) on October 13, 2026, attached as Exhibit 99.1, announcing the election of Paul J. Diaz to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), effective November 1, 2026. The Board appointed Mr. Diaz as a member of both the Audit Committee and the Research Committee of the Board.
For his service on the Board, Mr. Diaz will receive compensation as a non-employee director in accordance with the Company’s non-employee director compensation practices described under the “Director Compensation” section of the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 8, 2026.
Mr. Diaz has no arrangements or understandings with any other person pursuant to which he was elected to the Board, nor does he have a relationship or related transaction with the Company that would require disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with his appointment as a director of the Company.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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| Merck & Co., Inc. |
| | |
Date: October 13, 2026 | | By: | /s/ Kelly E. W. Grez |
| | | Kelly E. W. Grez |
| | | Corporate Secretary |