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Merck & Co., Inc. - Quarter Report: 2020 June (Form 10-Q)




 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
 
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ______ to ______
Commission File No. 1-6571
Merck & Co., Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey
22-1918501
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(I.R.S Employer Identification No.)
 
 
2000 Galloping Hill Road
Kenilworth
New Jersey
07033
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) (908) 740-4000
 
Not Applicable
 
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes     No  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes     No  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes   No 
Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock ($0.50 par value)
MRK
New York Stock Exchange
1.125% Notes due 2021
MRK/21
New York Stock Exchange
0.500% Notes due 2024
MRK 24
New York Stock Exchange
1.875% Notes due 2026
MRK/26
New York Stock Exchange
2.500% Notes due 2034
MRK/34
New York Stock Exchange
1.375% Notes due 2036
MRK 36A
New York Stock Exchange
The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of the close of business on July 31, 2020: 2,529,241,070
 






Table of Contents







Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
MERCK & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(Unaudited, $ in millions except per share amounts)
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Sales
$
10,872

 
$
11,760

 
$
22,929

 
$
22,575

Costs, Expenses and Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
3,159

 
3,401

 
6,471

 
6,453

Selling, general and administrative
2,378

 
2,712

 
4,933

 
5,138

Research and development
2,123

 
2,189

 
4,331

 
4,119

Restructuring costs
83

 
59

 
155

 
212

Other (income) expense, net
(390
)
 
140

 
(318
)
 
327

 
7,353

 
8,501

 
15,572

 
16,249

Income Before Taxes
3,519

 
3,259

 
7,357

 
6,326

Taxes on Income
509

 
615

 
1,128

 
820

Net Income
3,010

 
2,644

 
6,229

 
5,506

Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
8

 
(26
)
 
8

 
(79
)
Net Income Attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.
$
3,002

 
$
2,670

 
$
6,221

 
$
5,585

Basic Earnings per Common Share Attributable to Merck & Co., Inc. Common Shareholders
$
1.19

 
$
1.04

 
$
2.46

 
$
2.17

Earnings per Common Share Assuming Dilution Attributable to Merck & Co., Inc. Common Shareholders
$
1.18

 
$
1.03

 
$
2.45

 
$
2.15

 
MERCK & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited, $ in millions)
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Net Income Attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.
$
3,002

 
$
2,670

 
$
6,221

 
$
5,585

Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income Net of Taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized loss on derivatives, net of reclassifications
(120
)
 
(52
)
 
(16
)
 
(100
)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of reclassifications

 
44

 
(18
)
 
126

Benefit plan net gain and prior service credit, net of amortization
39

 
11

 
99

 
26

Cumulative translation adjustment
79

 
(19
)
 
(265
)
 
131

 
(2
)
 
(16
)
 
(200
)
 
183

Comprehensive Income Attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.
$
3,000

 
$
2,654

 
$
6,021

 
$
5,768

 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

- 3 -




MERCK & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Unaudited, $ in millions except per share amounts)
 
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Assets
 
 
 
Current Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
11,103

 
$
9,676

Short-term investments

 
774

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $90 in 2020
and $86 in 2019)
7,577

 
6,778

Inventories (excludes inventories of $1,921 in 2020 and $1,480 in 2019
classified in Other assets - see Note 6)
6,056

 
5,978

Other current assets
4,607

 
4,277

Total current assets
29,343

 
27,483

Investments
1,251

 
1,469

Property, Plant and Equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation of $18,182
in 2020 and $17,686 in 2019
15,789

 
15,053

Goodwill
20,067

 
19,425

Other Intangibles, Net
16,566

 
14,196

Other Assets
7,599

 
6,771

 
$
90,615

 
$
84,397

Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
Current Liabilities
 
 
 
Loans payable and current portion of long-term debt
$
4,718

 
$
3,610

Trade accounts payable
3,448

 
3,738

Accrued and other current liabilities
11,182

 
12,549

Income taxes payable
1,266

 
736

Dividends payable
1,564

 
1,587

Total current liabilities
22,178

 
22,220

Long-Term Debt
26,156

 
22,736

Deferred Income Taxes
2,091

 
1,470

Other Noncurrent Liabilities
12,446

 
11,970

Merck & Co., Inc. Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.50 par value
Authorized - 6,500,000,000 shares
Issued - 3,577,103,522 shares in 2020 and 2019
1,788

 
1,788

Other paid-in capital
39,373

 
39,660

Retained earnings
49,724

 
46,602

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(6,393
)
 
(6,193
)
 
84,492

 
81,857

Less treasury stock, at cost:
1,047,935,095 shares in 2020 and 1,038,087,496 shares in 2019
56,850

 
55,950

Total Merck & Co., Inc. stockholders’ equity
27,642

 
25,907

Noncontrolling Interests
102

 
94

Total equity
27,744

 
26,001

 
$
90,615

 
$
84,397

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this condensed consolidated financial statement.

- 4 -




MERCK & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited, $ in millions)
 
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net income
$
6,229

 
$
5,506

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
1,869

 
1,871

Intangible asset impairment charges
20

 
252

Deferred income taxes
122

 
(149
)
Share-based compensation
229

 
204

Other
(202
)
 
114

Net changes in assets and liabilities
(4,193
)
 
(3,378
)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
4,074

 
4,420

Cash Flows from Investing Activities
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(1,654
)
 
(1,377
)
Purchases of securities and other investments
(77
)
 
(1,810
)
Proceeds from sales of securities and other investments
1,892

 
4,935

Acquisition of ArQule, Inc., net of cash acquired
(2,545
)
 

Acquisition of Antelliq Corporation, net of cash acquired

 
(3,620
)
Other acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(321
)
 
(270
)
Other
195

 
85

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
(2,510
)
 
(2,057
)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
 
 
 
Net change in short-term borrowings
1,967

 
(3,532
)
Payments on debt
(1,952
)
 

Proceeds from issuance of debt
4,445

 
4,958

Purchases of treasury stock
(1,281
)
 
(2,325
)
Dividends paid to stockholders
(3,128
)
 
(2,896
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
40

 
304

Other
(444
)
 
(207
)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
(353
)
 
(3,698
)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
2

 
28

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
1,213

 
(1,307
)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Year (includes restricted
cash of $258 million at January 1, 2020 included in Other Assets)
9,934

 
7,967

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Period (includes restricted cash
of $44 million at June 30, 2020 included in Other Assets)
$
11,147

 
$
6,660

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this condensed consolidated financial statement.

- 5 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)


1.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Merck & Co., Inc. (Merck or the Company) have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) for complete consolidated financial statements are not included herein. These interim statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in Merck’s Form 10-K filed on February 26, 2020.
The results of operations of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year. In the Company’s opinion, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of these interim statements have been included and are of a normal and recurring nature.
Planned Spin-Off of Women’s Health, Legacy Brands and Biosimilars into New Company
In February 2020, Merck announced its intention to spin-off products from its women’s health, legacy brands and biosimilars businesses into a new, independent, publicly traded company named Organon & Co. (Organon) through a distribution of Organon’s publicly traded stock to Company shareholders. The distribution is expected to qualify as tax-free to the Company and its shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The legacy brands included in the transaction consist of dermatology, non-opioid pain, respiratory, and select cardiovascular products including Zetia (ezetimibe) and Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin), as well as the rest of Merck’s diversified brands franchise. Merck’s existing research pipeline programs will continue to be owned and developed within Merck as planned. Organon will have development capabilities initially focused on late-stage development and life-cycle management and is expected over time to develop research capabilities in selected therapeutic areas. The spin-off is expected to be completed in the first half of 2021, subject to market and certain other conditions. Subsequent to the spin-off, the historical results of the women’s health, legacy brands and biosimilars businesses will be reflected as discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new guidance on the accounting for credit losses on financial instruments. The new guidance introduces an expected loss model for estimating credit losses, replacing the incurred loss model. The new guidance also changes the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities, requiring the use of an allowance to record estimated credit losses (and subsequent recoveries). The Company adopted the new guidance effective January 1, 2020. There was no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.
In November 2018, the FASB issued new guidance for collaborative arrangements intended to reduce diversity in practice by clarifying whether certain transactions between collaborative arrangement participants should be accounted for under revenue recognition guidance (ASC 606). The Company adopted the new guidance effective January 1, 2020, which resulted in minor changes to the presentation of information related to the Company’s collaborative arrangements.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In December 2019, the FASB issued amended guidance on the accounting and reporting of income taxes. The guidance is intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing exceptions related to certain intraperiod tax allocations and deferred tax liabilities; clarifying guidance primarily related to evaluating the step-up tax basis for goodwill in a business combination; and reflecting enacted changes in tax laws or rates in the annual effective tax rate. The amended guidance is effective for interim and annual periods in 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in the new guidance are to be applied on a retrospective basis, on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings or prospectively, depending on the amendment. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.
In January 2020, the FASB issued new guidance intended to clarify certain interactions between accounting standards related to equity securities, equity method investments and certain derivatives. The guidance addresses accounting for the transition into and out of the equity method of accounting and measuring certain purchased options and forward contracts to acquire investments. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods in 2021 and is to be applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2020, the FASB issued optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting. The guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform. The optional guidance is effective upon issuance and can be applied on a prospective basis at any time between January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.


- 6 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

2.
Acquisitions, Research Collaborations and License Agreements
The Company continues to pursue acquisitions and the establishment of external alliances such as research collaborations and licensing agreements to complement its internal research capabilities. These arrangements often include upfront payments, as well as expense reimbursements or payments to the third party, and milestone, royalty or profit share arrangements, contingent upon the occurrence of certain future events linked to the success of the asset in development. The Company also reviews its marketed products and pipeline to examine candidates which may provide more value through out-licensing and, as part of its portfolio assessment process, may also divest certain assets. Pro forma financial information for acquired businesses is not presented if the historical financial results of the acquired entity are not significant when compared with the Company’s financial results.
In July 2020, Merck acquired the U.S. rights to Sentinel Flavor Tabs and Sentinel Spectrum Chews from Virbac Corporation for approximately $400 million. Sentinel products provide protection against common parasites in dogs. The transaction will be accounted for as an acquisition of an asset. There are no future contingent payments associated with the acquisition.
Also, in July 2020, Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP (Ridgeback Bio), a closely held biotechnology company, closed a collaboration agreement to develop MK-4482 (formerly known as EIDD-2801), an orally available antiviral candidate currently in clinical development for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Merck gained exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize MK-4482 and related molecules. Under the terms of the agreement, Ridgeback Bio received an upfront payment and also is eligible to receive future contingent payments dependent upon the achievement of certain developmental and regulatory approval milestones, as well as a share of the net profits of MK-4482 and related molecules, if approved. Merck and Ridgeback are committed to ensure that any medicines developed for SARS-CoV-2 (the causative agent of COVID-19) will be accessible and affordable globally.
In June 2020, Merck acquired privately held Themis Bioscience GmbH (Themis), a company focused on vaccines and immune-modulation therapies for infectious diseases and cancer for $366 million in cash. Merck may make additional contingent payments of up to $740 million, including up to $80 million for development milestones, up to $260 million for regulatory approval milestones, and up to $400 million for commercial milestones. Themis has a broad pipeline of vaccine candidates and immune-modulatory therapies developed using its innovative measles virus vector platform based on a vector originally developed by scientists at the Institut Pasteur and licensed exclusively to Themis for select viral indications. The acquisition builds upon an ongoing collaboration between the two companies to develop vaccine candidates using the measles virus vector platform and is expected to accelerate the development of Themis’ COVID-19 vaccine candidate (V591). V591 is in preclinical development and clinical studies are planned to start in the third quarter of 2020. The transaction was accounted for as an acquisition of a business. The Company determined the fair value of the contingent consideration was $97 million at the acquisition date utilizing a probability-weighted estimated cash flow stream using an appropriate discount rate dependent on the nature and timing of the milestone payment. Merck recognized intangible assets for in-process research and development (IPR&D) of $136 million, cash of $62 million, deferred tax assets of $72 million and other net liabilities of $22 million. The excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of net assets acquired of $215 million was recorded as goodwill that was allocated to the Pharmaceutical segment and is not deductible for tax purposes. The fair values of the identifiable intangible assets related to IPR&D were determined using an income approach. Actual cash flows are likely to be different than those assumed. In connection with the transaction, Merck has entered into a memorandum of understanding that reflects the parties’ commitments to address the COVID-19 pandemic by developing, manufacturing and distributing the vaccine on a global basis and with pricing that makes the vaccine both available around the world and accessible to those who need it.
In May 2020, Merck and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges, announced a new collaboration to develop V590, an investigational vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 being studied for the prevention of COVID-19. This vaccine candidate will use the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) technology that is the basis for Merck’s approved Ebola Zaire virus vaccine, Ervebo (Ebola Zaire Vaccine, Live), which was the first rVSV vaccine approved for use in humans. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck made an upfront payment of $6.5 million and may make additional contingent payments of up to $100 million for sales-based milestones, as well as royalty payments. Merck has also signed an agreement with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response within an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, to provide initial funding support for this effort. Under the agreement, IAVI and Merck will work together to advance the development and global clinical evaluation of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate designed and engineered by IAVI scientists. The vaccine candidate is in preclinical development, and clinical studies are planned to start later in 2020. Merck will lead regulatory filings globally. Both organizations will work together to develop the vaccine and make it accessible and affordable globally, if approved.
In January 2020, Merck acquired ArQule, Inc. (ArQule), a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company focused on kinase inhibitor discovery and development for the treatment of patients with cancer and other diseases. Total consideration paid of $2.7 billion included $138 million of share-based compensation payments to settle equity awards attributable to precombination

- 7 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

service and cash paid for transaction costs on behalf of ArQule. The Company incurred $95 million of transaction costs directly related to the acquisition of ArQule, consisting almost entirely of share-based compensation payments to settle non-vested equity awards attributable to postcombination service. These costs were included in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the first six months of 2020. ArQule’s lead investigational candidate, MK-1026 (formerly ARQ 531), is a novel, oral Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor currently being evaluated for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.
The estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed from ArQule is as follows:
 
 
($ in millions)
January 16, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents
$
145

IPR&D MK-1026 (formerly ARQ 531) (1)
2,280

IPR&D MK-7075 (formerly ARQ 092) (1)
170

Licensing arrangement for ARQ 087
80

Deferred income tax liabilities
(434
)
Other assets and liabilities, net
35

Total identifiable net assets
2,276

Goodwill (2)
414

Consideration transferred
$
2,690

(1) 
The estimated fair values of the identifiable intangible assets related to in-process research and development (IPR&D) were determined using an income approach. The future net cash flows were discounted to present value utilizing a discount rate of 12.5%. Actual cash flows are likely to be different than those assumed.
(2) 
The goodwill was allocated to the Pharmaceutical segment and is not deductible for tax purposes.
On April 1, 2019, Merck acquired Antelliq Corporation (Antelliq), a leader in digital animal identification, traceability and monitoring solutions. These solutions help veterinarians, farmers and pet owners gather critical data to improve management, health and well-being of livestock and pets. Merck paid $2.3 billion to acquire all outstanding shares of Antelliq and spent $1.3 billion to repay Antelliq’s debt. The transaction was accounted for as an acquisition of a business.
The estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed from Antelliq is as follows:
 
 
($ in millions)
April 1, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents
$
31

Accounts receivable
73

Inventories
93

Property, plant and equipment
60

Identifiable intangible assets (useful lives ranging from 18-24 years) (1)
2,689

Deferred income tax liabilities
(589
)
Other assets and liabilities, net
(82
)
Total identifiable net assets
2,275

Goodwill (2)
1,376

Consideration transferred
$
3,651


(1) 
The estimated fair values of identifiable intangible assets relate primarily to trade names and were determined using an income approach. The future net cash flows were discounted to present value utilizing a discount rate of 11.5%. Actual cash flows are likely to be different than those assumed.
(2) 
The goodwill recognized is largely attributable to anticipated synergies expected to arise after the acquisition and was allocated to the Animal Health segment. The goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.

The Company’s results for the second quarter of 2019 include two months of activity for Antelliq. The Company incurred $47 million of transaction costs directly related to the acquisition of Antelliq, consisting largely of advisory fees, which are reflected in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the first six months of 2019.
Also in April 2019, Merck acquired Immune Design, a late-stage immunotherapy company employing next-generation in vivo approaches to enable the body’s immune system to fight disease, for $301 million in cash. The transaction was accounted for as an acquisition of a business. Merck recognized intangible assets of $156 million, cash of $83 million and other net assets of $42 million. The excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of net assets acquired of $20 million was recorded as goodwill that was allocated to the Pharmaceutical segment and is not deductible for tax purposes. The fair values of

- 8 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

the identifiable intangible assets related to IPR&D were determined using an income approach. Actual cash flows are likely to be different than those assumed.
3.    Collaborative Arrangements
Merck has entered into collaborative arrangements that provide the Company with varying rights to develop, produce and market products together with its collaborative partners. Both parties in these arrangements are active participants and exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of the activities of the collaboration. Merck’s more significant collaborative arrangements are discussed below.
AstraZeneca
In July 2017, Merck and AstraZeneca PLC (AstraZeneca) entered into a global strategic oncology collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialize AstraZeneca’s Lynparza (olaparib) for multiple cancer types. Lynparza is an oral poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor currently approved for certain types of advanced ovarian, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. The companies are jointly developing and commercializing Lynparza, both as monotherapy and in combination trials with other potential medicines. Independently, Merck and AstraZeneca will develop and commercialize Lynparza in combinations with their respective PD-1 and PD-L1 medicines, Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Imfinzi. The companies will also jointly develop and commercialize AstraZeneca’s Koselugo (selumetinib), an oral, selective inhibitor of MEK, part of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, currently being developed for multiple indications. In April 2020, Koselugo was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of pediatric patients two years of age and older with neurofibromatosis type 1 who have symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas. Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca and Merck will share the development and commercialization costs for Lynparza and Koselugo monotherapy and non-PD-L1/PD-1 combination therapy opportunities.
Profits from Lynparza and Koselugo product sales generated through monotherapies or combination therapies are shared equally. Merck will fund all development and commercialization costs of Keytruda in combination with Lynparza or Koselugo. AstraZeneca will fund all development and commercialization costs of Imfinzi in combination with Lynparza or Koselugo. AstraZeneca is the principal on Lynparza and Koselugo sales transactions. Merck records its share of Lynparza and Koselugo product sales, net of cost of sales and commercialization costs, as alliance revenue and its share of development costs associated with the collaboration as part of Research and development expenses. Reimbursements received from AstraZeneca for research and development expenses are recognized as reductions to Research and development costs.
As part of the agreement, Merck made an upfront payment to AstraZeneca of $1.6 billion in 2017 and made payments of $750 million over a multi-year period for certain license options. In addition, the agreement provides for additional contingent payments from Merck to AstraZeneca related to the successful achievement of sales-based and regulatory milestones.
In the second quarter of 2020, Merck determined it was probable that sales of Lynparza in the future would trigger $400 million of sales-based milestone payments from Merck to AstraZeneca. Accordingly, Merck recorded a $400 million liability and a corresponding increase to the intangible asset related to Lynparza. Prior to 2020, Merck accrued sales-based milestone payments aggregating $1.0 billion related to Lynparza, of which $200 million and $250 million was paid to AstraZeneca in 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $250 million was paid in the first six months of 2020. Potential future sales-based milestone payments of $2.7 billion have not yet been accrued as they are not deemed by the Company to be probable at this time.
In the second quarter of 2020, Lynparza received regulatory approvals triggering capitalized milestone payments of $135 million from Merck to AstraZeneca. In 2019 and 2018, Lynparza received regulatory approvals triggering capitalized milestone payments of $60 million and $140 million, respectively, in the aggregate from Merck to AstraZeneca. Potential future regulatory milestone payments of $1.4 billion remain under the agreement.
The intangible asset balance related to Lynparza (which includes capitalized sales-based and regulatory milestone payments) was $1.3 billion at June 30, 2020 and is included in Other Intangibles, Net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The amount is being amortized over its estimated useful life through 2028 as supported by projected future cash flows, subject to impairment testing.

