Merck & Co - total revenue 2006-2018

The revenue of Merck & Co. increased for the third successive year in 2018, rising from 40.1 billion U.S. dollars to approximately 42.3 billion U.S. dollars over the year. Sales of the company’s animal health products generated an estimated ten percent share of total revenue.

Revenues lifted by sales of cancer treatments

The majority of Merck’s revenue comes from its pharmaceutical segment, which includes human health and vaccine products. The company’s oncology division, which is dedicated to the study of cancer, generated the most pharmaceutical revenue in 2018. Sales of Keytruda, a drug used to fight cancer, were particularly strong during the year – revenue increased by around 3.3 billion U.S. dollars between 2017 and 2018.

The importance of investing in innovation

Higher sales of vaccine products also contributed to the increase in Merck’s revenue in 2018, primarily driven by a 36 percent rise in sales of Gardasil/Gardasil 9, which can help in the prevention of certain cancers. Developing commercially successful products, such as Keytruda and Gardasil, is essential if Merck & Co. want to compete in the industry. The company continues to recognize the importance of research and development and has annually invested around ten billion U.S. dollars in the search for innovative medicines over the last few years.