v3.26.3
Contingencies (Details)
$ in Millions
Mar. 12, 2026
plaintiff
Sep. 30, 2026
USD ($)
case
matter
Sep. 08, 2026
Sep. 01, 2026
Aug. 31, 2026
Aug. 04, 2026
patent
Jul. 27, 2026
patent
Jul. 23, 2026
patent
Jul. 22, 2026
patent
Feb. 18, 2026
Dec. 31, 2025
USD ($)
Jul. 28, 2025
Jul. 22, 2025
lawsuit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Number of shareholder derivative lawsuits filed | lawsuit                         2
Amount of legal defense reserves | $   $ 8                 $ 10    
Xiromed’s                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Requested statutory stay period       30 months                  
Northern District of Ohio                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Loss contingency, number of plaintiffs to decline settlement offer | plaintiff 2                        
Number of plaintiffs | plaintiff 56                        
Fosamax | Federal Court                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Number of pending claims   498                      
Fosamax | New Jersey State Court                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Number of pending claims   1,478                      
Fosamax | Pennsylvania State Court                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Number of pending claims   1                      
Fosamax | California State Court                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Number of pending claims   149                      
Fosamax | California State Court | Femur Fracture Litigation                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Minimum percentage of attorneys’ eligible clients to release the company and merck of any liability related to their filed claims                   95.00%      
Fosamax | Femur Fracture MDL Court | Femur Fracture Litigation                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Minimum percentage of attorneys’ eligible clients to release the company and merck of any liability related to their filed claims                       95.00%  
Implanon | Int’l                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Number of pending claims   6                      
Implanon | Northern District of Ohio                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Number of pending claims   2                      
Number of unfiled claims   56                      
Nexplanon | CALIFORNIA                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Number of matters involved | matter   1                      
Nexplanon | Int’l                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Number of pending claims   12                      
Nexplanon/Implanon NXT | Int’l                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Number of pending claims   18                      
Vtama | Encube Ethical Private Limited                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Loss contingency, patents under review | patent                 12        
Requested statutory stay period       30 months                  
Vtama | Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Loss contingency, patents under review | patent               9          
Requested statutory stay period         30 months                
Vtama | Natco Pharma Limited                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Loss contingency, patents under review | patent             9            
Requested statutory stay period     30 months                    
Vtama | Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited                          
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                          
Loss contingency, patents under review | patent           12              
Requested statutory stay period     30 months