- 9 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

Summarized financial information related to this collaboration is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Alliance revenue - Lynparza
$
178

 
$
111

 
$
323

 
$
190

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales (1)
137

 
73

 
164

 
92

Selling, general and administrative
39

 
33

 
72

 
59

Research and development
37

 
33

 
73

 
78

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
($ in millions)
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Receivables from AstraZeneca included in Other current assets
 
 
 
 
$
168

 
$
128

Payables to AstraZeneca included in Accrued and other current liabilities (2)
 
 
 
 
324

 
577

Payables to AstraZeneca included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities (2)
 
 
 
 
400

 

(1) Represents amortization of capitalized milestone payments.
(2) Includes accrued milestone payments.
Eisai
In March 2018, Merck and Eisai Co., Ltd. (Eisai) announced a strategic collaboration for the worldwide co-development and co-commercialization of Lenvima (lenvatinib), an orally available tyrosine kinase inhibitor discovered by Eisai. Lenvima is currently approved for the treatment of certain types of thyroid cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, in combination with everolimus for certain patients with renal cell carcinoma, and in combination with Keytruda for the treatment of certain patients with endometrial carcinoma. Under the agreement, Merck and Eisai will develop and commercialize Lenvima jointly, both as monotherapy and in combination with Keytruda. Eisai records Lenvima product sales globally (Eisai is the principal on Lenvima sales transactions), and Merck and Eisai share profits equally. Merck records its share of Lenvima product sales, net of cost of sales and commercialization costs, as alliance revenue. Expenses incurred during co-development, including for studies evaluating Lenvima as monotherapy, are shared equally by the two companies and reflected in Research and development expenses.
Under the agreement, Merck made an upfront payment to Eisai of $750 million and agreed to make payments of up to $650 million for certain option rights through 2021 (of which $325 million was paid in March 2019, $200 million was paid in March 2020 and $125 million is expected to be paid in March 2021). In addition, the agreement provides for additional contingent payments from Merck to Eisai related to the successful achievement of sales-based and regulatory milestones.
In the second quarter of 2020, Merck determined it was probable that sales of Lenvima in the future would trigger sales-based milestone payments aggregating $370 million from Merck to Eisai. Accordingly, Merck recorded a $370 million liability and a corresponding increase to the intangible asset related to Lenvima. Prior to 2020, Merck accrued sales-based milestone payments aggregating $950 million. Of these amounts, $50 million was paid to Eisai in 2019 and an additional $500 million was paid in the first six months of 2020. Potential future sales-based milestone payments of $2.7 billion have not yet been accrued as they are not deemed by the Company to be probable at this time.
In 2018, Lenvima received regulatory approvals triggering capitalized milestone payments of $250 million in the aggregate from Merck to Eisai. Potential future regulatory milestone payments of $135 million remain under the agreement.
The intangible asset balance related to Lenvima (which includes capitalized sales-based and regulatory milestone payments) was $1.2 billion at June 30, 2020 and is included in Other Intangibles, Net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The amount is being amortized over its estimated useful life through 2026 as supported by projected future cash flows, subject to impairment testing.

- 10 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

Summarized financial information related to this collaboration is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Alliance revenue - Lenvima
$
151

 
$
97

 
$
279

 
$
171

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales (1)
135

 
23

 
170

 
74

Selling, general and administrative
19

 
19

 
31

 
38

Research and development
56

 
62

 
120

 
109

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
($ in millions)
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Receivables from Eisai included in Other current assets
 
 
 
 
$
173

 
$
150

Payables to Eisai included in Accrued and other current liabilities (2)
 
 
 
 
325

 
700

Payables to Eisai included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities (3)
 
 
 
 
570

 
525

(1) Represents amortization of capitalized milestone payments.
(2) Includes accrued milestone and future option payments.
(3) Includes accrued milestone payments.
Bayer AG
In 2014, the Company entered into a worldwide clinical development collaboration with Bayer AG (Bayer) to market and develop soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) modulators including Bayer’s Adempas (riociguat), which is approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The two companies have implemented a joint development and commercialization strategy. The collaboration also includes clinical development of Bayer’s vericiguat, which is in development for the potential treatment of worsening heart failure. Vericiguat is currently under review by the FDA. Under the agreement, Bayer leads commercialization of Adempas in the Americas, while Merck leads commercialization in the rest of the world. For vericiguat, if approved, Bayer will lead commercialization in the rest of world and Merck will lead in the Americas. Both companies share in development costs and profits on sales and have the right to co-promote in territories where they are not the lead. Merck records sales of Adempas in its marketing territories, as well as alliance revenue, which is Merck’s share of profits from the sale of Adempas in Bayer’s marketing territories. In addition, the agreement provides for additional contingent payments from Merck to Bayer related to the successful achievement of sales-based milestones.
Prior to 2020, Merck accrued $725 million of sales-based milestone payments for this collaboration, of which $350 million was paid to Bayer in 2018. There is an additional $400 million potential future sales-based milestone payment that has not yet been accrued as it is not deemed by the Company to be probable at this time.
The intangible asset balance related to this collaboration (which includes the acquired intangible asset balance, as well as capitalized sales-based milestone payments) was $832 million at June 30, 2020 and is included in Other Intangibles, Net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The amount is being amortized over its estimated useful life through 2027 as supported by projected future cash flows, subject to impairment testing.

- 11 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

Summarized financial information related to this collaboration is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Alliance revenue - Adempas
$
79

 
$
51

 
$
133

 
$
94

Net sales of Adempas recorded by Merck
57

 
53

 
113

 
100

Total sales
$
136


$
104


$
246


$
194

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales (1)
28

 
29

 
57

 
58

Selling, general and administrative
17

 
11

 
28

 
20

Research and development
16

 
32

 
41

 
62

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
($ in millions)
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Receivables from Bayer included in Other current assets
 
 
 
 
$
62

 
$
49

Payables to Bayer included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities (2)
 
 
 
 
375

 
375

(1) Includes amortization of intangible assets.
(2) Represents accrued milestone payment.
4.
Restructuring
In early 2019, Merck approved a new global restructuring program (Restructuring Program) as part of a worldwide initiative focused on further optimizing the Company’s manufacturing and supply network, as well as reducing its global real estate footprint. This program is a continuation of the Company’s plant rationalization, builds on prior restructuring programs and does not include any actions associated with the planned spin-off of Organon. As the Company continues to evaluate its global footprint and overall operating model, it subsequently identified additional actions under the Restructuring Program, and could identify further actions over time. The actions currently contemplated under the Restructuring Program are expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2023, with the cumulative pretax costs to be incurred by the Company to implement the program estimated to be approximately $2.5 billion. The Company estimates that approximately 60% of the cumulative pretax costs will result in cash outlays, primarily related to employee separation expense and facility shut-down costs. Approximately 40% of the cumulative pretax costs will be non-cash, relating primarily to the accelerated depreciation of facilities to be closed or divested. The Company expects to record charges of approximately $800 million in 2020 related to the Restructuring Program. Actions under previous global restructuring programs have been substantially completed.
The Company recorded total pretax costs of $150 million and $159 million in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $318 million and $346 million for the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to restructuring program activities. Since inception of the Restructuring Program through June 30, 2020, Merck has recorded total pretax accumulated costs of approximately $1.2 billion. For segment reporting, restructuring charges are unallocated expenses.
The following tables summarize the charges related to restructuring program activities by type of cost:
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2020
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2020
($ in millions)
Separation
Costs
 
Accelerated
Depreciation
 
Other
 
Total
 
Separation
Costs
 
Accelerated
Depreciation
 
Other
 
Total
Cost of sales
$

 
$
31

 
$
(6
)
 
$
25

 
$

 
$
56

 
$
37

 
$
93

Selling, general and administrative

 
11

 

 
11

 

 
22

 

 
22

Research and development

 
31

 

 
31

 

 
48

 

 
48

Restructuring costs
35

 

 
48

 
83

 
82

 

 
73

 
155

 
$
35

 
$
73

 
$
42

 
$
150

 
$
82

 
$
126

 
$
110

 
$
318

 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
($ in millions)
Separation
Costs
 
Accelerated
Depreciation
 
Other
 
Total
 
Separation
Costs
 
Accelerated
Depreciation
 
Other
 
Total
Cost of sales
$

 
$
64

 
$
1

 
$
65

 
$

 
$
98

 
$
1

 
$
99

Selling, general and administrative

 
32

 

 
32

 

 
32

 

 
32

Research and development

 
2

 
1

 
3

 

 
2

 
1

 
3

Restructuring costs
25

 

 
34

 
59

 
153

 

 
59

 
212

 
$
25

 
$
98

 
$
36

 
$
159

 
$
153

 
$
132

 
$
61

 
$
346



- 12 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

Separation costs are associated with actual headcount reductions, as well as those headcount reductions which were probable and could be reasonably estimated.
Accelerated depreciation costs primarily relate to manufacturing, research and administrative facilities and equipment to be sold or closed as part of the programs. Accelerated depreciation costs represent the difference between the depreciation expense to be recognized over the revised useful life of the asset, based upon the anticipated date the site will be closed or divested or the equipment disposed of, and depreciation expense as determined utilizing the useful life prior to the restructuring actions. All the sites have and will continue to operate up through the respective closure dates and, since future undiscounted cash flows are sufficient to recover the respective book values, Merck is recording accelerated depreciation over the revised useful life of the site assets. Anticipated site closure dates, particularly related to manufacturing locations, have been and may continue to be adjusted to reflect changes resulting from regulatory or other factors.
Other activity in 2020 and 2019 includes asset abandonment, facility shut-down and other related costs, as well as pretax gains and losses resulting from the sales of facilities and related assets. Additionally, other activity includes certain employee-related costs associated with pension and other postretirement benefit plans (see Note 11) and share-based compensation.
The following table summarizes the charges and spending relating to restructuring program activities for the six months ended June 30, 2020:
($ in millions)
Separation
Costs
 
Accelerated
Depreciation
 
Other
 
Total
Restructuring reserves January 1, 2020
$
690

 
$

 
$
69

 
$
759

Expense
82

 
126

 
110

 
318

(Payments) receipts, net
(328
)
 

 
(163
)
 
(491
)
Non-cash activity

 
(126
)
 
34

 
(92
)
Restructuring reserves June 30, 2020 (1)
$
444

 
$

 
$
50

 
$
494

(1) 
The remaining cash outlays are expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2023.
5.
Financial Instruments
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
The Company manages the impact of foreign exchange rate movements and interest rate movements on its earnings, cash flows and fair values of assets and liabilities through operational means and through the use of various financial instruments, including derivative instruments.
A significant portion of the Company’s revenues and earnings in foreign affiliates is exposed to changes in foreign exchange rates. The objectives and accounting related to the Company’s foreign currency risk management program, as well as its interest rate risk management activities are discussed below.
Foreign Currency Risk Management
The Company has established revenue hedging, balance sheet risk management and net investment hedging programs to protect against volatility of future foreign currency cash flows and changes in fair value caused by changes in foreign exchange rates.
The objective of the revenue hedging program is to reduce the variability caused by changes in foreign exchange rates that would affect the U.S. dollar value of future cash flows derived from foreign currency denominated sales, primarily the euro, Japanese yen and Chinese renminbi. To achieve this objective, the Company will hedge a portion of its forecasted foreign currency denominated third-party and intercompany distributor entity sales (forecasted sales) that are expected to occur over its planning cycle, typically no more than two years into the future. The Company will layer in hedges over time, increasing the portion of forecasted sales hedged as it gets closer to the expected date of the forecasted sales. The portion of forecasted sales hedged is based on assessments of cost-benefit profiles that consider natural offsetting exposures, revenue and exchange rate volatilities and correlations, and the cost of hedging instruments. The Company manages its anticipated transaction exposure principally with purchased local currency put options, forward contracts and purchased collar options.
The fair values of these derivative contracts are recorded as either assets (gain positions) or liabilities (loss positions) in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Changes in the fair value of derivative contracts are recorded each period in either current earnings or Other comprehensive income (OCI), depending on whether the derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if so, the type of hedge transaction. For derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges, the unrealized gains or losses on these contracts are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) and reclassified into Sales when the hedged anticipated revenue is recognized. For those derivatives which are not designated as cash flow hedges, but serve as economic hedges of forecasted sales, unrealized gains or losses are recorded in Sales each period. The cash flows from both

- 13 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

designated and non-designated contracts are reported as operating activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The Company does not enter into derivatives for trading or speculative purposes.
The Company manages operating activities and net asset positions at each local subsidiary in order to mitigate the effects of exchange on monetary assets and liabilities. The Company also uses a balance sheet risk management program to mitigate the exposure of net monetary assets that are denominated in a currency other than a subsidiary’s functional currency from the effects of volatility in foreign exchange. In these instances, Merck principally utilizes forward exchange contracts to offset the effects of exchange on exposures denominated in developed country currencies, primarily the euro and Japanese yen. For exposures in developing country currencies, the Company will enter into forward contracts to partially offset the effects of exchange on exposures when it is deemed economical to do so based on a cost-benefit analysis that considers the magnitude of the exposure, the volatility of the exchange rate and the cost of the hedging instrument. The cash flows from these contracts are reported as operating activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of a given subsidiary are remeasured at spot rates in effect on the balance sheet date with the effects of changes in spot rates reported in Other (income) expense, net. The forward contracts are not designated as hedges and are marked to market through Other (income) expense, net. Accordingly, fair value changes in the forward contracts help mitigate the changes in the value of the remeasured assets and liabilities attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, except to the extent of the spot-forward differences. These differences are not significant due to the short-term nature of the contracts, which typically have average maturities at inception of less than one year.
The Company also uses forward exchange contracts to hedge a portion of its net investment in foreign operations against movements in exchange rates. The forward contracts are designated as hedges of the net investment in a foreign operation. The unrealized gains or losses on these contracts are recorded in foreign currency translation adjustment within OCI and remain in AOCI until either the sale or complete or substantially complete liquidation of the subsidiary. The Company excludes certain portions of the change in fair value of its derivative instruments from the assessment of hedge effectiveness (excluded components). Changes in fair value of the excluded components are recognized in OCI. The Company recognizes in earnings the initial value of the excluded components on a straight-line basis over the life of the derivative instrument, rather than using the mark-to-market approach. The cash flows from these contracts are reported as investing activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
Foreign exchange risk is also managed through the use of foreign currency debt. The Company’s senior unsecured euro-denominated notes have been designated as, and are effective as, economic hedges of the net investment in a foreign operation. Accordingly, foreign currency transaction gains or losses due to spot rate fluctuations on the euro-denominated debt instruments are included in foreign currency translation adjustment within OCI.
The effects of the Company’s net investment hedges on OCI and the Consolidated Statement of Income are shown below:
 
Amount of Pretax (Gain) Loss Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (1)
 
Amount of Pretax (Gain) Loss Recognized in Other (income) expense, net for Amounts Excluded from Effectiveness Testing
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Net Investment Hedging Relationships
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts
$
8

 
$
17

 
$
5

 
$
7

 
$
(4
)
 
$
(8
)
 
$
(11
)
 
$
(15
)
Euro-denominated notes
72

 
28

 
21

 
(2
)
 

 

 

 

(1) No amounts were reclassified from AOCI into income related to the sale of a subsidiary.
Interest Rate Risk Management
The Company may use interest rate swap contracts on certain investing and borrowing transactions to manage its net exposure to interest rate changes and to reduce its overall cost of borrowing. The Company does not use leveraged swaps and, in general, does not leverage any of its investment activities that would put principal capital at risk.
In February 2020, five interest rate swaps with notional amounts of $250 million each matured. These swaps effectively converted the Company’s $1.25 billion1.85% fixed-rate notes due 2020 to variable rate debt. At June 30, 2020, the Company was a party to 14 pay-floating, receive-fixed interest rate swap contracts designated as fair value hedges of fixed-rate notes in which the notional amounts match the amount of the hedged fixed-rate notes as detailed in the table below.

- 14 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 
June 30, 2020
($ in millions)
Par Value of Debt
 
Number of Interest Rate Swaps Held
 
Total Swap Notional Amount
3.875% notes due 2021
$
1,150

 
5

 
$
1,150

2.40% notes due 2022
1,000

 
4

 
1,000

2.35% notes due 2022
1,250

 
5

 
1,250

The interest rate swap contracts are designated hedges of the fair value changes in the notes attributable to changes in the benchmark London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) swap rate. The fair value changes in the notes attributable to changes in the LIBOR swap rate are recorded in interest expense along with the offsetting fair value changes in the swap contracts. The cash flows from these contracts are reported as operating activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
The table below presents the location of amounts recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet related to cumulative basis adjustments for fair value hedges:
 
Carrying Amount of Hedged Liabilities
 
Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Increase (Decrease) Included in the Carrying Amount
($ in millions)
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Balance Sheet Line Item in which Hedged Item is Included
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans payable and current portion of long-term debt
$
1,160

 
$
1,249

 
$
10

 
$
(1
)
Long-Term Debt
2,318

 
3,409

 
71

 
14

Presented in the table below is the fair value of derivatives on a gross basis segregated between those derivatives that are designated as hedging instruments and those that are not designated as hedging instruments:
 
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative
 
U.S. Dollar
Notional
 
Fair Value of Derivative
 
U.S. Dollar
Notional
($ in millions)
Balance Sheet Caption
Asset
 
Liability
 
Asset
 
Liability
 
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap contracts
Other current assets
$
10

 
$

 
$
1,150

 
$

 
$

 
$

Interest rate swap contracts
Other Assets
72

 

 
2,250

 
15

 

 
3,400

Interest rate swap contracts
Accrued and other current liabilities

 

 

 

 
1

 
1,250

Foreign exchange contracts
Other current assets
83

 

 
4,959

 
152

 

 
6,117

Foreign exchange contracts
Other Assets
70

 

 
1,993

 
55

 

 
2,160

Foreign exchange contracts
Accrued and other current liabilities

 
27

 
1,884

 

 
22

 
1,748

Foreign exchange contracts
Other Noncurrent Liabilities

 
1

 
11

 

 
1

 
53

 
 
$
235


$
28


$
12,247


$
222


$
24


$
14,728

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts
Other current assets
$
93

 
$

 
$
5,324

 
$
66

 
$

 
$
7,245

Foreign exchange contracts
Accrued and other current liabilities

 
103

 
5,865

 

 
73

 
8,693

 
 
$
93

 
$
103

 
$
11,189

 
$
66

 
$
73

 
$
15,938

 
 
$
328


$
131


$
23,436


$
288


$
97


$
30,666


As noted above, the Company records its derivatives on a gross basis in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company has master netting agreements with several of its financial institution counterparties (see Concentrations of Credit Risk below). The following table provides information on the Company’s derivative positions subject to these master netting arrangements as if they were presented on a net basis, allowing for the right of offset by counterparty and cash collateral exchanged per the master agreements and related credit support annexes:
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
($ in millions)
Asset
 
Liability
 
Asset
 
Liability
Gross amounts recognized in the condensed consolidated balance sheet
$
328

 
$
131

 
$
288

 
$
97

Gross amounts subject to offset in master netting arrangements not offset in the condensed consolidated balance sheet
(115
)
 
(115
)
 
(84
)
 
(84
)
Cash collateral received
(38
)
 

 
(34
)
 

Net amounts
$
175

 
$
16

 
$
170

 
$
13



- 15 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

The table below provides information regarding the location and amount of pretax (gains) losses of derivatives designated in fair value or cash flow hedging relationships:
 
Sales
 
Other (income) expense, net (1)
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
Sales
 
Other (income) expense, net (1)
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Financial Statement Line Items in which Effects of Fair Value or Cash Flow Hedges are Recorded
$
10,872

 
$
11,760

 
$
(390
)
 
$
140

 
$
(2
)
 
$
(16
)
 
$
22,929

 
$
22,575

 
$
(318
)
 
$
327

 
$
(200
)
 
$
183

(Gain) loss on fair value hedging relationships
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap contracts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hedged items

 

 
1

 
55

 

 

 

 

 
68

 
88

 

 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments

 

 
(8
)
 
(45
)
 

 

 

 

 
(76
)
 
(68
)
 

 

Impact of cash flow hedging relationships
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amount of (loss) gain recognized in OCI on derivatives

 

 

 

 
(109
)
 
10

 

 

 

 

 
69

 
(2
)
Increase (decrease) in Sales as a result of AOCI reclassifications
42

 
75

 

 

 
(42
)
 
(75
)
 
88

 
119

 

 

 
(88
)
 
(119
)
Interest rate contracts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amount of gain recognized in Other (income) expense, net on derivatives

 

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 

 

 

 

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 

 

Amount of loss recognized in OCI on derivatives

 

 

 

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 

 

 

 

 
(2
)
 
(5
)
(1) Interest expense is a component of Other (income) expense, net.
The table below provides information regarding the income statement effects of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
 
 
 
Amount of Derivative Pretax (Gain) Loss Recognized in Income
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
($ in millions)
Income Statement Caption
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts (1)
Other (income) expense, net
 
$
49

 
$
2

 
$
(131
)
 
$
120

Foreign exchange contracts (2)
Sales
 
4

 
(6
)
 
(3
)
 
4

Interest rate contracts (3)
Other (income) expense, net
 
9

 

 
9

 

(1) These derivative contracts mitigate changes in the value of remeasured foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
(2) These derivative contracts serve as economic hedges of forecasted transactions.
(3) These derivatives serve as economic hedges against rising treasury rates.
At June 30, 2020, the Company estimates $9 million of pretax net unrealized gains on derivatives maturing within the next 12 months that hedge foreign currency denominated sales over that same period will be reclassified from AOCI to Sales. The amount ultimately reclassified to Sales may differ as foreign exchange rates change. Realized gains and losses are ultimately determined by actual exchange rates at maturity.


