Merck Announces Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2016 Financial Results

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2016.

"The performance of Merck’s broad and balanced portfolio allows us to remain committed to biomedical innovation that saves and improves lives and delivers long-term value to shareholders," said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. "The momentum behind our pipeline and key product launches, including the continued growth and expansion of KEYTRUDA into new indications and markets around the world, further reinforces our company’s strategic direction."

Financial Summary

 

$ in millions, except EPS amounts

 

Fourth Quarter

 

Year Ended

    

 

  

Dec. 31,

 

Dec. 31,

   

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

Sales

 

$10,115

 

$10,215

 

$39,807

 

$39,498

 

GAAP EPS

 

0.42

 

0.35

 

2.04

 

1.56

 

Non-GAAP EPS that excludes certain items1*

 

0.89

 

0.93

 

3.78

 

3.59

 

GAAP net income2

 

1,177

 

976

 

5,691

 

4,442

 

Non-GAAP net income that excludes certain items1,2*

 

2,470

 

2,608

 

10,538

 

10,195

     

*Refer to table on page 8.

 

Worldwide sales were $10.1 billion for the fourth quarter of 2016, a decrease of 1 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2015, including a 1 percent negative impact from foreign exchange. Sales in the fourth quarter of 2016 reflect the unfavorable impact of approximately $150 million of sales in Japan, which occurred in the third quarter of 2016 rather than in the fourth quarter due to the implementation of a resource planning system. Full-year 2016 worldwide sales were $39.8 billion, an increase of 1 percent compared with the full year of 2015, including a 2 percent negative impact from foreign exchange.

GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share assuming dilution (EPS) were $0.42 for the fourth quarter and $2.04 for the full year of 2016. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.89 for the fourth quarter and $3.78 for the full year of 2016 excludes acquisition- and divestiture-related costs, restructuring costs and certain other items, which include a charge to settle the worldwide KEYTRUDA patent litigation.

Pipeline Highlights

Merck significantly advanced the clinical development program for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), an anti-PD-1 therapy.

The FDA approved a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for KEYTRUDA for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors have high PD-L1 expression (Tumor Proportion Score [TPS] of 50 Percent or More) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.

The FDA granted Priority Review for three additional sBLAs for KEYTRUDA, including:

Use in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic or advanced NSCLC regardless of PD-L1 expression and with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. The PDUFA action date is May 10, 2017.

The treatment of previously treated patients with advanced microsatellite instability-high cancer. The PDUFA action date is March 8, 2017.

The treatment of patients with refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) or for patients with cHL who have relapsed after three or more prior lines of therapy. The PDUFA action date is March 15, 2017.

KEYTRUDA received Breakthrough Therapy Designations from the FDA for the second-line treatment of patients with urothelial carcinoma with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy and for the treatment of patients with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma that is refractory to or has relapsed after two prior lines of therapy.

The European Commission approved KEYTRUDA for the first-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC in adults whose tumors have high PD-L1 expression (TPS of 50 percent or more) with no EGFR or ALK positive tumor mutations.

KEYTRUDA was approved in Japan as a first- and second-line treatment of certain patients with PD-L1-positive unresectable advanced/recurrent NSCLC.

Merck and Incyte Corporation recently announced the expansion of the clinical development program investigating KEYTRUDA in combination with epacadostat, Incyte’s investigational oral selective IDO1 inhibitor, to include pivotal studies for NSCLC, renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

The company recently completed enrollment in its Phase 3 APECS study (NCT01953601) evaluating the safety and efficacy of verubecestat (MK-8931) in people with prodromal, or mild, Alzheimer’s disease. Estimated primary completion date for the trial is February 2019.

Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Revenue Performance

The following table reflects sales of the company’s top pharmaceutical products, as well as total sales of Animal Health products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ in millions

 

Fourth Quarter

 

 

 

Year Ended

    

 

 

 

 

 

Change Ex-

   

Dec. 31,

 

Dec. 31,

 

 

 

Change Ex-

   

2016

 

2015

 

Change

 

Exchange

   

2016

 

2015

 

Change

 

Exchange

 

Total Sales

 

$10,115

 

$10,215

 

-1%

 

0%

   

$39,807

 

$39,498

 

1%

 

3%

 

Pharmaceutical

 

8,904

 

9,027

 

-1%

 

-1%

   

35,151

 

34,782

 

1%

 

2%

 

JANUVIA/JANUMET

 

1,509

 

1,447

 

4%

 

4%

   

6,109

 

6,014

 

2%

 

2%

 

ZETIA/VYTORIN

 

873

 

999

 

-13%

 

-13%

   

3,701

 

3,777

 

-2%

 

-1%

 

GARDASIL/GARDASIL 9

 

542

 

497

 

9%

 

9%

   

2,173

 

1,908

 

14%

 

14%

 

PROQUAD, M-M-R II and VARIVAX

 

405

 

409

 

-1%

 

-1%

   

1,640

 

1,505

 

9%

 

10%

 

KEYTRUDA

 

483

 

214

 

125%

 

128%

   

1,402

 

566

 

148%

 

151%

 

ISENTRESS

 

337

 

374

 

-10%

 

-9%

   

1,387

 

1,511

 

-8%

 

-6%

 

REMICADE

 

269

 

396

 

-32%

 

-31%

   

1,268

 

1,794

 

-29%

 

-28%

 

CUBICIN

 

119

 

322

 

-63%

 

-63%

   

1,087

 

1,127

 

-4%

 

-4%

 

SINGULAIR

 

210

 

273

 

-23%

 

-26%

   

915

 

931

 

-2%

 

-4%

 

PNEUMOVAX 23

 

238

 

188

 

27%

 

25%

   

641

 

542

 

18%

 

17%

 

Animal Health

 

884

 

832

 

6%

 

7%

   

3,478

 

3,331

 

4%

 

8%

 

Other Revenues

 

327

 

356

 

-8%

 

30%

 

 

 

1,178

 

1,385

 

-15%

 

15%

 

Pharmaceutical Revenue

Fourth-quarter pharmaceutical sales decreased 1 percent to $8.9 billion. The decline was driven primarily by the loss of U.S. market exclusivity in 2016 for CUBICIN (daptomycin for injection), an I.V. antibiotic; NASONEX (mometasone furoate monohydrate), an inhaled nasal corticosteroid for the treatment of nasal allergy symptoms; and ZETIA (ezetimibe), a medicine for lowering LDL cholesterol; as well as by the ongoing impact of biosimilar competition in the company’s marketing territories in Europe for REMICADE (infliximab), a treatment for inflammatory diseases. In the aggregate, sales of these products declined $564 million during the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to the fourth quarter of 2015.

These declines were largely offset by growth in oncology, hepatitis C, diabetes and vaccines, which include the ongoing launches of KEYTRUDA and ZEPATIER (elbasvir and grazoprevir), a medicine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus genotypes 1 or 4 infection. Additionally, the ongoing launch of BRIDION (sugammadex) Injection 100 mg/mL, a medicine for the reversal of neuromuscular blockade induced by rocuronium bromide or vecuronium bromide in adults undergoing surgery, generated sales of $139 million during the fourth quarter of 2016.

Growth of KEYTRUDA reflects the company’s continued efforts to launch the product with new indications, particularly as a first-line treatment for NSCLC and for previously treated recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer in the United States, and as a second-line treatment for NSCLC globally.

ZEPATIER sales growth was primarily driven by the ongoing launch in the United States, as well as ongoing launches in emerging markets and the launches in Europe and Japan. In the fourth quarter of 2016, sales of ZEPATIER were $229 million.

Pharmaceutical sales also reflect an increase in the diabetes franchise of JANUVIA (sitagliptin) and JANUMET (sitagliptin and metformin HCl), medicines that help lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, driven by sales growth in the United States, partially offset by lower sales in Japan due to the timing of shipments.

