Merck wins EU cancer approval as investors assess Merck & Co. stock

Published on 10/23/2026 at 10:35 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

The October 21 approval covers all 27 EU states and three associated markets. Merck & Co. stock trades at EUR 130.96 on October 23, 2026.

Approval expands Merck oncology reach

Merck secured European approval on October 21, 2026, after trial data showed a 47.00 percent reduction in event-free survival risk.
Merck reported USD 16.60 billion in worldwide sales for the second quarter of 2026.
Merck & Co. stock trades at EUR 130.96 at 10:31 a.m. CEST at Lang & Schwarz on October 23, 2026.

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Merck & Co. stock was trading at EUR 130.96 at Lang & Schwarz on October 23, 2026, at 10:31 a.m. CEST. The company had secured European Commission approval on October 21 for KEYTRUDA plus Padcev as perioperative treatment for resectable muscle-invasive bladder cancer, according to Merck.

EU approval broadens Keytruda use

The approval applies across all 27 European Union member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. It covers treatment before surgery followed by continued treatment after radical cystectomy, regardless of whether patients can receive cisplatin.

The decision was based on the phase 3 KEYNOTE-B15 trial, which enrolled 808 patients. 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 pathological complete response rate reached 55.80 percent compared with 32.50 percent, according to the Merck release.

What does the approval mean?

The commercial value depends on reimbursement decisions in individual European countries, a qualification included in the company announcement. For investors, the approval adds a wider bladder-cancer use case to an oncology franchise that remains central to Merck's growth strategy.

Three dated steps shape the story

On August 4, 2026, Merck reported USD 16.60 billion in worldwide sales for the second quarter of 2026 through its investor-relations materials. On October 16, 2026, Goldman Sachs cut its price target for Merck from USD 160.00 to USD 155.00, as reported by MarketBeat. On October 21, 2026, the European Commission approved the KEYTRUDA and Padcev regimen, with the trial showing a 47.00 percent reduction in event-free survival risk.

Two dates matter next

Merck's investor event at ESMO is scheduled for October 26, 2026, according to the company's investor-relations page. The next quarterly results are scheduled for October 29, 2026, before the market opens, according to Benzinga.

Stock valuation and upcoming catalysts

Merck reported USD 16.61 billion in revenue and a USD 1.34 billion GAAP net loss for the second quarter of 2026. The finance data shows a market capitalization of USD 363.3 billion and a 52-week range of USD 82.01 to USD 156.92 as of October 22, 2026. The upcoming ESMO event and third-quarter results provide the next scheduled tests for pipeline progress and operating performance.

Merck stock remains tied to oncology execution

Merck's latest regulatory win strengthens the near-term product narrative, but the October 29 results will put the approval into the broader revenue and earnings picture. The stock was trading at EUR 130.96 at Lang & Schwarz on October 23, 2026, at 10:31 a.m. CEST.

The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of Merck & Co stock.