- 16 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

Investments in Debt and Equity Securities
Information on investments in debt and equity securities is as follows:
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross Unrealized
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross Unrealized
 
Fair
Value
($ in millions)
Gains
 
Losses
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
U.S. government and agency securities
$
74

 
$

 
$

 
$
74

 
$
266

 
$
3

 
$

 
$
269

Foreign government bonds
2

 

 

 
2

 

 

 

 

Commercial paper

 

 

 

 
668

 

 

 
668

Corporate notes and bonds

 

 

 

 
608

 
13

 

 
621

Asset-backed securities

 

 

 

 
226

 
1

 

 
227

Total debt securities
$
76


$


$


$
76


$
1,768


$
17


$


$
1,785

Publicly traded equity securities (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,307

 


 


 


 
838

Total debt and publicly traded equity securities








 
$
1,383

 








 
$
2,623


(1) Unrealized net (gains) losses recognized in Other (income) expense, net on equity securities still held at June 30, 2020 were $(464) million and $(469) million in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively. Unrealized net losses (gains) recognized in Other (income) expense, net on equity securities still held at June 30, 2019 were $39 million and $(75) million in the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively.
At June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019, the Company also had $487 million and $465 million, respectively, of equity investments without readily determinable fair values included in Other Assets. The Company recognizes unrealized gains on these equity investments based on favorable observable price changes from transactions involving similar investments of the same investee and recognizes unrealized losses based on unfavorable observable price changes. During the first six months of 2020, the Company recognized unrealized gains of $18 million and unrealized losses of $3 million in Other (income) expense, net related to these equity investments held at June 30, 2020. During the first six months of 2019, the Company recognized unrealized gains of $4 million and unrealized losses of $10 million in Other (income) expense, net related to these investments held at June 30, 2019. Cumulative unrealized gains and cumulative unrealized losses based on observable prices changes for investments in equity investments without readily determinable fair values still held at June 30, 2020 were $127 million and $24 million, respectively.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Company uses a fair value hierarchy which maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. There are three levels of inputs used to measure fair value with Level 1 having the highest priority and Level 3 having the lowest: Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity. Level 3 assets or liabilities are those whose values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques with significant unobservable inputs, as well as assets or liabilities for which the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation. If the inputs used to measure the financial assets and liabilities fall within more than one level described above, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.

- 17 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
($ in millions)
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign government bonds
$

 
$
2

 
$

 
$
2

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Commercial paper

 

 

 

 

 
668

 

 
668

Corporate notes and bonds

 

 

 

 

 
621

 

 
621

Asset-backed securities (1)

 

 

 

 

 
227

 

 
227

U.S. government and agency securities

 

 

 

 

 
209

 

 
209

Publicly traded equity securities
1,249

 

 

 
1,249

 
518

 

 

 
518

 
1,249


2




1,251


518


1,725




2,243

Other assets (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency securities
74

 

 

 
74

 
60

 

 

 
60

Publicly traded equity securities
58

 

 

 
58

 
320

 

 

 
320

 
132






132


380






380

Derivative assets (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forward exchange contracts

 
142

 

 
142

 

 
169

 

 
169

Purchased currency options

 
104

 

 
104

 

 
104

 

 
104

Interest rate swaps

 
82

 

 
82

 

 
15

 

 
15

 


328




328




288




288

Total assets
$
1,381


$
330


$


$
1,711


$
898


$
2,013


$


$
2,911

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent consideration
$

 
$

 
$
798

 
$
798

 
$

 
$

 
$
767

 
$
767

Derivative liabilities (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forward exchange contracts

 
128

 

 
128

 

 
95

 

 
95

Written currency options

 
3

 

 
3

 

 
1

 

 
1

Interest rate swaps

 

 

 

 

 
1

 

 
1

 

 
131

 

 
131

 

 
97

 

 
97

Total liabilities
$


$
131


$
798


$
929


$


$
97


$
767


$
864

(1) 
Primarily all of the asset-backed securities were highly rated (Standard & Poor’s rating of AAA and Moody’s Investors Service rating of Aaa), secured primarily by auto loan, credit card and student loan receivables, with weighted-average lives of primarily 5 years or less.
(2) 
Investments included in other assets are restricted as to use, including for the payment of benefits under employee benefit plans.
(3) 
The fair value determination of derivatives includes the impact of the credit risk of counterparties to the derivatives and the Company’s own credit risk, the effects of which were not significant.
As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, Cash and cash equivalents included $10.4 billion and $8.9 billion of cash equivalents, respectively (which would be considered Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy).

- 18 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

Contingent Consideration
Summarized information about the changes in liabilities for contingent consideration associated with business acquisitions is as follows:
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
Fair value January 1
$
767

 
$
788

Additions
97

 

Changes in estimated fair value (1)
40

 
50

Payments
(106
)
 
(85
)
Fair value June 30 (2)(3)
$
798

 
$
753

(1) Recorded in Cost of sales, Research and development expenses, and Other (income) expense, net. Includes cumulative translation adjustments.
(2) Balance at June 30, 2020 includes $138 million recorded as a current liability for amounts expected to be paid within the next 12 months.
(3) At June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, $608 million and $625 million, respectively, of the liabilities relate to the termination of the Sanofi-Pasteur MSD joint venture in 2016. As part of the termination, Merck recorded a liability for contingent future royalty payments of 11.5% on net sales of all Merck products that were previously sold by the joint venture through December 31, 2024. The fair value of this liability is determined utilizing the estimated amount and timing of projected cash flows using a risk-adjusted discount rate of 8% to present value the cash flows.
The additions to contingent consideration in 2020 relate to the acquisition of Themis (see Note 2). The payments of contingent consideration in both periods relate to liabilities recorded in connection with the termination of the Sanofi-Pasteur MSD joint venture in 2016.
Other Fair Value Measurements
Some of the Company’s financial instruments, such as cash and cash equivalents, receivables and payables, are reflected in the balance sheet at carrying value, which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature.
The estimated fair value of loans payable and long-term debt (including current portion) at June 30, 2020, was $34.5 billion compared with a carrying value of $30.9 billion and at December 31, 2019, was $28.8 billion compared with a carrying value of $26.3 billion. Fair value was estimated using recent observable market prices and would be considered Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
On an ongoing basis, the Company monitors concentrations of credit risk associated with corporate and government issuers of securities and financial institutions with which it conducts business. Credit exposure limits are established to limit a concentration with any single issuer or institution. Cash and investments are placed in instruments that meet high credit quality standards as specified in the Company’s investment policy guidelines.
The majority of the Company’s accounts receivable arise from product sales in the United States, Europe and China and are primarily due from drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, government agencies, managed health care providers and pharmacy benefit managers. The Company monitors the financial performance and creditworthiness of its customers so that it can properly assess and respond to changes in their credit profile. The Company also continues to monitor global economic conditions, including the volatility associated with international sovereign economies, and associated impacts on the financial markets and its business.
The Company has accounts receivable factoring agreements with financial institutions in certain countries to sell accounts receivable. The Company factored $1.9 billion and $2.7 billion of accounts receivable in the second quarter of 2020 and the fourth quarter of 2019, respectively, under these factoring arrangements, which reduced outstanding accounts receivable. The cash received from the financial institutions is reported within operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. In certain of these factoring arrangements, for ease of administration, the Company will collect customer payments related to the factored receivables, which it then remits to the financial institutions. The net cash flows relating to these collections are reported as financing activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The cost of factoring such accounts receivable was de minimis.
Derivative financial instruments are executed under International Swaps and Derivatives Association master agreements. The master agreements with several of the Company’s financial institution counterparties also include credit support annexes. These annexes contain provisions that require collateral to be exchanged depending on the value of the derivative assets and liabilities, the Company’s credit rating, and the credit rating of the counterparty. Cash collateral received by the Company from various counterparties was $38 million and $34 million at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The obligation to return such collateral is recorded in Accrued and other current liabilities. No cash collateral was advanced by the Company to counterparties as of June 30, 2020 or December 31, 2019.


- 19 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

6.
Inventories
Inventories consisted of:
($ in millions)
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Finished goods
$
2,032

 
$
1,772

Raw materials and work in process
5,874

 
5,650

Supplies
190

 
207

Total (approximates current cost)
8,096

 
7,629

Decrease to LIFO cost
(119
)
 
(171
)
 
$
7,977

 
$
7,458

Recognized as:
 
 
 
Inventories
$
6,056

 
$
5,978

Other assets
1,921

 
1,480


Amounts recognized as Other Assets are comprised almost entirely of raw materials and work in process inventories. At June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, these amounts included $1.7 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively, of inventories not expected to be sold within one year. In addition, these amounts included $266 million and $168 million at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, of inventories produced in preparation for product launches.
7.
Long-Term Debt
In June 2020, the Company issued $4.5 billion principal amount of senior unsecured notes consisting of $1.0 billion of 0.75% notes due 2026, $1.25 billion of 1.45% notes due 2030, $1.0 billion of 2.35% notes due 2040 and $1.25 billion of 2.45% notes due 2050. Merck intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including without limitation the repayment of outstanding commercial paper borrowings and other indebtedness with upcoming maturities.
8.
Contingencies
The Company is involved in various claims and legal proceedings of a nature considered normal to its business, including product liability, intellectual property, and commercial litigation, as well as certain additional matters including governmental and environmental matters. In the opinion of the Company, it is unlikely that the resolution of these matters will be material to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Given the nature of the litigation discussed below and the complexities involved in these matters, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate a possible loss or range of possible loss for such matters until the Company knows, among other factors, (i) what claims, if any, will survive dispositive motion practice, (ii) the extent of the claims, including the size of any potential class, particularly when damages are not specified or are indeterminate, (iii) how the discovery process will affect the litigation, (iv) the settlement posture of the other parties to the litigation and (v) any other factors that may have a material effect on the litigation.
The Company records accruals for contingencies when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. These accruals are adjusted periodically as assessments change or additional information becomes available. For product liability claims, a portion of the overall accrual is actuarially determined and considers such factors as past experience, number of claims reported and estimates of claims incurred but not yet reported. Individually significant contingent losses are accrued when probable and reasonably estimable. Legal defense costs expected to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency are accrued when probable and reasonably estimable.
The Company’s decision to obtain insurance coverage is dependent on market conditions, including cost and availability, existing at the time such decisions are made. The Company has evaluated its risks and has determined that the cost of obtaining product liability insurance outweighs the likely benefits of the coverage that is available and, as such, has no insurance for most product liabilities.
Product Liability Litigation
Fosamax
As previously disclosed, Merck is a defendant in product liability lawsuits in the United States involving Fosamax (Fosamax Litigation). As of June 30, 2020, approximately 3,590 cases are pending against Merck in either federal or state court. Plaintiffs in the vast majority of these cases generally allege that they sustained femur fractures and/or other bone injuries (Femur Fractures) in association with the use of Fosamax.

- 20 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

All federal cases involving allegations of Femur Fractures have been or will be transferred to a multidistrict litigation in the District of New Jersey (Femur Fracture MDL). In the only bellwether case tried to date in the Femur Fracture MDL, Glynn v. Merck, the jury returned a verdict in Merck’s favor. In addition, in June 2013, the Femur Fracture MDL court granted Merck’s motion for judgment as a matter of law in the Glynn case and held that the plaintiff’s failure to warn claim was preempted by federal law.
In August 2013, the Femur Fracture MDL court entered an order requiring plaintiffs in the Femur Fracture MDL to show cause why those cases asserting claims for a femur fracture injury that took place prior to September 14, 2010, should not be dismissed based on the court’s preemption decision in the Glynn case. Pursuant to the show cause order, in March 2014, the Femur Fracture MDL court dismissed with prejudice approximately 650 cases on preemption grounds. Plaintiffs in approximately 515 of those cases appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (Third Circuit). In March 2017, the Third Circuit issued a decision reversing the Femur Fracture MDL court’s preemption ruling and remanding the appealed cases back to the Femur Fracture MDL court. In May 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the Third Circuit had incorrectly concluded that the issue of preemption should be resolved by a jury, and accordingly vacated the judgment of the Third Circuit and remanded the proceedings back to the Third Circuit to address the issue in a manner consistent with the Supreme Court’s opinion. In November 2019, the Third Circuit remanded the cases back to the District Court in order to allow that court to determine in the first instance whether the plaintiffs’ state law claims are preempted by federal law under the standards described by the Supreme Court in its opinion. Briefing on the issue is closed, and the parties await the decision of the District Court.
Accordingly, as of June 30, 2020, approximately 970 cases were actively pending in the Femur Fracture MDL.
As of June 30, 2020, approximately 2,345 cases alleging Femur Fractures have been filed in New Jersey state court and are pending before Judge James Hyland in Middlesex County. The parties selected an initial group of cases to be reviewed through fact discovery, and Merck has continued to select additional cases to be reviewed.
As of June 30, 2020, approximately 275 cases alleging Femur Fractures have been filed and are pending in California state court. All of the Femur Fracture cases filed in California state court have been coordinated before a single judge in Orange County, California.
Additionally, there are four Femur Fracture cases pending in other state courts.
Discovery is presently stayed in the Femur Fracture MDL and in the state court in California. Merck intends to defend against these lawsuits.
Januvia/Janumet
As previously disclosed, Merck is a defendant in product liability lawsuits in the United States involving Januvia and/or Janumet. As of June 30, 2020, Merck is aware of approximately 1,440 product users alleging that Januvia and/or Janumet caused the development of pancreatic cancer and other injuries.
Most claims have been filed in multidistrict litigation before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California (MDL). Outside of the MDL, the majority of claims have been filed in coordinated proceedings before the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (California State Court).
In November 2015, the MDL and California State Court–in separate opinions–granted summary judgment to defendants on grounds of federal preemption.
Plaintiffs appealed in both forums. In November 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated the judgment and remanded for further discovery. In November 2018, the California state appellate court reversed and remanded on similar grounds. In March 2019, the parties in the MDL and the California coordinated proceedings agreed to coordinate and adopt a schedule for completing discovery on general causation and preemption issues and for renewing summary judgment and Daubert motions. Under the stipulated case management schedule, the hearings for Daubert and summary judgment motions are expected to take place in the second half of 2020.
As of June 30, 2020, six product users have claims pending against Merck in state courts other than California, including Illinois. In June 2017, the Illinois trial court denied Merck’s motion for summary judgment based on federal preemption. Merck appealed, and the Illinois appellate court affirmed in December 2018. Merck filed a petition for leave to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court in February 2019. In April 2019, the Illinois Supreme Court stayed consideration of the pending petition to appeal until the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. v. Albrecht (relating to the Fosamax matter discussed above). Merck filed the opinion in Albrecht with the Illinois Supreme Court in June 2019. The petition for leave to appeal was decided in September 2019, in which the Illinois Supreme Court directed the intermediate appellate court to reconsider its earlier ruling. The Illinois Appellate Court issued a favorable decision concluding, consistent with Albrecht, that preemption presents a legal question to be resolved by the court.
In addition to the claims noted above, the Company has agreed to toll the statute of limitations for approximately 50 additional claims. The Company intends to continue defending against these lawsuits.

