Merck

Positive clinical trial results for Merck & Co's experimental antiviral COVID-19 pill reverberated through the health care sector on Friday, sending the drugmaker's stock price soaring while denting high-flying shares of vaccine companies and makers of other coronavirus therapies.

Merck will request emergency approval for an experimental oral COVID-19 antiviral drug, molnupiravir, after a late-stage trial indicated an approximate 50% risk reduction for hospitalization or death among patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

Molnupiravir, an experimental oral COVID-19 antiviral drug, could potentially be effective against all known variants of the coronavirus, according to its producer, a drug company called Merck.

Merck will spend about $11.5 billion to buy Acceleron Pharma and its potential treatment for high blood pressure in vessels that connect the lungs heart.

Drugmaker Merck & Co on Monday said it will end development of its two COVID-19 vaccines, and will focus pandemic research on treatments, with initial efficacy data on an experimental oral antiviral expected by the end of March.

The Kenilworth, New Jersey, company on Tuesday reported a profit of $1.16 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and costs related to mergers and acquisitions, came to $1.74 per share.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Merck & Co. has begun testing one of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine candidates in healthy volunteers.

The offer of $20 per share for ArQule is more than double its closing price on Friday.