Growth in vaccines resulted from higher sales of PNEUMOVAX 23 (pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent) in the United States due to the adoption of recently issued vaccination guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and GARDASIL 9 (Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant) and GARDASIL [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant], vaccines to prevent certain cancers and other diseases caused by HPV, due to increased pricing and demand in the United States. On Dec. 31, 2016, Merck and Sanofi Pasteur ended the Sanofi Pasteur MSD vaccines joint venture. As a result, beginning in 2017, Merck will operate its vaccines business in Europe and will record vaccine sales in the 19 European countries previously part of the joint venture.

In April 2017 the company will lose market exclusivity in the United States for VYTORIN (ezetimibe/simvastatin), a medicine for lowering LDL cholesterol, and anticipates a significant decline in U.S. VYTORIN sales thereafter. Full-year 2016 U.S. sales of VYTORIN were $473 million.

Full-year 2016 pharmaceutical sales increased 1 percent to $35.2 billion, including a 1 percent negative impact from foreign exchange. Growth was driven by sales in oncology, vaccines and hepatitis C products, partially offset by sales declines of $887 million due to the loss of U.S. market exclusivity for NASONEX and CUBICIN, and the impact of biosimilar competition for REMICADE in the company’s marketing territories in Europe.

Animal Health Revenue

Animal Health sales totaled $884 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, an increase of 6 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2015, including a 1 percent negative impact from foreign exchange. Worldwide sales for the full year of 2016 were $3.5 billion, an increase of 4 percent, including a 4 percent negative impact from foreign exchange. Sales growth in both periods was primarily driven by an increase in sales of companion animal products, particularly the BRAVECTO (fluralaner) line of products that kill fleas and ticks in dogs and cats for up to 12 weeks.

Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Expense, EPS and Related Information

The tables below present selected expense information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ in millions

 

 

 

Acquisition- and

 

 

 

 

 

      

Divestiture-

 

Restructuring

 

Certain Other

   

Fourth-Quarter 2016

 

GAAP

 

Related Costs3

 

Costs

 

Items

 

Non-GAAP1

 

Materials and production

 

$3,332

 

$756

 

$32

 

$–

 

$2,544

 

Marketing and administrative

 

2,593

 

22

 

4

 

–

 

2,567

 

Research and development

 

1,720

 

(33)

 

9

 

–

 

1,744

 

Restructuring costs

 

265

 

–

 

265

 

–

 

–

 

Other (income) expense, net

 

721

 

35

 

–

 

654

 

32

            

 

Fourth-Quarter 2015

           

Materials and production

 

$3,850

 

$1,194

 

$81

 

$–

 

$2,575

 

Marketing and administrative

 

2,615

 

47

 

8

 

–

 

2,560

 

Research and development

 

1,797

 

(24)

 

18

 

–

 

1,803

 

Restructuring costs

 

233

 

–

 

233

 

–

 

–

 

Other (income) expense, net

 

905

 

47

 

–

 

707

 

151

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ in millions

 

 

 

Acquisition- and

 

 

 

 

 

      

Divestiture-

 

Restructuring

 

Certain Other

   

Year Ended Dec. 31, 2016

 

GAAP

 

Related Costs3

 

Costs

 

Items

 

Non-GAAP1

 

Materials and production

 

$13,891

 

$4,035

 

$181

 

$–

 

$9,675

 

Marketing and administrative

 

9,762

 

78

 

95

 

–

 

9,589

 

Research and development

 

7,194

 

222

 

142

 

–

 

6,830

 

Restructuring costs

 

651

 

–

 

651

 

–

 

–

 

Other (income) expense, net

 

810

 

47

 

–

 

648

 

115

            

 

Year Ended Dec. 31, 2015

           

Materials and production

 

$14,934

 

$4,869

 

$361

 

$–

 

$9,704

 

Marketing and administrative

 

10,313

 

436

 

78

 

–

 

9,799

 

Research and development

 

6,704

 

39

 

52

 

–

 

6,613

 

Restructuring costs

 

619

 

–

 

619

 

–

 

–

 

Other (income) expense, net

 

1,527

 