- 21 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

Vioxx
As previously disclosed, Merck is a defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Attorney General of Utah alleging that Merck misrepresented the safety of Vioxx. The lawsuit is pending in Utah state court. Utah seeks damages and penalties under the Utah False Claims Act. A bench trial in this matter has been rescheduled for April 6, 2021.
Governmental Proceedings
On June 17, 2020, Merck received a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) from the U.S. Department of Justice. The CID requests answers to interrogatories, as well as various documents, regarding temperature excursions at a third-party storage facility containing certain Merck products. Merck is cooperating with the government’s investigation and intends to produce information and/or documents as necessary in response to the CID.
As previously disclosed, the Company’s subsidiaries in China have received and may continue to receive inquiries regarding their operations from various Chinese governmental agencies. Some of these inquiries may be related to matters involving other multinational pharmaceutical companies, as well as Chinese entities doing business with such companies. The Company’s policy is to cooperate with these authorities and to provide responses as appropriate.
As previously disclosed, from time to time, the Company receives inquiries and is the subject of preliminary investigation activities from competition and other governmental authorities in markets outside the United States. These authorities may include regulators, administrative authorities, and law enforcement and other similar officials, and these preliminary investigation activities may include site visits, formal or informal requests or demands for documents or materials, inquiries or interviews and similar matters. Certain of these preliminary inquiries or activities may lead to the commencement of formal proceedings. Should those proceedings be determined adversely to the Company, monetary fines and/or remedial undertakings may be required.
Commercial and Other Litigation
Zetia Antitrust Litigation
As previously disclosed, Merck, MSD, Schering Corporation and MSP Singapore Company LLC (collectively, the Merck Defendants) are defendants in putative class action and opt-out lawsuits filed in 2018 on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of Zetia alleging violations of federal and state antitrust laws, as well as other state statutory and common law causes of action. The cases have been consolidated for pretrial purposes in a federal multidistrict litigation before Judge Rebecca Beach Smith in the Eastern District of Virginia. In December 2018, the court denied the Merck Defendants’ motions to dismiss or stay the direct purchaser putative class actions pending bilateral arbitration. In August 2019, the district court adopted in full the report and recommendation of the magistrate judge with respect to the Merck Defendants’ motions to dismiss on non-arbitration issues, thereby granting in part and denying in part Merck Defendants’ motions to dismiss. In addition, in June 2019, the representatives of the putative direct purchaser class filed an amended complaint, and in August 2019, retailer opt-out plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. The Merck Defendants moved to dismiss the new allegations in both complaints. In October 2019, the magistrate judge issued a report and recommendation recommending that the district judge grant the motions in their entirety. In December 2019, the district court adopted this report and recommendation in part. The district court granted the Merck Defendants’ motion to dismiss to the extent the motion sought dismissal of claims for overcharges paid by entities that purchased generic ezetimibe from Par Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Par Pharmaceutical) and dismissed any claims for such overcharges. In November 2019, the direct purchaser plaintiffs and the indirect purchaser plaintiffs filed motions for class certification. On June 18, 2020, the magistrate judge issued a report and recommendation recommending that the district judge grant in part the direct purchasers’ motion for class certification and certify a class of 35 direct purchasers. On July 2, 2020, defendants objected to the report and recommendation. The indirect purchasers’ class certification motion is still pending before the magistrate judge. Trial in this matter has been rescheduled to begin on February 23, 2021.
Patent Litigation
From time to time, generic manufacturers of pharmaceutical products file abbreviated New Drug Applications (NDAs) with the FDA seeking to market generic forms of the Company’s products prior to the expiration of relevant patents owned by the Company. To protect its patent rights, the Company may file patent infringement lawsuits against such generic companies. Similar lawsuits defending the Company’s patent rights may exist in other countries. The Company intends to vigorously defend its patents, which it believes are valid, against infringement by companies attempting to market products prior to the expiration of such patents. As with any litigation, there can be no assurance of the outcomes, which, if adverse, could result in significantly shortened periods of exclusivity for these products and, with respect to products acquired through acquisitions, potentially significant intangible asset impairment charges.
Bridion Between January and March 2020, the Company received multiple Paragraph IV Certification Letters under the Hatch-Waxman Act notifying the Company that generic drug companies have filed applications to the FDA seeking pre-patent expiry approval to sell generic versions of Bridion (sugammadex) Injection. In March and April 2020, the Company filed patent

- 22 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

infringement lawsuits in the U.S. District Courts for the District of New Jersey and the Northern District of West Virginia against those generic companies. These lawsuits, which assert one or more patents covering sugammadex and methods of using sugammadex, automatically stay FDA approval of the generic applications until June 2023 or until adverse court decisions, if any, whichever may occur earlier. No schedule for the cases has been set by the courts.
Januvia, Janumet, Janumet XR — In February 2019, Par Pharmaceutical filed suit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, seeking a declaratory judgment of invalidity of a patent owned by the Company covering certain salt and polymorphic forms of sitagliptin that expires in 2026. In response, the Company filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against Par Pharmaceutical and additional companies that also indicated an intent to market generic versions of Januvia, Janumet, and Janumet XR following expiration of key patent protection in 2022, but prior to the expiration of the later-granted patent owned by the Company covering certain salt and polymorphic forms of sitagliptin that expires in 2026, and a later granted patent owned by the Company covering the Janumet formulation which expires in 2028. Par Pharmaceutical dismissed its case in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against the Company and will litigate the action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The Company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Mylan Inc. (Mylan) in the Northern District of West Virginia. The Judicial Panel of Multidistrict Litigation entered an order transferring the Company’s lawsuit against Mylan to the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware for coordinated and consolidated pretrial proceedings with the other cases pending in that district. The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware has scheduled the lawsuits for a single 3-day trial on invalidity issues in October 2021. The Court will schedule separate 1-day trials on infringement issues if necessary. In the Company’s case against Mylan, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia has conditionally scheduled a three-day trial in December 2021 on all issues. In February 2020, the Company amended its complaint against one defendant, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., to add patent infringement claims related to a patent that expires in 2025 and covers certain processes for manufacturing sitagliptin.
The Company has settled with five generic companies such that these generic companies can bring their products to the market in November 2026 or earlier under certain circumstances.
In October 2019, Mylan filed a petition for Inter Partes Review (IPR) at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) seeking invalidity of some, but not all, of the claims of the 2026 patent. The USPTO instituted IPR proceedings in May 2020, finding a reasonable likelihood that the challenged claims are not valid. A trial is scheduled for February 2021 and a final decision is expected in May 2021. After institution, three additional IPR petitions were filed by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Inc., and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., as well as related entities, which requested joinder with Mylan’s IPR proceedings. If the challenges are successful, the unchallenged claims of the 2026 patent will remain valid, subject to the Court proceedings described above.
In Germany, a generic company has sought the revocation of the Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) for Janumet. If the generic company is successful, Janumet could lose market exclusivity in Germany as early as July 2022. It is possible that challenges to the Janumet SPC could occur in other European countries.
Other Litigation
There are various other pending legal proceedings involving the Company, principally product liability and intellectual property lawsuits. While it is not feasible to predict the outcome of such proceedings, in the opinion of the Company, either the likelihood of loss is remote or any reasonably possible loss associated with the resolution of such proceedings is not expected to be material to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows either individually or in the aggregate.
Legal Defense Reserves
Legal defense costs expected to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency are accrued when probable and reasonably estimable. Some of the significant factors considered in the review of these legal defense reserves are as follows: the actual costs incurred by the Company; the development of the Company’s legal defense strategy and structure in light of the scope of its litigation; the number of cases being brought against the Company; the costs and outcomes of completed trials and the most current information regarding anticipated timing, progression, and related costs of pre-trial activities and trials in the associated litigation. The amount of legal defense reserves as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 of approximately $265 million and $240 million, respectively, represents the Company’s best estimate of the minimum amount of defense costs to be incurred in connection with its outstanding litigation; however, events such as additional trials and other events that could arise in the course of its litigation could affect the ultimate amount of legal defense costs to be incurred by the Company. The Company will continue to monitor its legal defense costs and review the adequacy of the associated reserves and may determine to increase the reserves at any time in the future if, based upon the factors set forth, it believes it would be appropriate to do so.


- 23 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

9.
Equity
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
  
Common Stock
Other
Paid-In
Capital
Retained
Earnings
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Treasury Stock
Non-
controlling
Interests
Total
($ and shares in millions except per share amounts)
Shares
Par Value
Shares
Cost
Balance at April 1, 2019
3,577

$
1,788

$
38,768

$
44,065

$
(5,346
)
994

$
(51,736
)
$
131

$
27,670

Net income attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.



2,670





2,670

Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes




(16
)



(16
)
Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.55 per share)



(1,440
)




(1,440
)
Treasury stock shares purchased


1,000



24

(2,235
)

(1,235
)
Share-based compensation plans and other


(284
)


(8
)
401


117

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests







(26
)
(26
)
Other changes in noncontrolling interests







(3
)
(3
)
Balance at June 30, 2019
3,577

$
1,788

$
39,484

$
45,295

$
(5,362
)
1,010

$
(53,570
)
$
102

$
27,737

Balance at April 1, 2020
3,577

$
1,788

$
39,697

$
48,272

$
(6,391
)
1,053

$
(57,161
)
$
95

$
26,300

Net income attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.



3,002





3,002

Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes




(2
)



(2
)
Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.61 per share)



(1,550
)




(1,550
)
Share-based compensation plans and other


(324
)


(5
)
311


(13
)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests







8

8

Distributions attributable to noncontrolling interests







(1
)
(1
)
Balance at June 30, 2020
3,577

$
1,788

$
39,373

$
49,724

$
(6,393
)
1,048

$
(56,850
)
$
102

$
27,744

 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
  
Common Stock
Other
Paid-In
Capital
Retained
Earnings
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Treasury Stock
Non-
controlling
Interests
Total
($ and shares in millions except per share amounts)
Shares
Par Value
Shares
Cost
Balance at January 1, 2019
3,577

$
1,788

$
38,808

$
42,579

$
(5,545
)
985

$
(50,929
)
$
181

$
26,882

Net income attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.



5,585





5,585

Other comprehensive income, net of taxes




183




183

Cash dividends declared on common stock ($1.10 per share)



(2,869
)




(2,869
)
Treasury stock shares purchased


1,000



38

(3,325
)

(2,325
)
Share-based compensation plans and other


(324
)


(13
)
684


360

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests







(79
)
(79
)
Balance at June 30, 2019
3,577

$
1,788

$
39,484

$
45,295

$
(5,362
)
1,010

$
(53,570
)
$
102

$
27,737

Balance at January 1, 2020
3,577

$
1,788

$
39,660

$
46,602

$
(6,193
)
1,038

$
(55,950
)
$
94

$
26,001

Net income attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.



6,221





6,221

Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes




(200
)



(200
)
Cash dividends declared on common stock ($1.22 per share)



(3,099
)




(3,099
)
Treasury stock shares purchased





16

(1,281
)

(1,281
)
Share-based compensation plans and other


(287
)


(6
)
381


94

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests







8

8

Balance at June 30, 2020
3,577

$
1,788

$
39,373

$
49,724

$
(6,393
)
1,048

$
(56,850
)
$
102

$
27,744


10.
Share-Based Compensation Plans
The Company has share-based compensation plans under which the Company grants restricted stock units (RSUs) and performance share units (PSUs) to certain management level employees. In addition, employees and non-employee directors may be granted options to purchase shares of Company common stock at the fair market value at the time of grant.

- 24 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

The following table provides the amounts of share-based compensation cost recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income:
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Pretax share-based compensation expense
$
121

 
$
111

 
$
229

 
$
204

Income tax benefit
(16
)
 
(15
)
 
(31
)
 
(28
)
Total share-based compensation expense, net of taxes
$
105

 
$
96

 
$
198

 
$
176


During the first six months of 2020, the Company granted 6 million RSUs with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $77.74 per RSU and during the first six months of 2019 granted 6 million RSUs with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $76.31 per RSU. During the first six months of 2020, the Company granted 773 thousand PSUs with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $75.22 per PSU and during the first six months of 2019 granted 609 thousand PSUs with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $90.50 per PSU.
During the first six months of 2020, the Company granted 4 million stock options with a weighted-average exercise price of $77.67 per option and during the first six months of 2019 granted 3 million stock options with a weighted-average exercise price of $80.00 per option. The weighted-average fair value of options granted during the first six months of 2020 and 2019 was $9.93 and $10.63 per option, respectively, and was determined using the following assumptions:
  
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
Expected dividend yield
3.1
%
 
3.2
%
Risk-free interest rate
0.4
%
 
2.4
%
Expected volatility
22.1
%
 
18.7
%
Expected life (years)
5.8

 
5.9


At June 30, 2020, there was $908 million of total pretax unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested stock options, RSU and PSU awards which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.2 years. For segment reporting, share-based compensation costs are unallocated expenses.
11.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
The Company has defined benefit pension plans covering eligible employees in the United States and in certain of its international subsidiaries. The net periodic benefit cost of such plans consisted of the following components: 
  
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
($ in millions)
U.S.
 
International
 
U.S.
 
International
 
U.S.
 
International
 
U.S.
 
International
Service cost
$
88

 
$
74

 
$
74

 
$
60

 
$
175

 
$
148

 
$
144

 
$
120

Interest cost
109

 
33

 
113

 
44

 
217

 
68

 
228

 
89

Expected return on plan assets
(195
)
 
(101
)
 
(205
)
 
(107
)
 
(388
)
 
(205
)
 
(411
)
 
(214
)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit
(12
)
 
(3
)
 
(12
)
 
(3
)
 
(25
)
 
(6
)
 
(25
)
 
(6
)
Net loss amortization
76

 
31

 
35

 
16

 
152

 
62

 
70

 
31

Termination benefits
1

 

 
3

 
1

 
4

 
1

 
5

 
1

Curtailments

 

 

 

 
2

 
(1
)
 
1

 

Settlements
9

 
2

 

 

 
9

 
2

 

 

 
$
76


$
36


$
8


$
11

 
$
146

 
$
69

 
$
12

 
$
21

The Company now anticipates contributing approximately $220 million to its U.S. pension plans in 2020, of which $170 million was contributed in the first half of the year.

- 25 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

The Company provides medical benefits, principally to its eligible U.S. retirees and similar benefits to their dependents, through its other postretirement benefit plans. The net credit of such plans consisted of the following components: 
  
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Service cost
$
13

 
$
12

 
$
26

 
$
24

Interest cost
14

 
18

 
29

 
35

Expected return on plan assets
(19
)
 
(18
)
 
(37
)
 
(36
)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit
(22
)
 
(21
)
 
(45
)
 
(43
)
Curtailments

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
$
(14
)
 
$
(10
)
 
$
(28
)
 
$
(21
)

In connection with restructuring actions (see Note 4), termination charges were recorded on pension plans related to expanded eligibility for certain employees exiting Merck. Also, in connection with these restructuring actions, curtailments were recorded on pension and other postretirement benefit plans and settlements were recorded on certain U.S. and international pension plans as reflected in the tables above.
The components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) other than the service cost component are included in Other (income) expense, net (see Note 12), with the exception of certain amounts for termination benefits, curtailments and settlements, which are recorded in Restructuring costs if the event giving rise to the termination benefits, curtailment or settlement is related to restructuring actions as noted above.
12.
Other (Income) Expense, Net
Other (income) expense, net, consisted of: 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Interest income
$
(14
)
 
$
(75
)
 
$
(39
)
 
$
(164
)
Interest expense
209

 
233

 
421

 
442

Exchange losses
24

 
27

 
78

 
128

Income from investments in equity securities, net (1)
(551
)
 
(58
)
 
(603
)
 
(32
)
Net periodic defined benefit plan (credit) cost other than service cost
(80
)
 
(140
)
 
(170
)
 
(281
)
Other, net
22

 
153

 
(5
)
 
234

 
$
(390
)
 
$
140

 
$
(318
)
 
$
327


(1) 
Includes net realized and unrealized gains and losses from investments in equity securities either owned directly or through ownership interests in investment funds. Unrealized gains and losses from investments that are directly owned are determined at the end of the reporting period, while ownership interests in investment funds are accounted for on a one quarter lag. The Company estimates that gains of approximately $300 million will be recognized in the third quarter of 2020 from ownership interests in investment funds.
The decline in interest income in the second quarter and first six months of 2020 reflects lower investments and lower interest rates. The lower exchange losses in the first six months of 2020 reflect losses on forward exchange contracts in 2019 related to the acquisition of Antelliq. The increase in income from investments in equity securities, net, in both the second quarter and first six months of 2020 was driven primarily by the recognition of unrealized gains on certain investments, most of which relate to Moderna, Inc., as well as NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Other, net (as reflected in the table above) in the second quarter and first six months of 2019 includes $78 million and $162 million, respectively, of goodwill impairment charges related to certain businesses in the Healthcare Services segment.
Interest paid for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 was $387 million and $356 million, respectively.
13.
Taxes on Income
The effective income tax rates of 14.5% and 18.9% for the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively, and 15.3% and 13.0% for the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively, reflect the impacts of acquisition and divestiture-related costs and restructuring costs, partially offset by the beneficial impact of foreign earnings. In addition, the effective income tax rate for the first six months of 2019 reflects the favorable impact of a $360 million net tax benefit related to the settlement of certain federal income tax matters.

- 26 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

In the first quarter of 2019, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) concluded its examinations of Merck’s 2012-2014 U.S. federal income tax returns. As a result, the Company was required to make a payment of $107 million. The Company’s reserves for unrecognized tax benefits for the years under examination exceeded the adjustments relating to this examination period and therefore the Company recorded a $360 million net tax benefit in the first six months of 2019. This net benefit reflects reductions in reserves for unrecognized tax benefits for tax positions relating to the years that were under examination, partially offset by additional reserves for tax positions not previously reserved for.
14.
Earnings Per Share
The calculations of earnings per share are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
($ and shares in millions except per share amounts)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Net income attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.
$
3,002

 
$
2,670

 
$
6,221

 
$
5,585

Average common shares outstanding
2,527

 
2,574

 
2,531

 
2,579

Common shares issuable (1)
9

 
14

 
11

 
17

Average common shares outstanding assuming dilution
2,536

 
2,588

 
2,542

 
2,596

Basic earnings per common share attributable to Merck & Co., Inc. common shareholders
$
1.19

 
$
1.04

 
$
2.46

 
$
2.17

Earnings per common share assuming dilution attributable to Merck & Co., Inc. common shareholders
$
1.18

 
$
1.03

 
$
2.45

 
$
2.15

(1) 
Issuable primarily under share-based compensation plans.
For the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, 8 million and 3 million, respectively, and for both the first six months of 2020 and 2019, 4 million of common shares issuable under share-based compensation plans were excluded from the computation of earnings per common share assuming dilution because the effect would have been antidilutive.
15.
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Changes in AOCI by component are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
($ in millions)
Derivatives
 
Investments
 
Employee
Benefit
Plans
 
Cumulative
Translation
Adjustment
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Balance April 1, 2019, net of taxes
$
118

 
$
4

 
$
(3,541
)
 
$
(1,927
)
 
$
(5,346
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments, pretax
10

 
55

 

 
(25
)
 
40

Tax
(2
)
 

 

 
6

 
4

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments, net of taxes
8

 
55

 

 
(19
)
 
44

Reclassification adjustments, pretax
(76
)
(1) 
(11
)
(2) 
14

(3) 

 
(73
)
Tax
16

 

 
(3
)
 

 
13

Reclassification adjustments, net of taxes
(60
)

(11
)

11



 
(60
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes
(52
)
 
44

 
11

 
(19
)
 
(16
)
Balance June 30, 2019, net of taxes
$
66

 
$
48

 
$
(3,530
)
 
$
(1,946
)
 
$
(5,362
)
Balance April 1, 2020, net of taxes
$
135

 
$

 
$
(4,201
)
 
$
(2,325
)
 
$
(6,391
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments, pretax
(110
)
 

 
(21
)
 
63

 
(68
)
Tax
23

 

 
6

 
16

 
45

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments, net of taxes
(87
)
 

 
(15
)
 
79

 
(23
)
Reclassification adjustments, pretax
(42
)
(1) 

 
69

(3) 

 
27

Tax
9

 

 
(15
)
 

 
(6
)
Reclassification adjustments, net of taxes
(33
)



54



 
21

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes
(120
)
 

 
39

 
79

 
(2
)
Balance June 30, 2020, net of taxes
$
15


$


$
(4,162
)

$
(2,246
)

$
(6,393
)


- 27 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 
Six Months Ended June 30,
($ in millions)
Derivatives
 
Investments
 
Employee
Benefit
Plans
 
Cumulative
Translation
Adjustment
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Balance January 1, 2019, net of taxes
$
166

 
$
(78
)
 
$
(3,556
)
 
$
(2,077
)
 
$
(5,545
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments, pretax
(3
)
 
131

 
(1
)
 
131

 
258

Tax
1

 

 
6

 

 
7

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments, net of taxes
(2
)
 
131

 
5

 
131

 
265

Reclassification adjustments, pretax
(124
)
(1) 
(5
)
(2) 
28

(3) 

 
(101
)
Tax
26

 

 
(7
)
 

 
19

Reclassification adjustments, net of taxes
(98
)
 
(5
)
 
21

 

 
(82
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes
(100
)
 
126

 
26

 
131

 
183

Balance June 30, 2019, net of taxes
$
66


$
48


$
(3,530
)

$
(1,946
)

$
(5,362
)
Balance January 1, 2020, net of taxes
$
31

 
$
18

 
$
(4,261
)
 
$
(1,981
)
 
$
(6,193
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments, pretax
68

 
3

 
(21
)
 
(270
)
 
(220
)
Tax
(14
)
 

 
11

 
5

 
2

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments, net of taxes
54

 
3

 
(10
)
 
(265
)
 
(218
)
Reclassification adjustments, pretax
(89
)
(1) 
(21
)
(2) 
138

(3) 

 
28

Tax
19

 

 
(29
)
 

 
(10
)
Reclassification adjustments, net of taxes
(70
)
 
(21
)
 
109

 

 
18

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes
(16
)
 
(18
)
 
99

 
(265
)
 
(200
)
Balance June 30, 2020, net of taxes
$
15


$


$
(4,162
)

$
(2,246
)

$
(6,393
)

(1) 
Relates to foreign currency cash flow hedges that were reclassified from AOCI to Sales.
(2) Represents net realized (gains) losses on the sales of available-for-sale debt securities that were reclassified from AOCI to Other (income) expense, net.
(3) Includes net amortization of prior service cost and actuarial gains and losses included in net periodic benefit cost (see Note 11).
16.
Segment Reporting
The Company’s operations are principally managed on a products basis and include three operating segments, which are the Pharmaceutical, Animal Health and Healthcare Services segments. The Pharmaceutical and Animal Health segments are the only reportable segments.
The Pharmaceutical segment includes human health pharmaceutical and vaccine products. Human health pharmaceutical products consist of therapeutic and preventive agents, generally sold by prescription, for the treatment of human disorders. The Company sells these human health pharmaceutical products primarily to drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, government agencies and managed health care providers such as health maintenance organizations, pharmacy benefit managers and other institutions. Human health vaccine products consist of preventive pediatric, adolescent and adult vaccines, primarily administered at physician offices. The Company sells these human health vaccines primarily to physicians, wholesalers, physician distributors and government entities. A large component of pediatric and adolescent vaccine sales are made to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccines for Children program, which is funded by the U.S. government. Additionally, the Company sells vaccines to the Federal government for placement into vaccine stockpiles.
The Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of veterinary pharmaceutical and vaccine products, as well as health management solutions and services, for the prevention, treatment and control of disease in all major livestock and companion animal species. The Company also offers an extensive suite of digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products. The Company sells its products to veterinarians, distributors and animal producers.
The Healthcare Services segment provided services and solutions that focus on engagement, health analytics and clinical services to improve the value of care delivered to patients. The Company has been in the process of divesting the businesses in the Healthcare Services segment. The remaining businesses were divested during the first quarter of 2020.


