Merck Surges on Positive Keytruda Trial Results with Moderna

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has surged to all-time highs following positive results from the Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial evaluating its blockbuster therapy Keytruda in combination with Moderna's vaccine.

The trial, which was announced on August 19, demonstrated the efficacy of combining Keytruda with Moderna's vaccine in treating melanoma. MRK maintains a Buy rating due to strong oncology growth and robust free cash flow.

Despite a GAAP loss from a strategic acquisition, MRK's forward-normalized profit path and capital allocation remain healthy.