Merck wins EU cancer approval. Merck & Co. stock gains 1.37 percent.

Published on 10/22/2026 at 12:08 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

KEYNOTE-B15 cut event-free survival risk 47.00 percent. Merck & Co. stock costs EUR 134.28 on October 22, 2026, 1.37 percent above Xetra close.

European approval strengthens oncology case

KEYNOTE-B15 reduced event-free survival risk by 47.00 percent on October 21, 2026.
Merck reported USD 16.61 billion in second-quarter revenue on August 4, 2026, up 5.10 percent year over year.
Merck & Co. stock trades at EUR 134.28 at 12:04 p.m. CEST at Lang & Schwarz on October 22, 2026, 1.37 percent above the Xetra close of October 21, 2026.
Merck's third-quarter results are scheduled for October 29, 2026.

Flatlay mit Aktienzertifikat, ISIN-Karte, Impfstoffampullen und Tabletten — Flatlay mit Aktienzertifikat und ISIN-Karte US58933Y1055 zeigt Investment in Merck & Co. Inc. symbolisch, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Merck & Co. (ISIN US58933Y1055) was trading at EUR 134.28 at Lang & Schwarz on October 22, 2026, at 12:04 p.m. CEST, up 1.37 percent versus the Xetra close of October 21, 2026 at EUR 132.46. The company won European Commission approval on October 21, 2026, for KEYTRUDA plus Padcev in perioperative treatment of resectable muscle-invasive bladder cancer, according to Merck.com.

EU approval broadens cancer use

The regulatory decision covers adults regardless of cisplatin eligibility across all 27 European Union member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. In the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-B15 trial, the combination reduced the risk of event-free survival events by 47.00 percent and the risk of death by 35.00 percent versus chemotherapy and surgery, while the pathologic complete response rate was 55.80 percent versus 32.50 percent, according to Merck.com.

What does the result mean for growth?

The approval strengthens Merck's oncology expansion story ahead of its next financial update. In the second quarter of 2026, revenue reached USD 16.61 billion, 5.10 percent above the prior-year period and above the USD 16.37 billion consensus estimate, according to MarketBeat. The commercial question is whether newer oncology indications can broaden growth before future competition affects KEYTRUDA's established franchise.

Three milestones shape the story

Merck's recent chronology shows the pipeline moving from regulatory clearance to financial execution. On July 10, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the KEYTRUDA and Padcev regimen for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, as reported by TokenPost. On August 4, 2026, Merck reported second-quarter revenue of USD 16.61 billion, according to Merck & Co. On October 21, 2026, the European Commission approved the expanded perioperative use of KEYTRUDA plus Padcev, according to Merck.com.

Two dates matter next

Merck's investor event at ESMO 2026 is scheduled for October 26, 2026, according to Merck & Co. The company is expected to release third-quarter 2026 results before the market opens on October 29, 2026, with analysts expecting revenue of USD 17.29 billion and earnings per share of USD 2.09, according to MarketBeat.

Merck stock after the approval

Merck's market capitalization was USD 369.9 billion as of October 21, 2026, while its euro-denominated 52-week range was EUR 71.30 to EUR 135.06 as of October 22, 2026. The NYSE-listed stock was trading at EUR 134.28 at Lang & Schwarz on October 22, 2026, at 12:04 p.m. CEST, 1.37 percent above the Xetra close of October 21, 2026 at EUR 132.46. The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of Merck & Co. stock.