- 28 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

Sales of the Company’s products were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
 ($ in millions)
U.S.
 
Int’l
 
Total
 
U.S.
 
Int’l
 
Total
 
U.S.
 
Int’l
 
Total
 
U.S.
 
Int’l
 
Total
Pharmaceutical:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oncology
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Keytruda
$
2,043

 
$
1,345

 
$
3,388

 
$
1,498

 
$
1,136

 
$
2,634

 
$
3,949

 
$
2,722

 
$
6,672

 
$
2,782

 
$
2,121

 
$
4,903

Alliance revenue - Lynparza (1)
105

 
73

 
178

 
66

 
45

 
111

 
190

 
133

 
323

 
116

 
74

 
190

Alliance revenue - Lenvima (1)
98

 
53

 
151

 
54

 
43

 
97

 
188

 
91

 
279

 
104

 
67

 
171

Emend
6

 
27

 
33

 
67

 
54

 
121

 
11

 
65

 
76

 
130

 
107

 
237

Vaccines
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gardasil/Gardasil 9
168

 
488

 
656

 
456

 
430

 
886

 
629

 
1,124

 
1,753

 
818

 
906

 
1,724

ProQuad/M-M-R II/Varivax
263

 
115

 
378

 
500

 
174

 
675

 
596

 
217

 
813

 
843

 
328

 
1,171

RotaTeq
100

 
68

 
168

 
104

 
68

 
172

 
241

 
150

 
391

 
258

 
125

 
383

Pneumovax 23
21

 
96

 
117

 
123

 
47

 
170

 
203

 
170

 
373

 
248

 
107

 
355

Vaqta
17

 
11

 
28

 
38

 
20

 
58

 
47

 
41

 
88

 
67

 
39

 
105

Hospital Acute Care
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bridion
107

 
117

 
224

 
129

 
149

 
278

 
250

 
274

 
524

 
248

 
285

 
533

Noxafil
6

 
67

 
73

 
100

 
93

 
193

 
14

 
154

 
168

 
191

 
192

 
383

Prevymis
28

 
35

 
63

 
19

 
18

 
38

 
55

 
68

 
123

 
37

 
33

 
70

Primaxin
1

 
63

 
64

 

 
70

 
71

 
1

 
114

 
115

 
1

 
129

 
130

Invanz

 
43

 
43

 
18

 
60

 
78

 
6

 
102

 
108

 
31

 
118

 
150

Cancidas
(2
)
 
45

 
43

 
3

 
64

 
67

 
1

 
98

 
98

 
4

 
125

 
129

Cubicin
10

 
21

 
32

 
22

 
45

 
67

 
25

 
53

 
78

 
64

 
91

 
155

Zerbaxa
17

 
15

 
32

 
13

 
14

 
27

 
37

 
32

 
69

 
25

 
28

 
53

Immunology
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Simponi

 
191

 
191

 

 
214

 
214

 

 
406

 
406

 

 
422

 
422

Remicade

 
73

 
73

 

 
98

 
98

 

 
160

 
160

 

 
221

 
221

Neuroscience
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Belsomra
22

 
61

 
84

 
21

 
55

 
76

 
49

 
114

 
163

 
45

 
98

 
143

Virology
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isentress/Isentress HD
76

 
120

 
196

 
94

 
153

 
247

 
151

 
290

 
441

 
202

 
300

 
502

Zepatier
15

 
24

 
39

 
39

 
68

 
108

 
33

 
62

 
94

 
72

 
149

 
221

Cardiovascular
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Zetia
(1
)
 
138

 
137

 
6

 
150

 
156

 
(4
)
 
285

 
282

 
6

 
290

 
296

Vytorin
2

 
37

 
39

 
3

 
73

 
76

 
5

 
86

 
92

 
6

 
167

 
174

Atozet

 
115

 
115

 

 
92

 
92

 

 
238

 
238

 

 
186

 
186

Alliance revenue - Adempas (2)
73

 
6

 
79

 
49

 
2

 
51

 
122

 
11

 
133

 
89

 
5

 
94

Adempas

 
57

 
57

 

 
53

 
53

 

 
113

 
113

 

 
100

 
100

Diabetes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Januvia
413

 
441

 
854

 
471

 
437

 
908

 
768

 
860

 
1,628

 
855

 
877

 
1,732

Janumet
143

 
348

 
490

 
166

 
366

 
533

 
256

 
737

 
993

 
333

 
730

 
1,063

Women’s Health
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Implanon/Nexplanon
87

 
44

 
132

 
136

 
48

 
183

 
237

 
90

 
326

 
285

 
98

 
382

NuvaRing
35

 
28

 
63

 
206

 
34

 
240

 
61

 
65

 
126

 
391

 
68

 
459

Diversified Brands
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Singulair
4

 
96

 
100

 
8

 
153

 
160

 
9

 
246

 
255

 
13

 
338

 
352

Cozaar/Hyzaar
4

 
94

 
98

 
6

 
103

 
109

 
12

 
189

 
200

 
10

 
202

 
213

Arcoxia

 
65

 
65

 

 
75

 
75

 

 
135

 
135

 

 
149

 
149

Nasonex
4

 
45

 
49

 
(1
)
 
73

 
72

 
10

 
110

 
120

 
(2
)
 
170

 
168

Follistim AQ
20

 
24

 
44

 
24

 
39

 
63

 
40

 
45

 
85

 
53

 
67

 
121

Other pharmaceutical (3)
385

 
720

 
1,103

 
369

 
837

 
1,203

 
792

 
1,500

 
2,293

 
697

 
1,589

 
2,283

Total Pharmaceutical segment sales
4,270


5,409


9,679


4,807


5,653


10,460


8,984


11,350


20,334


9,022


11,101


20,123

Animal Health:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Livestock
122

 
526

 
648

 
145

 
526

 
671

 
284

 
1,102

 
1,386

 
261

 
1,021

 
1,282

Companion Animals
220

 
233

 
453

 
190

 
263

 
453

 
442

 
486

 
928

 
367

 
500

 
867

Total Animal Health segment sales
342


759


1,101


335


789


1,124


726


1,588


2,314


628


1,521


2,149

Other segment sales (4)

 

 

 
47

 

 
48

 
23

 

 
23

 
86

 

 
87

Total segment sales
4,612


6,168


10,780


5,189


6,442


11,632


9,733


12,938


22,671


9,736


12,622


22,359

Other (5)
22

 
70

 
92

 
4

 
125

 
128

 
38

 
220

 
258

 
12

 
206

 
216

 
$
4,634

 
$
6,238

 
$
10,872

 
$
5,193

 
$
6,567

 
$
11,760

 
$
9,771

 
$
13,158

 
$
22,929

 
$
9,748

 
$
12,828

 
$
22,575

U.S. plus international may not equal total due to rounding.
(1) 
Alliance revenue represents Merck’s share of profits, which are product sales net of cost of sales and commercialization costs (see Note 3).
(2) 
Alliance revenue represents Merck’s share of profits from sales in Bayer’s marketing territories, which are product sales net of cost of sales and commercialization costs (see Note 3).
(3) 
Other pharmaceutical primarily reflects sales of other human health pharmaceutical products, including products within the franchises not listed separately.
(4) 
Represents sales for the Healthcare Services segment. All the businesses in the Healthcare Services segment were divested as of March 31, 2020.
(5) 
Other is primarily comprised of miscellaneous corporate revenues, including revenue hedging activities, as well as third-party manufacturing sales. Other in the first six months of 2020 and 2019 also includes approximately $85 million and $15 million, respectively, related to the sale of the marketing rights for certain products.

- 29 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

Product sales are recorded net of the provision for discounts, including chargebacks, which are customer discounts that occur when a contracted customer purchases through an intermediary wholesale purchaser, and rebates that are owed based upon definitive contractual agreements or legal requirements with private sector and public sector (Medicaid and Medicare Part D) benefit providers, after the final dispensing of the product by a pharmacy to a benefit plan participant. These discounts, in the aggregate, reduced U.S. sales by $3.0 billion and $2.9 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $6.2 billion and $5.5 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Consolidated sales by geographic area where derived are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
United States
$
4,634

 
$
5,193

 
$
9,771

 
$
9,748

Europe, Middle East and Africa
3,071

 
3,163

 
6,605

 
6,265

China
834

 
763

 
1,699

 
1,509

Japan
867

 
921

 
1,678

 
1,720

Asia Pacific (other than China and Japan)
666

 
716

 
1,394

 
1,461

Latin America
510

 
658

 
1,066

 
1,219

Other
290

 
346

 
716

 
653

 
$
10,872


$
11,760


$
22,929


$
22,575


A reconciliation of segment profits to Income before taxes is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Segment profits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pharmaceutical segment
$
6,560

 
$
7,115

 
$
14,036

 
$
13,690

Animal Health segment
407

 
405

 
885

 
820

Other segment

 
(2
)
 
2

 

Total segment profits
6,967

 
7,518

 
14,923

 
14,510

Other profits
61

 
94

 
200

 
124

Unallocated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
14

 
75

 
39

 
164

Interest expense
(209
)
 
(233
)
 
(421
)
 
(442
)
Depreciation and amortization
(390
)
 
(427
)
 
(772
)
 
(786
)
Research and development
(1,994
)
 
(2,093
)
 
(4,092
)
 
(3,935
)
Amortization of purchase accounting adjustments
(299
)
 
(378
)
 
(594
)
 
(775
)
Restructuring costs
(83
)
 
(59
)
 
(155
)
 
(212
)
Other unallocated, net
(548
)
 
(1,238
)
 
(1,771
)
 
(2,322
)
 
$
3,519

 
$
3,259

 
$
7,357

 
$
6,326


Pharmaceutical segment profits are comprised of segment sales less standard costs, as well as selling, general and administrative expenses directly incurred by the segment. Animal Health segment profits are comprised of segment sales, less all cost of sales, as well as selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development costs directly incurred by the segment. For internal management reporting presented to the chief operating decision maker, Merck does not allocate the remaining cost of sales not included in segment profits as described above, research and development expenses incurred in Merck Research Laboratories, the Company’s research and development division that focuses on human health-related activities, or general and administrative expenses, nor the cost of financing these activities. Separate divisions maintain responsibility for monitoring and managing these costs, including depreciation related to fixed assets utilized by these divisions and, therefore, they are not included in segment profits. In addition, costs related to restructuring activities, as well as the amortization of purchase accounting adjustments are not allocated to segments.
Other profits are primarily comprised of miscellaneous corporate profits, as well as operating profits related to third-party manufacturing sales.
Other unallocated, net, includes expenses from corporate and manufacturing cost centers, goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges, gains or losses on sales of businesses, expense or income related to changes in the estimated fair value measurement of liabilities for contingent consideration, and other miscellaneous income or expense items.

- 30 -

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Planned Spin-Off of Women’s Health, Legacy Brands and Biosimilars into New Company
In February 2020, Merck announced its intention to spin-off products from its women’s health, legacy brands and biosimilars businesses into a new, independent, publicly traded company named Organon & Co. (Organon) through a distribution of Organon’s publicly traded stock to Company shareholders. The distribution is expected to qualify as tax-free to the Company and its shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The legacy brands included in the transaction consist of dermatology, non-opioid pain, respiratory, and select cardiovascular products including Zetia (ezetimibe) and Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin), as well as the rest of Merck’s diversified brands franchise. Merck’s existing research pipeline programs will continue to be owned and developed within Merck as planned. Organon will have development capabilities initially focused on late-stage development and life-cycle management and is expected over time to develop research capabilities in selected therapeutic areas. The spin-off is expected to be completed in the first half of 2021, subject to market and certain other conditions. Subsequent to the spin-off, the historical results of the women’s health, legacy brands and biosimilars businesses will be reflected as discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Recent Developments
Business Developments
Below is a summary of significant business development activity in the first six months of 2020. See Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.
In July 2020, Merck acquired the U.S. rights to Sentinel Flavor Tabs and Sentinel Spectrum Chews from Virbac Corporation for approximately $400 million. Sentinel products provide protection against common parasites in dogs.
Also, in July 2020, Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP (Ridgeback Bio), a closely held biotechnology company, closed a collaboration agreement to develop MK-4482 (formerly known as EIDD-2801), an orally available antiviral candidate currently in clinical development for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Merck gained exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize MK-4482 and related molecules. Under the terms of the agreement, Ridgeback Bio received an upfront payment and also is eligible to receive future contingent payments dependent upon the achievement of certain developmental and regulatory approval milestones, as well as a share of the net profits of MK-4482 and related molecules, if approved.
In June 2020, Merck acquired privately held Themis Bioscience GmbH (Themis), a company focused on vaccines and immune-modulation therapies for infectious diseases and cancer for $366 million in cash. Merck may make additional contingent payments dependent upon the achievement of certain developmental, regulatory approval and commercial milestones. The acquisition builds upon an ongoing collaboration between the two companies to develop vaccine candidates using the measles virus vector platform and is expected to accelerate the development of Themis’ COVID-19 vaccine candidate (V591).
In May 2020, Merck and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges, announced a new collaboration to develop V590, an investigational vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 being studied for the prevention of COVID-19. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck made an upfront payment of $6.5 million and may make additional contingent payments dependent upon the achievement of certain sales-based milestones, as well as royalties.
In January 2020, Merck acquired ArQule, Inc. (ArQule), a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company focused on kinase inhibitor discovery and development for the treatment of patients with cancer and other diseases, for $2.7 billion. ArQule’s lead investigational candidate, MK-1026 (formerly known as ARQ 531), is a novel, oral Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor currently being evaluated for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Update
Overall, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Merck is focused on protecting the safety of its employees, ensuring that its supply of medicines and vaccines reaches its patients, contributing its scientific expertise to the development of vaccine and antiviral approaches, and supporting health care providers and Merck’s communities. Although COVID-19-related disruptions to patients’ ability to access health care providers negatively affected second quarter results, Merck remains confident in the fundamental underlying demand for its products and its prospects for long-term growth.
In the second quarter of 2020, the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to Merck’s sales was estimated to be $1.6 billion, including approximately $1.5 billion for Pharmaceutical revenue and approximately $100 million for Animal Health revenue. The impact to sales in the first quarter of 2020 was immaterial. For the full-year 2020, Merck expects an unfavorable impact to sales of approximately $1.95 billion (excluding the impact of foreign exchange) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, comprised of approximately $1.8 billion for Pharmaceutical revenue and approximately $150 million for Animal Health revenue. These estimates include the impacts for the first half of the year.

- 31 -




Roughly two-thirds of Merck’s Pharmaceutical revenue is comprised of physician-administered products, which, despite strong underlying demand, were affected by social distancing measures, fewer well visits and delays in elective surgeries due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts, as well as the prioritization of COVID-19 patients at health care providers, have resulted in reduced administration of many of the Company’s human health products, in particular for its vaccines as well as for Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Implanon/Nexplanon (etonogestrel implant). The Company anticipates reduced demand for its physician-administered products while pandemic-related access measures remain in place. In addition, declines in medical visits and elective surgeries also negatively affected the demand for certain products, including Bridion (sugammadex) Injection. In Merck’s Animal Health business, reduced veterinary visits and lower demand for protein and milk due to restaurant and school closures have negatively affected sales.
While the Company expects to rely on governmental authorities to determine when operations can return to normal, and is cognizant that the duration, spread and severity of the outbreak will be critical determinants for the purposes of the full-year estimates provided above, Merck has assumed that the majority of the negative impact occurred in the second quarter of 2020, with a gradual recovery having commenced in the second quarter and extending through the third quarter, with a return to normal operating levels in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Operating expenses were positively affected in the second quarter and first six months of 2020 by approximately $325 million and $425 million, respectively, primarily driven by lower promotional and selling costs, as well as lower research and development expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the full-year 2020, Merck continues to expect a net favorable impact to operating expenses of approximately $400 million including both the favorable impact of lower spending, largely reflected in the first half of 2020, partially offset by anticipated spending on recently initiated COVID-19-related vaccine and antiviral research programs.
Pricing
Global efforts toward health care cost containment continue to exert pressure on product pricing and market access worldwide. In the United States, pricing pressure continues on many of the Company’s products. Changes to the U.S. health care system as part of health care reform, as well as increased purchasing power of entities that negotiate on behalf of Medicare, Medicaid, and private sector beneficiaries, have contributed to pricing pressure. In several international markets, government-mandated pricing actions have reduced prices of generic and patented drugs. In addition, the Company’s revenue performance in the first six months of 2020 was negatively affected by other cost-reduction measures taken by governments and other third-parties to lower health care costs. The Company anticipates all of these actions and additional actions in the future will continue to negatively affect revenue performance.
Operating Results
Sales
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
United States
$
4,634

 
$
5,193

 
(11
)%
 
(11
)%
 
$
9,771

 
$
9,748

 
%
 
%
International
6,238

 
6,567

 
(5
)%
 
 %
 
13,158

 
12,828

 
3
%
 
6
%
Total
$
10,872

 
$
11,760

 
(8
)%
 
(5
)%
 
$
22,929

 
$
22,575

 
2
%
 
4
%
U.S. plus international may not equal total due to rounding.

Worldwide sales were $10.9 billion for the second quarter of 2020, a decline of 8% compared with the second quarter of 2019, reflecting an unfavorable impact from the COVID-19 pandemic as discussed above. The sales decline reflects lower sales of vaccines, including human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines Gardasil (Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent [Types 6,11,16 and 18] Vaccine, Recombinant)/Gardasil 9 (Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant) and lower sales of pediatric vaccines ProQuad (Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella Virus Vaccine Live), M-M-R II (Measles, Mumps and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live) and Varivax (Varicella Virus Vaccine Live). The sales decline was also attributable to the ongoing effects of generic competition for women’s health product NuvaRing (etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring), hospital acute care products Noxafil (posaconazole) and Cubicin (daptomycin for injection), oncology products Emend (aprepitant)/Emend (fosaprepitant dimeglumine) for Injection, cardiovascular products Zetia (ezetimibe) and Vytorin (ezetimibe/simvastatin), as well as products within the diversified brands franchise. The diversified brands franchise includes certain products that are approaching the expiration of their marketing exclusivity or that are no longer protected by patents in developed markets. Lower sales of diabetes products Januvia (sitagliptin) and Janumet (sitagliptin/metformin HCl) and virology product Zepatier (elbasvir and grazoprevir) also contributed to the revenue decline in the quarter. The sales decline was partially offset by higher sales in the oncology franchise reflecting strong growth of Keytruda, as well as increased alliance revenue from Lynparza (olaparib) and Lenvima (lenvatinib).