54

 

–

 

1,125

 

348

 

GAAP Expense, EPS and Related Information

On a GAAP basis, the gross margin was 67.1 percent for the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to 62.3 percent for the fourth quarter of 2015. The increase in gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2016 was primarily driven by lower acquisition- and divestiture-related costs and restructuring costs noted above, which negatively affected gross margin by 7.7 percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared with 12.5 percentage points for the fourth quarter of 2015. The gross margin was 65.1 percent for the full year of 2016 compared to 62.2 percent for the full year of 2015. The increase in gross margin for the full year of 2016 was primarily driven by lower acquisition- and divestiture-related costs and restructuring costs, which negatively affected gross margin by 10.6 percentage points in the full year of 2016 compared with 13.2 percentage points for the full year of 2015.

Marketing and administrative expenses were $2.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016, a 1 percent decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. The decline primarily reflects lower acquisition- and divestiture-related costs. Full-year 2016 marketing and administrative expenses were $9.8 billion, a 5 percent decrease compared to the full year of 2015. The decline reflects lower acquisition- and divestiture-related costs, the favorable impact of foreign exchange and lower direct selling costs.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $1.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016, a 4 percent decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. The decline reflects a reduction in expenses resulting from a decrease in the estimated fair value of liabilities for contingent consideration, partially offset by higher in-process research and development (IPR&D) impairment charges. R&D expenses were $7.2 billion for the full year of 2016, a 7 percent increase compared to the full year of 2015. The increase primarily reflects higher IPR&D impairment charges, clinical development spending and restructuring costs, partially offset by a reduction in expenses resulting from a decrease in the estimated fair value of liabilities for contingent consideration.

Other (income) expense, net, was $721 million of expense in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to $905 million of expense in the fourth quarter of 2015 and was $810 million of expense for the full year of 2016 compared to $1.5 billion of expense for the full year of 2015. Other (income) expense, net for the fourth quarter and full year of 2016 includes a $625 million charge to settle the worldwide KEYTRUDA patent litigation. Other (income) expense, net for the fourth quarter and full year of 2015 includes $161 million and $876 million, respectively, of foreign exchange losses related to the devaluation of the company’s net monetary assets in Venezuela and a $680 million net charge to settle the Vioxx shareholder class action litigation.

GAAP EPS was $0.42 for the fourth quarter of 2016 compared with $0.35 for the fourth quarter of 2015. GAAP EPS was $2.04 for the full year of 2016 compared with $1.56 for the full year of 2015.

Non-GAAP Expense, EPS and Related Information

The non-GAAP gross margin was 74.8 percent for the fourth quarter of 2016, the same as the fourth quarter of 2015. The non-GAAP gross margin was 75.7 percent for the full year of 2016 compared to 75.4 percent for the full year of 2015. The increase in GAAP gross margin for the full year of 2016 reflects lower inventory write-offs.

Non-GAAP marketing and administrative expenses were $2.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016, comparable to the fourth quarter of 2015. Non-GAAP marketing and administrative expenses were $9.6 billion for the full year of 2016, a 2 percent decrease compared to the full year of 2015. The decline reflects the favorable impact of foreign exchange and lower direct selling costs.

Non-GAAP R&D expenses were $1.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016, a 3 percent decline compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. The decline reflects lower licensing costs. Non-GAAP R&D expenses were $6.8 billion for the full year of 2016, a 3 percent increase compared to the full year of 2015 reflecting increased clinical development spending.

Non-GAAP EPS was $0.89 for the fourth quarter of 2016 compared with $0.93 for the fourth quarter of 2015. Non-GAAP EPS was $3.78 for the full year of 2016 compared with $3.59 for the full year of 2015.

Non-GAAP other (income) expense, net, was $32 million of expense in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to $151 million of expense in the fourth quarter of 2015, primarily reflecting the receipt of a milestone payment. Non-GAAP other (income) expense, net, for the full year of 2016 was $115 million of expense compared to $348 million of expense for the full year of 2015, reflecting lower foreign exchange losses.

