Merck Stock Rises on EU Bladder Cancer Breakthrough

Merck & Co.'s stock price rose on news that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion for KEYTRUDA plus Padcev in resectable muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

The company stated that a final European Commission decision is expected by the fourth quarter of 2026. In related news, Merck also reported positive results from its Phase 3 KEYNOTE-B15 study, which reduced the risk of event-free survival events by 47 percent and overall survival risk fell by 35 percent.

Meanwhile, Trefis noted that Merck's trailing 12-month revenue was USD 66.6 billion, up 4.6 percent, while operating margin was 10.5 percent versus a three-year average of 22.4 percent. The company also raised and narrowed its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to USD 66.3 billion to USD 67.3 billion.

Merck's shares traded at USD 146.30 on September 19, 2026, with a market value of USD 360.947 billion and volume at 31.16 million shares. The stock was up 41.85 percent year-to-date and 84.70 percent over one year.