- 32 -




Global sales were $22.9 billion for the first six months of 2020, growth of 2% compared with the same period of 2019. Sales growth was largely due to higher sales in the oncology franchise and higher sales of animal health products, partially offset by ongoing generic competition for certain brands, and an unfavorable impact from the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in lower demand for certain products.
See Note 16 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for details on sales of the Company’s products. A discussion of performance for select products in the franchises follows.
Pharmaceutical Segment
Oncology
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
Keytruda
$
3,388

 
$
2,634

 
29
 %
 
31
 %
 
$
6,672

 
$
4,903

 
36
 %
 
38
 %
Alliance Revenue - Lynparza (1)
178

 
111

 
61
 %
 
62
 %
 
323

 
190

 
70
 %
 
72
 %
Alliance Revenue - Lenvima (1)
151

 
97

 
57
 %
 
57
 %
 
279

 
171

 
63
 %
 
64
 %
Emend
33

 
121

 
(72
)%
 
(71
)%
 
76

 
237

 
(68
)%
 
(67
)%
(1) Alliance revenue represents Merck’s share of profits, which are product sales net of cost of sales and commercialization costs (see Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements).
Keytruda is an anti-PD-1 (programmed death receptor-1) therapy that has been approved as monotherapy for the treatment of certain patients with cervical cancer, classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), esophageal cancer, gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient cancer, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), and urothelial carcinoma. Keytruda is also approved for the treatment of certain patients in combination with chemotherapy for metastatic squamous and nonsquamous NSCLC, in combination with chemotherapy for HNSCC, in combination with axitinib for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and in combination with Lenvima for endometrial carcinoma. The Keytruda clinical development program includes studies across a broad range of cancer types (see “Research and Development” below).
In January 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Keytruda as monotherapy for the treatment of certain patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-unresponsive, high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) based on the results of the KEYNOTE-057 trial.
In April 2020, the FDA granted accelerated approval for an additional recommended dosage of 400 mg every six weeks (Q6W) for Keytruda across all adult indications, including monotherapy and combination therapy. This new dosage option will be available in addition to the current dose of 200 mg every three weeks (Q3W).
In June 2020, the FDA granted accelerated approval for Keytruda as monotherapy for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) (≥10 mutations/megabase) solid tumors, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options based in part on the results of the KEYNOTE-158 trial.
Also in June 2020, the FDA approved Keytruda as monotherapy both for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cSCC that is not curable by surgery or radiation based on data from the Phase 2 KEYNOTE-629 trial and for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic MSI-H or mismatch repair deficient colorectal cancer based on results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-177 trial.
In addition, in June 2020, Keytruda was approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China as monotherapy for the second-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma whose tumors express PD-L1 (Combined Positive Score [CPS] ≥10). This indication was granted based on the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-181 trial, including data from an extension of the global study in Chinese patients.
Global sales of Keytruda grew 29% and 36% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively. Sales growth in both periods was driven by higher demand as the Company continues to launch Keytruda with multiple new indications globally, although the COVID-19 pandemic had a dampening effect on growing demand. Sales in the United States continue to build across the multiple approved indications, in particular for the treatment of NSCLC as monotherapy, and in combination with chemotherapy for both nonsquamous and squamous metastatic NSCLC, along with uptake in the adjuvant melanoma and RCC indications. Other indications contributing to U.S. sales growth include HNSCC, bladder cancer, melanoma, and MSI-H cancer. Keytruda sales growth in international markets was driven by continued uptake in approved indications, particularly in the European Union (EU).

- 33 -




Pursuant to a re-pricing rule, the Japanese government reduced the price of Keytruda by 17.5% effective February 2020. Additionally, Keytruda was subject to another price reduction of 20.9% in April 2020 under a provision of the Japanese pricing rules.
Lynparza, an oral poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor being developed as part of a collaboration with AstraZeneca PLC (AstraZeneca) (see Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements), is approved for the treatment of certain types of advanced ovarian, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. Alliance revenue related to Lynparza increased 61% and 70% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively. Sales growth in both periods was largely driven by continued uptake across the multiple approved indications in the United States and in the EU. In May 2020, the FDA approved Lynparza in combination with bevacizumab as a first-line maintenance treatment of certain adult patients with advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer who are in complete or partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy based on the results from the Phase 3 PAOLA-1 trial. Also in May 2020, the FDA approved Lynparza for the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline or somatic homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have progressed following prior treatment with enzalutamide or abiraterone based on positive results from the Phase 3 PROfound trial. In July 2020, Lynparza was approved in the EU as a monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations who have metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and have not progressed after a minimum of 16 weeks of platinum treatment within a first-line chemotherapy regimen based on the results from the Phase 3 POLO trial.
Lenvima, an oral receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor being developed as part of a collaboration with Eisai Co., Ltd. (Eisai) (see Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements), is approved for the treatment of certain types of thyroid cancer, HCC, in combination with everolimus for certain patients with RCC, and in combination with Keytruda for the treatment of certain patients with endometrial carcinoma. Alliance revenue related to Lenvima grew 57% and 63% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively. Sales growth in both periods was primarily due to higher demand in the United States, the EU and China.
Global sales of Emend, for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, declined 72% and 68% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively. The sales declines were primarily driven by lower demand and pricing in the United States due to generic competition, including recent generic competition for Emend for Injection following U.S. patent expiry in September 2019. Also contributing to the sales declines in the second quarter and first six months of 2020 was lower demand in the EU as a result of generic competition for the oral formulation of Emend following loss of market exclusivity in May of 2019. U.S. market exclusivity for the oral formulation of Emend previously expired in 2015. Emend for Injection will lose market exclusivity in major European markets in August 2020. The Company anticipates that sales of Emend for Injection in these markets will decline significantly thereafter.
In April 2020, the FDA approved Koselugo (selumetinib) for the treatment of pediatric patients two years of age and older with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) who have symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas (PN). The FDA approval is based on positive results from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP)-sponsored Phase 2 SPRINT Stratum 1 trial coordinated by the NCI’s Center for Cancer Research, Pediatric Oncology Branch. This is the first regulatory approval of a medicine for the treatment of NF1 PN, a rare and debilitating genetic condition. Koselugo is being jointly developed and commercialized with AstraZeneca globally (see Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements).
Vaccines
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
Gardasil/Gardasil 9
$
656

 
$
886

 
(26
)%
 
(24
)%
 
$
1,753

 
$
1,724

 
2
 %
 
4
 %
ProQuad
133

 
204

 
(35
)%
 
(35
)%
 
290

 
356

 
(19
)%
 
(18
)%
M-M-R II
72

 
199

 
(64
)%
 
(64
)%
 
172

 
322

 
(47
)%
 
(46
)%
Varivax
173

 
271

 
(36
)%
 
(35
)%
 
352

 
492

 
(29
)%
 
(28
)%
Pneumovax 23
117

 
170

 
(31
)%
 
(29
)%
 
373

 
355

 
5
 %
 
7
 %
Worldwide sales of Gardasil/Gardasil 9, vaccines to help prevent certain cancers and other diseases caused by certain types of HPV, declined 26% in the second quarter of 2020 primarily due to lower demand in the United States and Hong Kong, SAR, PRC attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by higher demand in China. Worldwide sales of Gardasil/Gardasil 9 grew 2% in the first six months of 2020 driven by higher demand in China and in the EU, partially offset by the unfavorable effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the United States and Hong Kong, SAR, PRC.

- 34 -




In June 2020, the FDA approved an expanded indication for Gardasil 9 for the prevention of oropharyngeal and other head and neck cancers caused by HPV Types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. The oropharyngeal and head and neck cancer indication is approved under accelerated approval based on effectiveness in preventing HPV-related anogenital disease.
In July 2020, Silgard 9 aqueous suspension for intramuscular injection syringes (recombinant adsorbed 9-valent Human Papillomavirus virus-like particles vaccine) were approved for use in women and girls by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan.
Global sales of ProQuad, a pediatric combination vaccine to help protect against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, declined 35% and 19% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, primarily due to lower demand in the United States resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Worldwide sales of M‑M‑R II, a vaccine to help protect against measles, mumps and rubella, declined 64% and 47% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, primarily driven by lower demand in the United States resulting from fewer measles outbreaks in 2020, coupled with the unfavorable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Private sector buy-in during the second quarter of 2019 also contributed to the U.S. M-M-R II sales declines in the second quarter and first six months of 2020. Additionally, the sales decline in the first six months of 2020 reflects lower demand in Brazil.
Global sales of Varivax, a vaccine to help prevent chickenpox (varicella), declined 36% and 29% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively. The sales declines reflect lower government tenders in Brazil, as well as lower demand in the United States resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Worldwide sales of Pneumovax 23 (pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent), a vaccine to help prevent pneumococcal disease, declined 31% in the second quarter of 2020 primarily due to lower demand in the United States related to the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by higher volumes in the EU attributable in part to increased demand for pneumococcal vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Global sales of Pneumovax 23 grew 5% in first six months of 2020 largely due to higher demand in the EU, partially offset by lower demand in the United States and the timing of shipments in China.
Hospital Acute Care
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
Bridion
$
224

 
$
278

 
(19
)%
 
(18
)%
 
$
524

 
$
533

 
(2
)%
 
 %
Noxafil
73

 
193

 
(62
)%
 
(60
)%
 
168

 
383

 
(56
)%
 
(55
)%
Prevymis
63

 
38

 
66
 %
 
67
 %
 
123

 
70

 
76
 %
 
78
 %
Cubicin
32

 
67

 
(53
)%
 
(51
)%
 
78

 
155

 
(50
)%
 
(48
)%
Worldwide sales of Bridion, for the reversal of two types of neuromuscular blocking agents used during surgery, declined 19% in the second quarter of 2020 primarily attributable to lower demand resulting from fewer elective surgeries due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange, global sales of Bridion in the first six months of 2020 were flat as higher demand in the first quarter was offset by lower demand in the second quarter resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Global sales of Noxafil, for the prevention of invasive fungal infections, declined 62% and 56% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, primarily due to generic competition in the United States and in the EU. The patents that provided U.S. market exclusivity for certain forms of Noxafil representing the majority of U.S. Noxafil sales expired in July 2019. Additionally, the patent for Noxafil expired in a number of major European markets in December 2019. Accordingly, the Company is experiencing volume and pricing declines in Noxafil sales in these markets as a result of generic competition and expects the declines to continue.
Worldwide sales of Prevymis (letermovir), a medicine for prophylaxis (prevention) of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in adult CMV-seropositive recipients of an allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, grew 66% and 76% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, due to continued uptake since launch in the EU and in the United States.
Global sales of Cubicin, an I.V. antibiotic for complicated skin and skin structure infections or bacteremia when caused by designated susceptible organisms, declined 53% and 50% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, due in part to ongoing generic competition in the United States and in the EU.
In June 2020, the FDA approved a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Recarbrio (imipenem, cilastatin, and relebactam) for the treatment of patients 18 years of age and older with hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP), caused by certain susceptible Gram-negative microorganisms.

- 35 -




Immunology
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
Simponi
$
191

 
$
214

 
(11
)%
 
(8
)%
 
$
406

 
$
422

 
(4
)%
 
(1
)%
Remicade
73

 
98

 
(26
)%
 
(25
)%
 
160

 
221

 
(28
)%
 
(26
)%
Sales of Simponi (golimumab), a once-monthly subcutaneous treatment for certain inflammatory diseases (marketed by the Company in Europe, Russia and Turkey), declined 11% and 4% in the second quarter and first six month of 2020, respectively, primarily driven by lower demand in the EU due to the uptake of biosimilars for a competing product. Higher volumes in Russia partially offset the decline in the first six months of 2020.
Sales of Remicade (infliximab), a treatment for inflammatory diseases (marketed by the Company in Europe, Russia and Turkey), declined 26% and 28% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, driven by ongoing biosimilar competition in the Company’s marketing territories in Europe. The Company lost market exclusivity for Remicade in major European markets in 2015 and no longer has market exclusivity in any of its marketing territories. The Company is experiencing pricing and volume declines in these markets as a result of biosimilar competition and expects the declines to continue.
Virology
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
Isentress/Isentress HD
$
196

 
$
247

 
(21
)%
 
(17
)%
 
$
441

 
$
502

 
(12
)%
 
(9
)%
Zepatier
39

 
108

 
(63
)%
 
(62
)%
 
94

 
221

 
(57
)%
 
(56
)%
Global combined sales of Isentress/Isentress HD (raltegravir), an HIV integrase inhibitor for use in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection, declined 21% in the second quarter of 2020 primarily driven by competitive pressure in the United States and in the EU, as well as the timing of shipments in Russia. Worldwide sales declined 12% in the first six months of 2020 primarily due to lower sales in the United States and in the EU, partially offset by higher volumes in Russia.
Global sales of Zepatier, a treatment for adult patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype (GT) 1 or GT4 infection, declined 63% and 57% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, primarily driven by lower demand in the EU, the United States, and the Asia Pacific region due to competition and declining patient volumes, coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cardiovascular
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
Zetia/Vytorin
$
175

 
$
232

 
(24
)%
 
(23
)%
 
$
374

 
$
470

 
(20
)%
 
(19
)%
Atozet
115

 
92

 
25
 %
 
28
 %
 
238

 
186

 
28
 %
 
31
 %
Rosuzet
31

 
52

 
(41
)%
 
(40
)%
 
63

 
66

 
(5
)%
 
(2
)%
Alliance Revenue - Adempas (1)
79

 
51

 
54
 %
 
54
 %
 
133

 
94

 
41
 %
 
41
 %
Adempas
57

 
53

 
8
 %
 
9
 %
 
113

 
100

 
12
 %
 
14
 %
(1) Alliance revenue represents Merck’s share of profits from sales in Bayer’s marketing territories, which are product sales net of cost of sales and commercialization costs (see Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements).
Combined global sales of Zetia (marketed in most countries outside the United States as Ezetrol) and Vytorin (marketed outside the United States as Inegy), medicines for lowering LDL cholesterol, declined 24% and 20% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, primarily due to generic competition for Ezetrol and Inegy in the EU. The EU patents for Ezetrol and Inegy expired in April 2018 and April 2019, respectively. The Company expects the sales declines in these markets to continue. The sales decline was also attributable to loss of exclusivity in Australia. The patent that provided market exclusivity for Ezetrol in Japan expired in September 2019 and generic competition began in the second quarter of 2020. These declines were partially offset by higher demand for Ezetrol in China.

- 36 -




Sales of Atozet (ezetimibe and atorvastatin) (marketed outside of the United States), a medicine for lowering LDL cholesterol, grew 25% and 28% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, primarily due to higher demand in most markets, particularly in the EU and in Japan.
Sales of Rosuzet (ezetimibe and rosuvastatin) (marketed outside of the United States), a medicine for lowering LDL cholesterol, declined 41% and 5% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, due to prior year launch buy-in in Japan. In the first six months of 2020, the decline was partially offset by higher demand in Korea.
Adempas (riociguat), a cardiovascular drug for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, is part of a worldwide clinical development collaboration with Bayer AG (Bayer) to market and develop soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) modulators including Adempas (see Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements). Revenue from Adempas includes Merck’s share of profits from the sale of Adempas in Bayer’s marketing territories, which grew 54% and 41% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, as well as sales in Merck’s marketing territories, which grew 8% and 12% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively.
Diabetes
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
Januvia/Janumet
$
1,344

 
$
1,441

 
(7
)%
 
(5
)%
 
$
2,621

 
$
2,795

 
(6
)%
 
(5
)%
Worldwide combined sales of Januvia and Janumet, medicines that help lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, declined 7% and 6% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively. The declines were primarily due to continued pricing pressure in the United States and lower demand in certain markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by higher demand in China. The Company expects U.S. pricing pressure to continue. The patents that provide market exclusivity for Januvia and Janumet in the United States expire in July 2022 (although six-month pediatric exclusivity may extend this date). The patent that provides market exclusivity for Januvia in the EU expires in July 2022 (although pediatric exclusivity has recently been granted which may extend this date to September 2022 and the Company is applying in individual countries for the extensions). The supplementary patent certificate that provides market exclusivity for Janumet in the EU expires in April 2023. The Company anticipates sales of Januvia and Janumet in these markets will decline substantially after these patent expiries.
Women’s Health 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
Implanon/Nexplanon
$
132

 
$
183

 
(28
)%
 
(26
)%
 
$
326

 
$
382

 
(15
)%
 
(13
)%
NuvaRing
63

 
240

 
(74
)%
 
(73
)%
 
126

 
459

 
(73
)%
 
(72
)%
Global sales of Implanon/Nexplanon, a single-rod subdermal contraceptive implant, declined 28% and 15% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, primarily due to lower demand in the United States and in the EU resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by higher demand in Latin America.
Worldwide sales of NuvaRing, a vaginal contraceptive product, declined 74% and 73% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, due to generic competition in the United States. The patent that provided U.S. market exclusivity for NuvaRing expired in April 2018 and generic competition began in December 2019. Accordingly, the Company is experiencing a rapid and substantial decline in U.S. NuvaRing sales and expects the decline to continue.
Biosimilars 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
Biosimilars
$
60

 
$
78

 
(23
)%
 
(21
)%
 
$
128

 
$
121

 
6
%
 
7
%
Biosimilar products are marketed by the Company pursuant to an agreement with Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. (Samsung) to develop and commercialize multiple pre-specified biosimilar candidates. Currently, the Company markets Renflexis (infliximab-abda), a biosimilar to Remicade (infliximab) for the treatment of certain inflammatory diseases; Ontruzant (trastuzumab-dttb), a biosimilar to Herceptin (trastuzumab) for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer and HER2 overexpressing gastric cancer; and Brenzys (etanercept biosimilar), a biosimilar to Enbrel for the treatment of certain

- 37 -




inflammatory diseases. Merck’s commercialization territories under the agreement vary by product. Sales of biosimilars declined 23% in the second quarter of 2020 primarily due to lower volumes for Brenzys in Brazil due in part to the timing of shipments. Sales of biosimilars grew 6% in the first six months of 2020 driven by continued post-launch uptake of Renflexis in United States and Canada and Ontruzant in the EU, partially offset by lower sales of Brenzys in Brazil.
In April 2020, Merck announced the U.S. launch of Ontruzant, which was approved by the FDA in January 2019.
Animal Health Segment
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
% Change
Excluding
Foreign
Exchange
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
Livestock
$
648

 
$
671

 
(3
)%
 
3
%
 
$
1,386

 
$
1,282

 
8
%
 
13
%
Companion Animal
453

 
453

 
 %
 
3
%
 
928

 
867

 
7
%
 
9
%
Sales of livestock products declined 3% in the second quarter of 2020 primarily driven by lower demand attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic and the unfavorable effect of foreign exchange, partially offset by an additional month of sales in 2020 related to the April 2019 acquisition of Antelliq Corporation (Antelliq) (see Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements). Sales of livestock products grew 8% in the first six months of 2020 largely driven by the Antelliq acquisition. Sales of companion animal products were flat in the second quarter of 2020 as higher demand for the Bravecto (fluralaner) line of products for parasitic control was offset by lower demand for companion animal vaccines due to reduced veterinary access resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Companion animal sales grew 7% in the first six months of 2020 primarily driven by higher sales of the Bravecto line of products, partially offset by lower demand for other companion animal products attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Costs, Expenses and Other
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
Cost of sales
$
3,159

 
$
3,401

 
(7
)%
 
$
6,471

 
$
6,453

 
 %
Selling, general and administrative
2,378

 
2,712

 
(12
)%
 
4,933

 
5,138

 
(4
)%
Research and development
2,123

 
2,189

 
(3
)%
 
4,331

 
4,119

 
5
 %
Restructuring costs
83

 
59

 
41
 %
 
155

 
212

 
(27
)%
Other (income) expense, net
(390
)
 
140

 
*

 
(318
)
 
327

 
*

 
$
7,353


$
8,501


(14
)%

15,572


16,249


(4
)%
* Greater than 100%.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales declined 7% in the second quarter of 2020 and were essentially flat in the first six months of 2020. Cost of sales includes the amortization of intangible assets recorded in connection with business acquisitions, which totaled $281 million and $371 million in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $573 million and $768 million in the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively. Cost of sales also includes the amortization of amounts capitalized in connection with collaborations of $298 million and $124 million in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $388 million and $222 million in the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively. Additionally, costs include intangible asset impairment charges of $69 million and $81 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2019 related to marketed products recorded in connection with business acquisitions. The Company may recognize additional impairment charges in the future related to intangible assets that were measured at fair value and capitalized in connection with business acquisitions and such charges could be material. Also included in cost of sales are expenses associated with restructuring activities which amounted to $25 million and $65 million in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $93 million and $99 million in the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively, including accelerated depreciation and asset write-offs related to the planned sale or closure of manufacturing facilities. Separation costs associated with manufacturing-related headcount reductions have been incurred and are reflected in Restructuring costs as discussed below.
Gross margin was 70.9% in the second quarter of 2020 compared with 71.1% in the second quarter of 2019. The gross margin decline reflects higher amortization of unfavorable manufacturing variances and intangible assets (noted above), largely offset by the favorable effects of foreign exchange, product mix and lower restructuring costs. Gross margin was 71.8% in the first six months of 2020 compared with 71.4% in the first six months of 2019. The gross margin improvement was primarily driven by favorable product mix, partially offset by the unfavorable effects of pricing pressure, manufacturing variances, royalties, and inventory write-offs.

