Merck & Co.'s Stock Price Rises Amid Withdrawal of U.S. Cancer-Drug Application

Merck & Co.'s stock price rose slightly in pre-market trading on September 30, 2026. According to Lang & Schwarz, the company's share opened at EUR 131.82, up 0.08 percent from its prior close of EUR 131.71.

The increase comes after Merck and Daiichi Sankyo withdrew their U.S. application for ifinatamab deruxtecan in adults with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer on September 25, 2026. The partners voluntarily pulled the application following discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which concluded that the submitted evidence did not meet accelerated-approval requirements.

The companies continue to develop ifinatamab deruxtecan through the Phase 3 IDeate-Lung02 trial.