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP net income and EPS is provided in the table that follows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ in millions, except EPS amounts

 

Fourth Quarter

 

Year Ended

    

 

  

Dec. 31,

 

Dec. 31,

   

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

EPS

         

GAAP EPS

 

$0.42

 

$0.35

 

$2.04

 

$1.56

 

Difference4

 

0.47

 

0.58

 

1.74

 

2.03

 

Non-GAAP EPS that excludes items listed below1

 

$0.89

 

$0.93

 

$3.78

 

$3.59

          

 

Net Income

         

GAAP net income2

 

$1,177

 

$976

 

$5,691

 

$4,442

 

Difference

 

1,293

 

1,632

 

4,847

 

5,753

 

Non-GAAP net income that excludes items listed below1,2

 

$2,470

 

$2,608

 

$10,538

 

$10,195

          

 

Decrease (Increase) in Net Income Due to Excluded Items:

         

Acquisition- and divestiture-related costs3

 

$780

 

$1,264

 

$4,382

 

$5,398

 

Restructuring costs

 

310

 

340

 

1,069

 

1,110

 

Charge to settle worldwide KEYTRUDA patent litigation

 

625

 

–

 

625

 

–

 

Net charge to settle Vioxx shareholder class action litigation

 

–

 

680

 

–

 

680

 

Foreign exchange losses related to Venezuela

 

–

 

161

 

–

 

876

 

Gain on divestiture of certain ophthalmic products

 

–

 

(147)

 

–

 

(147)

 

Gain on divestiture of certain migraine clinical development programs

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

(250)

 

Other

 

29

 

13

 

23

 

(34)

 

Net decrease (increase) in income before taxes

 

1,744

 

2,311

 

6,099

 

7,633

 

Income tax (benefit) expense5

 

(451)

 

(679)

 

(1,252)

 

(1,880)

 

Decrease (increase) in net income

 

$1,293

 

$1,632

 

$4,847

 

$5,753

 

Financial Outlook

Merck expects its full-year 2017 GAAP EPS to be between $2.47 and $2.62. Merck expects its full-year 2017 non-GAAP EPS to be between $3.72 and $3.87, including an approximately 2 percent negative impact from foreign exchange. The non-GAAP range excludes acquisition- and divestiture-related costs and costs related to restructuring programs.

At mid-January 2017 exchange rates, Merck anticipates full-year 2017 revenues to be between $38.6 billion and $40.1 billion, including an approximately 2 percent negative impact from foreign exchange.

The following table summarizes the company’s 2017 financial guidance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

GAAP

 

 

 

Non-GAAP1

          

 

Revenue

   

$38.6 to $40.1 billion

   

$38.6 to $40.1 billion**

 

Operating expenses

   

Higher than 2016 by a low-single digit rate

   

Higher than 2016 by a low-single digit rate

 

Effective tax rate

   

22.0% to 23.0%

   

21.0 % to 22.0%

 

EPS

 

 

 

$2.47 to $2.62

 

 

 

$3.72 to $3.87

     

**The company does not have any non-GAAP adjustments to revenue.

 

A reconciliation of anticipated 2017 GAAP EPS to non-GAAP EPS and the items excluded from non-GAAP EPS are provided in the table below.

 

 

 

 

 

$ in millions, except EPS amounts

 

 

 

Full-Year 2017

    

 

GAAP EPS

   

$2.47 to $2.62

Difference4

   

1.25

Non-GAAP EPS that excludes items listed below1

   

$3.72 to $3.87

    

 

Acquisition- and divestiture-related costs

   

$3,600

Restructuring costs

   

600

Net decrease (increase) in income before taxes

   

4,200

Estimated income tax (benefit) expense

   

(750)

Decrease (increase) in net income

 

 

 

$3,450

The expected full-year 2017 GAAP effective tax rate of 22.0 to 23.0 percent reflects an unfavorable impact of approximately 1 percentage point from the above items.

Total Employees

As of Dec. 31, 2016, Merck had approximately 68,000 employees worldwide.