- 38 -




Selling, General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses declined 12% and 4% in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, primarily due to lower promotional, selling, and administrative costs, including reduced travel and fewer meetings, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the favorable effect of foreign exchange, partially offset by costs related to the planned spin-off of Organon. Transaction costs related to the acquisition of ArQule also contributed to the increase in SG&A expenses in the first six months of 2020 (see Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements).
Research and Development
Research and development (R&D) expenses declined 3% in the second quarter of 2020 reflecting a decrease in the estimated fair value measurement of liabilities for contingent consideration, as well as lower laboratory supply costs, reduced travel and fewer meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by higher expenses related to clinical development and increased investment in discovery research and early drug development. R&D expenses increased 5% in the first six months of 2020 primarily driven by higher clinical development and discovery research spending, as well as higher licensing and restructuring costs, partially offset by lower costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the favorable effect of foreign exchange.
R&D expenses are comprised of the costs directly incurred by Merck Research Laboratories (MRL), the Company’s research and development division that focuses on human health-related activities, which were $1.5 billion in both the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, and $3.0 billion and $2.9 billion in the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively. Also included in R&D expenses are Animal Health research costs, licensing costs and costs incurred by other divisions in support of R&D activities, including depreciation, production and general and administrative, which in the aggregate were approximately $645 million and $715 million for the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $1.3 billion in both the first six months of 2020 and 2019. In addition, R&D expenses include expense or income related to changes in the estimated fair value measurement of liabilities for contingent consideration recorded in connection with business acquisitions. The Company recorded a net reduction in expenses of $82 million in the second quarter of 2020 and $49 million and $38 million in the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to the changes in these estimates. R&D expenses also reflect $31 million and $48 million of accelerated depreciation costs in connection with restructuring activities in the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively.
Restructuring Costs
In early 2019, Merck approved a new global restructuring program (Restructuring Program) as part of a worldwide initiative focused on further optimizing the Company’s manufacturing and supply network, as well as reducing its global real estate footprint. This program is a continuation of the Company’s plant rationalization, builds on prior restructuring programs and does not include any actions associated with the planned spin-off of Organon. As the Company continues to evaluate its global footprint and overall operating model, it subsequently identified additional actions under the Restructuring Program, and could identify further actions over time. The actions currently contemplated under the Restructuring Program are expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2023, with the cumulative pretax costs to be incurred by the Company to implement the program estimated to be approximately $2.5 billion. The Company expects to record charges of approximately $800 million in 2020 related to the Restructuring Program. The Company anticipates the actions under the Restructuring Program to result in annual net cost savings of approximately $900 million by the end of 2023. Actions under previous global restructuring programs have been substantially completed.
Restructuring costs, primarily representing separation and other related costs associated with these restructuring activities, were $83 million and $59 million for the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $155 million and $212 million in the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively. Separation costs incurred were associated with actual headcount reductions, as well as estimated expenses under existing severance programs for headcount reductions that were probable and could be reasonably estimated. Also included in restructuring costs are asset abandonment, facility shut-down and other related costs, as well as employee-related costs such as curtailment, settlement and termination charges associated with pension and other postretirement benefit plans and share-based compensation plan costs. For segment reporting, restructuring costs are unallocated expenses.
Additional costs associated with the Company’s restructuring activities are included in Cost of sales, Selling, general and administrative expenses and Research and development costs. The Company recorded aggregate pretax costs of $150 million and $159 million in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $318 million and $346 million in the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to restructuring program activities (see Note 4 to the condensed consolidated financial statements).
Other (Income) Expense, Net
For details on the components of Other (income) expense, net see Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

- 39 -




Segment Profits
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
($ in millions)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Pharmaceutical segment profits
$
6,560

 
$
7,115

 
$
14,036

 
$
13,690

Animal Health segment profits
407

 
405

 
885

 
820

Other non-reportable segment profits

 
(2
)
 
2

 

Other
(3,448
)

(4,259
)

(7,566
)

(8,184
)
Income before taxes
$
3,519

 
$
3,259

 
$
7,357

 
$
6,326

Pharmaceutical segment profits are comprised of segment sales less standard costs, as well as SG&A expenses directly incurred by the segment. Animal Health segment profits are comprised of segment sales, less all cost of sales, as well as SG&A expenses and research and development costs directly incurred by the segment. For internal management reporting presented to the chief operating decision maker, Merck does not allocate the remaining cost of sales not included in segment profits as described above, research and development expenses incurred by MRL, or general and administrative expenses, nor the cost of financing these activities. Separate divisions maintain responsibility for monitoring and managing these costs, including depreciation related to fixed assets utilized by these divisions and, therefore, they are not included in segment profits. Also excluded from the determination of segment profits are costs related to restructuring activities and acquisition and divestiture-related costs, including the amortization of purchase accounting adjustments, intangible asset impairment charges, and changes in the estimated fair value measurement of liabilities for contingent consideration. Additionally, segment profits do not reflect other expenses from corporate and manufacturing cost centers and other miscellaneous income or expense. These unallocated items are reflected in “Other” in the above table. Also included in “Other” are miscellaneous corporate profits (losses), as well as operating profits (losses) related to third-party manufacturing sales.
Pharmaceutical segment profits declined 8% in the second quarter of 2020 largely due to lower sales and the unfavorable effect of foreign exchange, partially offset by lower selling and promotional costs. Pharmaceutical segment profits grew 3% in the first six months of 2020 driven primarily by higher sales, as well as lower selling and promotional costs, partially offset by the unfavorable effect of foreign exchange. Animal Health segment profits grew 1% in the second quarter of 2020 reflecting lower selling and promotional costs, largely offset by lower sales and the unfavorable effect of foreign exchange. Animal Health segment profits grew 8% in the first six months of 2020 reflecting higher sales driven by the Antelliq acquisition, partially offset by higher research costs and the unfavorable effect of foreign exchange.
Taxes on Income
The effective income tax rates of 14.5% and 18.9% for the second quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively, and 15.3% and 13.0% for the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively, reflect the impacts of acquisition and divestiture-related costs and restructuring costs, partially offset by the beneficial impact of foreign earnings. In addition, the effective income tax rate for the first six months of 2019 reflects the favorable impact of a $360 million net tax benefit related to the settlement of certain federal income tax matters.
In the first quarter of 2019, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) concluded its examinations of Merck’s 2012-2014 U.S. federal income tax returns. As a result, the Company was required to make a payment of $107 million. The Company’s reserves for unrecognized tax benefits for the years under examination exceeded the adjustments relating to this examination period and therefore the Company recorded a $360 million net tax benefit in the first six months of 2019. This net benefit reflects reductions in reserves for unrecognized tax benefits for tax positions relating to the years that were under examination, partially offset by additional reserves for tax positions not previously reserved for.
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of $26 million for the second quarter of 2019 and $79 million for the first six months of 2019 includes the portion of goodwill impairment charges related to certain businesses in the Healthcare Services segment that are attributable to noncontrolling interests.
Net Income and Earnings per Common Share
Net income attributable to Merck & Co., Inc. was $3.0 billion for the second quarter of 2020 compared with $2.7 billion for the second quarter of 2019 and was $6.2 billion for the first six months of 2020 compared with $5.6 billion for the first six months of 2019. Earnings per common share assuming dilution attributable to Merck & Co., Inc. common shareholders (EPS) for the second quarter of 2020 were $1.18 compared with $1.03 in the second quarter of 2019 and were $2.45 for the first six months of 2020 compared with $2.15 for the first six months of 2019.

- 40 -




Non-GAAP Income and Non-GAAP EPS
Non-GAAP income and non-GAAP EPS are alternative views of the Company’s performance that Merck is providing because management believes this information enhances investors’ understanding of the Company’s results as it permits investors to understand how management assesses performance. Non-GAAP income and non-GAAP EPS exclude certain items because of the nature of these items and the impact that they have on the analysis of underlying business performance and trends. The excluded items (which should not be considered non-recurring) consist of acquisition and divestiture-related costs, restructuring costs and certain other items. These excluded items are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. Non-GAAP income and non-GAAP EPS are important internal measures for the Company. Senior management receives a monthly analysis of operating results that includes non-GAAP EPS. Management uses these measures internally for planning and forecasting purposes and to measure the performance of the Company along with other metrics. In addition, senior management’s annual compensation is derived in part using non-GAAP pretax income. Since non-GAAP income and non-GAAP EPS are not measures determined in accordance with GAAP, they have no standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, may not be comparable to the calculation of similar measures of other companies. The information on non-GAAP income and non-GAAP EPS should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for or superior to, net income and EPS prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP).
A reconciliation between GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP financial measures is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
($ in millions except per share amounts)
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Income before taxes as reported under GAAP
$
3,519

 
$
3,259

 
$
7,357

 
$
6,326

Increase (decrease) for excluded items:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition and divestiture-related costs
443

 
660

 
1,043

 
1,208

Restructuring costs
150

 
159

 
318

 
346

Other
(16
)
 
48

 
(16
)
 
48

Non-GAAP income before taxes
4,096

 
4,126

 
8,702

 
7,928

Taxes on income as reported under GAAP
509

 
615

 
1,128

 
820

Estimated tax benefit on excluded items (1)
95

 
145

 
260

 
274

Net tax benefit from the settlement of certain federal income tax matters

 

 

 
360

Tax charge related to finalization of treasury regulations for the Tax Cuts and Job Act of 2017

 

 

 
(67
)
Non-GAAP taxes on income
604


760


1,388


1,387

Non-GAAP net income
3,492

 
3,366

 
7,314

 
6,541

Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests as reported under GAAP
8

 
(26
)
 
8

 
(79
)
    Acquisition and divestiture-related costs attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
36

 

 
89

Non-GAAP net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
8


10


8


10

Non-GAAP net income attributable to Merck & Co., Inc.
$
3,484


$
3,356


$
7,306


$
6,531

EPS assuming dilution as reported under GAAP
$
1.18

 
$
1.03

 
$
2.45

 
$
2.15

EPS difference
0.19

 
0.27

 
0.42

 
0.37

Non-GAAP EPS assuming dilution
$
1.37


$
1.30


$
2.87


$
2.52

(1) 
The estimated tax impact on the excluded items is determined by applying the statutory rate of the originating territory of the non-GAAP adjustments.
Acquisition and Divestiture-Related Costs
Non-GAAP income and non-GAAP EPS exclude the impact of certain amounts recorded in connection with business acquisitions and divestitures. These amounts include the amortization of intangible assets and amortization of purchase accounting adjustments to inventories, as well as intangible asset impairment charges, and expense or income related to changes in the estimated fair value measurement of liabilities for contingent consideration. Also excluded are integration, transaction, and certain other costs associated with business acquisitions and divestitures.
Restructuring Costs
Non-GAAP income and non-GAAP EPS exclude costs related to restructuring actions (see Note 4 to the condensed consolidated financial statements). These amounts include employee separation costs and accelerated depreciation associated with facilities to be closed or divested. Accelerated depreciation costs represent the difference between the depreciation expense to be recognized over the revised useful life of the asset, based upon the anticipated date the site will be closed or divested or the equipment disposed of, and depreciation expense as determined utilizing the useful life prior to the restructuring actions.

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Restructuring costs also include asset abandonment, facility shut-down and other related costs, as well as employee-related costs such as curtailment, settlement and termination charges associated with pension and other postretirement benefit plans and share-based compensation costs.
Certain Other Items
Non-GAAP income and non-GAAP EPS exclude certain other items. These items are adjusted for after evaluating them on an individual basis, considering their quantitative and qualitative aspects. Typically, these consist of items that are unusual in nature, significant to the results of a particular period or not indicative of future operating results. Excluded from non-GAAP income and non-GAAP EPS in 2019 is a net tax benefit related to the settlement of certain federal income tax matters (see Note 13 to the condensed consolidated financial statements) and a tax charge related to the finalization of U.S. treasury regulations related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
Research and Development Update
In July 2020, the FDA accepted for priority review the New Drug Application (NDA) for vericiguat, an orally administered sGC stimulator, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization following a worsening heart failure event in patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, in combination with other heart failure therapies. The FDA set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), or target action, date of January 20, 2021. Vericiguat is being jointly developed with Bayer (see Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements). The application is based on results from the Phase 3 VICTORIA trial, which is the first contemporary outcomes study focused exclusively on a population with worsening chronic heart failure who are at high risk for cardiovascular mortality and repeated heart failure hospitalizations. Data from VICTORIA were presented at the virtual American College of Cardiology’s 69th Annual Scientific Session together with World Congress of Cardiology and published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Vericiguat is also under review in the EU and in Japan. Merck and Bayer plan to share VICTORIA data with regulatory authorities worldwide.
Koselugo (selumetinib) is under review in the EU for the treatment of pediatric patients two years of age and older with NF1 who have symptomatic, inoperable PN based on positive results from the NCI CTEP-sponsored Phase 2 SPRINT Stratum 1 trial. Koselugo was approved by the FDA in April 2020. Koselugo is being jointly developed and commercialized with AstraZeneca globally (see Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements).
Keytruda is an anti-PD-1 therapy approved for the treatment of many cancers that is in clinical development for expanded indications. These approvals were the result of a broad clinical development program that currently consists of more than 1,200 clinical trials, including more than 850 trials that combine Keytruda with other cancer treatments. These studies encompass more than 30 cancer types including: biliary tract, cervical, colorectal, cutaneous squamous cell, endometrial, gastric, glioblastoma, head and neck, hepatocellular, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, melanoma, mesothelioma, nasopharyngeal, non-small-cell lung, ovarian, PMBCL, prostate, renal, small-cell lung, triple-negative breast and urothelial, many of which are currently in Phase 3 clinical development. Further trials are being planned for other cancers.
In July 2020, the FDA accepted and granted Priority Review for a supplemental Biologics License Application (BLA) seeking accelerated approval for Keytruda in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10). The application was based on data from the KEYNOTE-355 trial in which Keytruda plus chemotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared with chemotherapy alone in patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 at CPS ≥10. In patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 with CPS ≥1, Keytruda plus chemotherapy improved PFS versus chemotherapy alone, however these results did not meet statistical significance. These data were presented at the virtual scientific program of the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. As previously announced, the trial will continue without changes to evaluate the other dual primary endpoint of overall survival (OS). The FDA set a PDUFA date of November 28, 2020.
Also in July 2020, the FDA accepted for standard review a supplemental BLA for Keytruda for the treatment of patients with high-risk, early-stage TNBC, in combination with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, and then as a single agent as adjuvant treatment after surgery. The application was based on data from the KEYNOTE-522 trial in which neoadjuvant Keytruda plus chemotherapy resulted in a statistically significant increase in pathologic complete response in patients with early-stage TNBC, regardless of PD-L1 expression. The Keytruda regimen also demonstrated a favorable trend for the other dual primary endpoint of event-free survival. An interim analysis for this study was conducted by the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC). Based on the recommendation of the DMC, the study continues to evaluate event-free survival. Data from the KEYNOTE-522 trial were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology 2019 Congress. As previously announced, Keytruda plus chemotherapy was granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA in September 2019 for the neoadjuvant treatment of patients with high-risk, early-stage TNBC. The PDUFA date for this application is March 29, 2021.
Additionally in July 2020, the FDA accepted and granted Priority Review for a new supplemental BLA for Keytruda as monotherapy for the second-line treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory cHL based on data from the pivotal

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Phase 3 KEYNOTE-204 trial, in which Keytruda demonstrated a significant improvement in PFS compared to brentuximab vedotin (BV), a current standard of care in this patient population. The FDA set a PDUFA date of October 30, 2020. KEYNOTE-204 also serves as the confirmatory trial for the Keytruda accelerated approval hematology indications and as previously announced the Company plans to submit these data to global regulatory authorities this year. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced the start of a procedure to extend the currently approved therapeutic indication for the treatment of relapsed or refractory cHL in adults to an earlier line of therapy and to include pediatric patients based on KEYNOTE-204. Data from KEYNOTE-204 were presented during the virtual scientific program of the 2020 ASCO Annual Meeting.
Keytruda is under review in Japan as monotherapy for the second-line treatment of advanced or metastatic esophageal or esophagogastric junction carcinoma based on the results of the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-181 trial. The Keytruda review in Japan for both monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma based on results from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-062 trial was withdrawn in June 2020.
Keytruda is also under review in the EU for the first-line treatment of patients with MSI-H or mismatch repair deficient unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer based on the results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-177 trial. Keytruda was approved for this indication by the FDA in June 2020.
In addition to the Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA for the combination of Keytruda with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of high-risk, early-stage TNBC noted above, Keytruda also received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA in February 2020 for the combination of Keytruda with PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv), in the first-line setting for the treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who are not eligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. The FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy designation is intended to expedite the development and review of a candidate that is planned for use, alone or in combination, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition when preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints.
In June 2020, Merck announced that the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-361 trial evaluating Keytruda in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer) did not meet its pre-specified dual primary endpoints of OS or PFS, compared with standard of care chemotherapy. In the final analysis of the study, there was an improvement in OS and PFS for patients treated with Keytruda in combination with chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone; however, these results did not meet statistical significance per the pre-specified statistical plan. The monotherapy arm of the study was not formally tested, since superiority was not reached for OS or PFS in the Keytruda combination arm. Keytruda has three FDA-approved bladder cancer indications across multiple stages of bladder cancer. Additionally, Merck has an extensive clinical development program in bladder cancer and is continuing to evaluate Keytruda as monotherapy and in combination with other anti-cancer therapies across several disease settings (i.e., metastatic, muscle invasive bladder cancer, and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer).
Additionally in May 2020, Merck announced positive results from two studies from the Company’s lung cancer research program. Initial results from the Phase 2 KEYNOTE-799 trial evaluating Keytruda plus concurrent chemoradiation therapy demonstrated an objective response rate (ORR) of 67.0% in Cohort A (squamous and nonsquamous NSCLC patients who received paclitaxel plus carboplatin) and 56.6% in Cohort B (nonsquamous NSCLC patients who received cisplatin plus pemetrexed) in untreated patients with unresectable, locally advanced stage III NSCLC.
In May 2020, Merck and Eisai presented data from analyses of two trials evaluating Keytruda plus Lenvima at the 2020 ASCO Annual Meeting, in which the Keytruda plus Lenvima combination demonstrated clinically meaningful ORR: the KEYNOTE-524/Study 116 trial in patients with unresectable HCC with no prior systemic therapy and the KEYNOTE-146/Study 111 trial in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) who progressed following immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
In July 2020, Merck and Eisai announced that the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) regarding Merck’s and Eisai’s applications seeking accelerated approval of Keytruda plus Lenvima for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable HCC based on data from the Phase 1b KEYNOTE-524/Study 116 trial, which showed clinically meaningful efficacy in the single-arm setting. These data supported a Breakthrough Therapy designation granted by the FDA in July 2019. Ahead of the PDUFA action dates of Merck’s and Eisai’s applications, another combination therapy was approved based on a randomized, controlled trial that demonstrated OS. Consequently, the CRL stated that Merck’s and Eisai’s applications do not provide evidence that Keytruda in combination with Lenvima represents a meaningful advantage over available therapies for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic HCC with no prior systemic therapy for advanced disease. Since the applications for KEYNOTE-524/Study 116 no longer meet the criteria for accelerated approval, both companies plan to work with the FDA to take appropriate next steps, which include conducting a well-controlled clinical trial that demonstrates substantial evidence of effectiveness and the clinical benefit of the combination. As such, LEAP-002, the Phase 3 trial evaluating the Keytruda plus Lenvima combination

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as a first-line treatment for advanced HCC, is currently underway and fully enrolled. The CRL does not impact the current approved indications for Keytruda or for Lenvima.
Lynparza is an oral PARP inhibitor currently approved for certain types of advanced ovarian, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers being co-developed for multiple cancer types as part of a collaboration with AstraZeneca (see Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements).
Lynparza is under review in the EU in combination with bevacizumab for the maintenance treatment of women with advanced ovarian cancer whose disease showed a complete or partial response to first-line treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy and bevacizumab based on the results from the pivotal Phase 3 PAOLA-1 trial. The FDA approved Lynparza for this indication in May 2020.
Lynparza is also under review in the EU for the treatment of patients with mCRPC and deleterious or suspected deleterious germline or somatic HRR gene mutations, who have progressed following prior treatment with a new hormonal agent based on positive results from the Phase 3 PROfound trial. This indication was approved by the FDA in May 2020 and is under review in other jurisdictions. In April 2020, Merck and AstraZeneca announced further positive results from the Phase 3 PROfound trial which showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in the key secondary endpoint of OS with Lynparza vs. enzalutamide or abiraterone in men with mCRPC selected for BRCA1/2 or ATM gene mutations, a subpopulation of HRR gene mutations.
In May 2020, the results from the Phase 3 GY004 trial, led by NRG Oncology and sponsored by the U.S. NCI, were presented at the 2020 ASCO Annual Meeting. This follows the March 2020, Merck and AstraZeneca announcement of the high-level results from the Phase 3 GY004 trial that examined primarily the efficacy and safety of investigational medicine cediranib in combination with Lynparza versus platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer. The trial did not meet the primary endpoint in the intent-to-treat population of a statistically significant improvement in PFS with cediranib in combination with Lynparza vs. platinum-based chemotherapy.
In July 2020, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to the hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor MK-6482, a novel investigational candidate for the treatment of patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-associated RCC with nonmetastatic RCC tumors less than three centimeters in size, unless immediate surgery is required. The FDA also granted orphan drug designation to MK-6482 for VHL disease. These designations are based on data from a Phase 2 trial evaluating MK-6482 in patients with VHL-associated ccRCC, which were presented at the 2020 ASCO Annual Meeting.
In March 2020, Merck announced top-line efficacy results from two ongoing pivotal Phase 3 trials (COUGH-1 and COUGH-2) evaluating the efficacy and safety of gefapixant (MK-7264), an investigational, orally administered, selective P2X3 receptor antagonist, for the treatment of refractory or unexplained chronic cough. In these studies, the primary efficacy endpoints were met for the gefapixant 45 mg twice daily treatment arms - demonstrating a statistically significant decrease in 24-hour coughs per hour versus placebo. The gefapixant 15 mg twice daily treatment arms did not meet the primary efficacy endpoint in either Phase 3 study. The detailed findings will be shared at an upcoming medical meeting.
In July 2020, Merck announced new analyses from the Phase 2b trial (NCT03272347) evaluating the safety and efficacy of islatravir, the company’s investigational oral nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor (NRTTI), in combination with Pifeltro (doravirine), in adults with HIV-1 infection who had not previously received antiretroviral treatment. The first sub-analysis further characterized the tolerability and safety profile of islatravir in combination with doravirine (100 mg) through Week 48 across the three dose levels studied (0.25, 0.75, 2.25 mg). The second sub-analysis demonstrated that participants who initiated treatment with islatravir and doravirine in combination with 3TC and switched to islatravir and doravirine maintained antiviral activity at Week 48 as measured by HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL similar to Delstrigo (doravirine/lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), with low rates of protocol defined virologic failure. These latest findings were made available during the 2020 International AIDS Conference. The primary endpoints and full study design of the Phase 2b Week 48 trial results were originally presented at the 2019 International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science.
In June 2020, Merck announced results from two initial Phase 3 studies evaluating the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of V114, the Company’s investigational 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Results from the PNEU-WAY (V114-018) study in adults 18 years of age or older living with HIV showed that V114 elicited an immune response to all 15 serotypes included in the vaccine, including serotypes 22F and 33F. Results from the PNEU-FLU (V114-021) study in healthy adults 50 years of age or older showed that V114 can be given concomitantly with the quadrivalent influenza vaccine. The V114 Phase 3 clinical development program is comprised of 16 trials investigating the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of V114 in a variety of populations who are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease including both healthy older adult and healthy pediatric populations, as well as people who are immunocompromised or have certain chronic conditions. The Company plans to continue to work with the FDA and other regulatory authorities around the world on filing plans for licensure of this vaccine as additional data from the Phase 3 program become available. These data were announced and published in the International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Diseases (ISPPD) digital library in lieu of an in-person meeting.

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In May 2020, Merck and Pfizer Inc. announced the presentation of results from the Phase 3 VERTIS CV cardiovascular (CV) outcomes trial that evaluated Steglatro (ertugliflozin), an oral sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, versus placebo, added to background standard of care treatment, in patients with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic CV disease. The study met the primary endpoint of non-inferiority on major adverse CV events (MACE), which is composed of a composite of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or nonfatal stroke, compared to placebo. The key secondary endpoints of superiority for Steglatro versus placebo for time to the first occurrence of the composite of CV death or hospitalization for heart failure, time to CV death alone and time to the first occurrence of the composite of renal death, dialysis/transplant or doubling of serum creatinine from baseline were not met. While not a pre-specified hypothesis for statistical testing, a reduction in hospitalization for heart failure was observed with Steglatro.
The chart below reflects the Company’s research pipeline as of July 31, 2020. Candidates shown in Phase 3 include specific products and the date such candidate entered into Phase 3 development. Candidates shown in Phase 2 include the most advanced compound with a specific mechanism or, if listed compounds have the same mechanism, they are each currently intended for commercialization in a given therapeutic area. Small molecules and biologics are given MK-number designations and vaccine candidates are given V-number designations. Except as otherwise noted, candidates in Phase 1, additional indications in the same therapeutic area (other than with respect to cancer) and additional claims, line extensions or formulations for in-line products are not shown.
Phase 2
Phase 3 (Phase 3 entry date)
Under Review
Cancer
MK-1026
     Hematological Malignancies
MK-1308(1)
Melanoma
Non-Small-Cell Lung
MK-1454(1)
Head and Neck
MK-3475 Keytruda
Advanced Solid Tumors
MK-4280(1) 
     Hematological Malignancies
     Non-Small-Cell Lung
MK-5890(1)
     Non-Small-Cell Lung
MK-7339 Lynparza(2)(3)
Advanced Solid Tumors
MK-7684(1)
    Melanoma
Non-Small-Cell Lung
MK-7902 Lenvima(1)(2)
Advanced Solid Tumors
V937
Melanoma
Chikungunya virus
V184
Cytomegalovirus
V160
HIV-1 Prevention
MK-8591 (islatravir)
Overgrowth Syndrome
MK-7075
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
MK-1654
SARS-CoV-2 Infection
MK-4482(2)
Schizophrenia
MK-8189

Cancer
MK-3475 Keytruda 
Biliary Tract (September 2019)
Breast (October 2015) (EU)
Cervical (October 2018) (EU)
Cutaneous Squamous Cell (August 2019) (EU)
Endometrial (August 2019) (EU)
Esophageal (December 2015) (EU)
Gastric (May 2015) (EU)
Hepatocellular (May 2016) (EU)
Mesothelioma (May 2018)
Nasopharyngeal (April 2016)
Ovarian (December 2018)
Prostate (May 2019)
Small-Cell Lung (May 2017) (EU)
MK-6482
Renal Cell (February 2020)
MK-7339 Lynparza(1)(2)
Non-Small-Cell Lung (June 2019)
MK-7902 Lenvima(1)(2)
Bladder (May 2019)
Endometrial (June 2018) (EU)
Head and Neck (February 2020)
Hepatocellular (May 2020)
Melanoma (March 2019)
Non-Small-Cell Lung (March 2019)
Cough
MK-7264 (gefapixant) (March 2018)
HIV-1 Infection
     MK-8591A (doravirine/islatravir) (February 2020)
Pneumoconjugate Vaccine
V114 (June 2018)
New Molecular Entities/Vaccines
Heart Failure
MK-1242 (vericiguat)(2) (U.S.) (EU) (JPN)
Pediatric Neurofibromatosis Type 1
MK-5618 (selumetinib)(2) (EU)


Certain Supplemental Filings
Cancer
MK-3475 Keytruda
• Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
         (KEYNOTE-355) (U.S.)
• Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
         (KEYNOTE-522) (U.S.)
• Refractory Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
         (KEYNOTE-204) (U.S.) (EU)
• Recurrent Locally Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal
         Cancer (KEYNOTE-180/KEYNOTE-181) (JPN)
• Unresectable or Metastatic MSI-H or dMMR Colorectal
         Cancer (KEYNOTE-177) (EU)
MK-7339 Lynparza(2)
• First-Line Maintenance Newly Diagnosed Advanced
         Ovarian Cancer (PAOLA) (EU)
• Metastatic Prostate Cancer (PROfound) (EU)
MK-7902 Lenvima(1)(2)
• First-Line Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma
         (KEYNOTE-524) (U.S.)(4)
• Thymic Carcinoma (NCCH1508/REMORA) (JPN)

Footnotes:
(1)  Being developed in combination with Keytruda.
(2)  Being developed in a collaboration.
(3)  Being developed as monotherapy and in combination with Keytruda.
(4)  In July 2020, the FDA issued a CRL for Merck’s and Eisai’s applications. Merck and Eisai are reviewing the letter and will submit data to the FDA.


Liquidity and Capital Resources
($ in millions)
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Cash and investments
$
12,354

 
$
11,919

Working capital
7,165

 
5,263

Total debt to total liabilities and equity
34.1
%
 
31.2
%
Cash provided by operating activities was $4.1 billion in the first six months of 2020 compared with $4.4 billion in the first six months of 2019. Cash provided by operating activities in the first six months of 2020 includes $1.1 billion of payments

- 45 -




related to collaborations with AstraZeneca and Eisai compared with $385 million in the first six months of 2019 (see Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements). Cash provided by operating activities continues to be the Company’s primary source of funds to finance operating needs, capital expenditures, treasury stock purchases and dividends paid to shareholders.
Cash used in investing activities was $2.5 billion in the first six months of 2020 compared with $2.1 billion in the first six months of 2019. The increase was driven primarily by lower proceeds from sales of securities and other investments and higher capital expenditures, partially offset by lower purchases of securities and other investments and lower use of cash for acquisitions.
Cash used in financing activities was $353 million in the first six months of 2020 compared with $3.7 billion in the first six months of 2019. The lower use of cash in financing activities was driven primarily by a net increase in short-term borrowings in 2020 compared with a net decrease in short-term borrowing in 2019, as well as lower purchases of treasury stock, partially offset by higher payments on debt (see below), lower proceeds from the issuance of debt (see below), higher dividends paid to shareholders, and lower proceeds from the exercise of stock options.
Capital expenditures totaled $1.7 billion and $1.4 billion for the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increased capital expenditures reflect investment in new capital projects focused primarily on increasing manufacturing capacity for Merck’s key products.
The Company has accounts receivable factoring agreements with financial institutions in certain countries to sell accounts receivable. The Company factored $1.9 billion and $2.7 billion of accounts receivable in the second quarter of 2020 and the fourth quarter of 2019, respectively, under these factoring arrangements, which reduced outstanding accounts receivable. The cash received from the financial institutions is reported within operating activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. In certain of these factoring arrangements, for ease of administration, the Company will collect customer payments related to the factored receivables, which it then remits to the financial institutions. The net cash flows relating to these collections are reported as financing activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
Dividends paid to stockholders were $3.1 billion and $2.9 billion for the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively. In May 2020, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.61 per share on the Company’s common stock for the third quarter that was paid in July 2020. In July 2020, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.61 per share on the Company’s common stock for the fourth quarter that will be paid in October 2020.
In February 2020, the Company’s $1.25 billion, 1.85% notes and $700 million floating-rate notes matured in accordance with their terms and were repaid.
In June 2020, the Company issued $4.5 billion principal amount of senior unsecured notes consisting of $1.0 billion of 0.75% notes due 2026, $1.25 billion of 1.45% notes due 2030, $1.0 billion of 2.35% notes due 2040 and $1.25 billion of 2.45% notes due 2050. Merck intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including without limitation the repayment of outstanding commercial paper borrowings and other indebtedness with upcoming maturities.
In March 2019, the Company issued $5.0 billion principal amount of senior unsecured notes consisting of $750 million of 2.90% notes due 2024, $1.75 billion of 3.40% notes due 2029, $1.0 billion of 3.90% notes due 2039, and $1.5 billion of 4.00% notes due 2049. The Company used the net proceeds from the offering of $5.0 billion for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of outstanding commercial paper borrowings.
In 2018, Merck’s Board of Directors authorized purchases of up to $10 billion of Merck’s common stock for its treasury. The treasury stock purchase authorization has no time limit and will be made over time in open-market transactions, block transactions on or off an exchange, or in privately negotiated transactions. During the first six months of 2020, the Company purchased $1.3 billion (16 million shares) of its common stock for its treasury under this share repurchase program. As of June 30, 2020, the Company’s remaining share repurchase authorization was $5.9 billion. In March 2020, the Company temporarily suspended its share repurchase program.
The Company has a $6.0 billion credit facility that matures in June 2024. The facility provides backup liquidity for the Company’s commercial paper borrowing facility and is to be used for general corporate purposes. The Company has not drawn funding from this facility.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Company’s significant accounting policies, which include management’s best estimates and judgments, are included in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 included in Merck’s Form 10‑K filed on February 26, 2020. Certain of these accounting policies are considered critical as disclosed in the Critical Accounting Policies section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in Merck’s Form 10-K because of the potential for a significant impact on the financial statements due to the inherent uncertainty in such estimates. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s critical accounting policies since December 31, 2019. See

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Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for information on the adoption of new accounting standards during 2020.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
For a discussion of recently issued accounting standards, see Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Management of the Company, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures over financial reporting. Based on their evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that as of June 30, 2020, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. For the second quarter of 2020, there were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
CAUTIONARY FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS
This report and other written reports and oral statements made from time to time by the Company may contain so-called “forward-looking statements,” all of which are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. One can identify these forward-looking statements by their use of words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “will,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “projects” and other words of similar meaning, or negative variations of any of the foregoing. One can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements are likely to address the Company’s growth strategy, financial results, product development, product approvals, product potential and development programs. One must carefully consider any such statement and should understand that many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s forward-looking statements. These factors include inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of other risks and uncertainties, including the impact of the recent global outbreak of COVID-19 and other risks and uncertainties some that are known and some that are not. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially.
The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement. One should carefully evaluate such statements in light of factors, including risk factors, described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. In Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as filed on February 26, 2020, in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, as filed on May 6, 2020, and in this Form 10-Q, the Company discusses in more detail various important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from expected or historic results. The Company notes these factors for investors as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. One should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, the reader should not consider any such list to be a complete statement of all potential risks or uncertainties.
PART II - Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The information called for by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to Note 8 included in Part I, Item 1, Financial Statements (unaudited) — Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
For a discussion of risks that affect the Company’s business, please refer to Part I, Item IA, “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. There have been no material changes to the risk factors as previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as follows:
The global COVID-19 pandemic is having an adverse impact on the Company’s business, operations and financial performance. The Company is unable to predict the full extent to which the pandemic and related impacts will continue to adversely impact its business, operations, financial performance, results of operations, and financial condition.
The Company’s business and financial results have been negatively impacted by the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The duration, spread and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, rapidly changing and difficult to predict. The degree to which COVID-19 impacts the Company’s results will depend on future developments, beyond the Company’s knowledge or control, including, but not limited to, the duration and spread of the outbreak, its severity, the actions taken to contain the virus or treat its impact, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.

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While the Company expects to rely on governmental authorities to determine when operations can return to normal, and is cognizant that the duration, spread and severity of the outbreak will be critical determinants for purposes of the full-year estimates provided below, Merck has assumed that the majority of the negative impact occurred in the second quarter of 2020, with a gradual recovery having commenced in the second quarter and extending through the third quarter, with a return to normal operating levels in the fourth quarter of 2020. To the extent these assumptions prove to be incorrect, the Company’s results may differ materially from the estimates set forth herein.
Thus far in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the Company’s business and the Company continues to expect that it will impact the business in numerous ways, including but not limited to those outlined below:
In the second quarter of 2020, the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to Merck’s sales was estimated to be $1.6 billion, including approximately $1.5 billion for Pharmaceutical revenue and approximately $100 million for Animal Health revenue. The impact to sales in the first quarter of 2020 was immaterial. For the full-year 2020, Merck expects an unfavorable impact to sales of approximately $1.95 billion (excluding the impact of foreign exchange) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, comprised of approximately $1.8 billion for Pharmaceutical revenue and approximately $150 million for Animal Health revenue. These estimates include the impacts for the first half of the year.
Roughly two-thirds of Merck’s Pharmaceutical revenue is comprised of physician-administered products, which, despite strong underlying demand, were affected by social distancing measures, fewer well visits and delays in elective surgeries due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts, as well as the prioritization of COVID-19 patients at health care providers, have resulted in reduced administration of many of the Company’s human health products, in particular for its vaccines as well as for Keytruda and Implanon/Nexplanon. The Company anticipates reduced demand for its physician-administered products while pandemic-related access measures remain in place. In addition, declines in medical visits and elective surgeries also negatively affected the demand for certain products, including Bridion. In Merck’s Animal Health business, reduced veterinary visits and lower demand for protein and milk due to restaurant and school closures have negatively affected sales.
Operating expenses were positively impacted in the second quarter and first six months of 2020 by approximately $325 million and $425 million, respectively, primarily driven by lower promotional and selling costs, as well as lower research and development expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the full-year 2020, Merck continues to expect a net favorable impact to operating expenses of approximately $400 million including both the favorable impact of lower spending, largely reflected in the first half of 2020, partially offset by anticipated spending on recently initiated COVID-19-related vaccine and antiviral research programs.
Item 6. Exhibits
Number
  
Description
 
 
3.1

 
 
3.2

 
 
 
31.1

 
 
31.2

 
 
32.1

 
 
32.2

 
 
101.INS

XBRL Instance Document - The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
 
 
 
101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
 
 
 
101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
MERCK & CO., INC.
 
 
 
Date: August 5, 2020
 
/s/ Jennifer Zachary
 
 
JENNIFER ZACHARY
 
 
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
 
 
 
Date: August 5, 2020
 
/s/ Rita A. Karachun
 
 
RITA A. KARACHUN
 
 
Senior Vice President Finance - Global Controller

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