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Merck's Keytruda cancer drug family generated $8.4 billion in fiscal Q2 2026, about half of the company's $16.6 billion revenue. Excluding currency, Keytruda sales grew 4%, the same pace as total revenue. Management said on the August 4 call that US Keytruda growth will moderate as the drug reaches peak penetration. A Dutch court has also barred Merck from selling subcutaneous Keytruda in eight European markets, Barron's reported. Newer drugs are growing faster. WINREVAIR sales rose 75% to $588 million, and WELIREG sales rose 67%. Free cash flow of $16.1 billion covered dividends of $8.3 billion about twice. Total debt rose to $53.9 billion from $35.4 billion a year earlier. Merck is expected to report results on October 29.

Epicrispr Biotechnologies appoints Enoch Kariuki to Board of Directors. October 20, 2026 Enoch Kariuki Epicrispr Biotechnologies, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing epigenetic therapies, has appointed Enoch Kariuki, PharmD, to its Board of Directors as the company advances its lead treatment candidate, EPI-321, toward pivotal clinical development and expands its pipeline of gene-modulating medicines. Kariuki brings extensive experience in biotechnology operations, corporate strategy, capital markets and business development. Throughout his career, he has participated in more than $10 billion in strategic financings and mergers and acquisitions across the life sciences industry. His appointment strengthens Epicrispr's board as the company works to advance its clinical programs, evaluate development priorities and establish the financial and operational infrastructure needed to support future growth. "Enoch is an accomplished biotechnology leader with a proven track record of building and scaling companies, guiding programs through pivotal clinical and regulatory milestones, and executing strategic transactions that create lasting value," said Amber Salzman, Ph.D., CEO of Epicrispr Biotechnologies. Salzman said Kariuki's combination of operational, financial and strategic experience will support the company's efforts to advance EPI-321 and develop additional epigenetic medicines. Kariuki currently serves as President of Endeavor BioMedicines, where he oversees corporate strategy and operations. His responsibilities include guiding organizational development and supporting the company's business and clinical development objectives. Previously, he served as CEO of Lengo Therapeutics, a biotechnology company acquired by Blueprint Medicines. He also held the position of Chief Financial Officer at VelosBio, which was acquired by Merck. Earlier in his career, Kariuki was Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Synthorx, where he led the company's initial public offering and played a significant role in its subsequent acquisition by Sanofi. His experience also includes investment and advisory positions at H.I.G. Capital, Leerink Partners and UBS Investment Bank, providing a background in financing, strategic transactions and biotechnology investment analysis. These roles have given Kariuki experience across multiple stages of biotechnology company development, from securing financing and establishing corporate strategy to executing acquisitions and supporting clinical-stage growth. At Epicrispr, that experience will be relevant as the company evaluates the resources, partnerships and development strategies required to advance its therapeutic programs. Epicrispr's lead candidate, EPI-321, is being evaluated in clinical trials for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a genetic neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness. The company is developing EPI-321 using its proprietary Gene Expression Modulation System (GEMS), an epigenetic technology platform designed to regulate gene expression without directly changing the underlying DNA sequence. Epigenetic therapies seek to influence how genes are activated or suppressed. Epicrispr's approach is intended to provide precise and durable modulation of gene activity, potentially addressing diseases associated with abnormal gene expression. The company is initially concentrating on neuromuscular disorders while developing additional gene-modulating treatments for other conditions. Advancing EPI-321 toward pivotal development represents an important operational priority. Clinical-stage biotechnology companies approaching later-stage trials must address study design, regulatory engagement, manufacturing readiness, financing requirements and long-term commercialization planning. Board members with experience in clinical development and capital markets can provide oversight as management evaluates those requirements and determines how to allocate resources across its pipeline. "Epicrispr is at an exciting inflection point, with compelling early clinical data supporting the potential of its differentiated epigenetic platform to address diseases with significant unmet medical needs," Kariuki said. He identified EPI-321's development in FSHD and the company's broader epigenetic technology platform as areas of opportunity, while emphasizing his intention to support Epicrispr's strategic priorities. In addition to his executive responsibilities, Kariuki serves on the boards of Zentalis Pharmaceuticals and Pheon Therapeutics, chairing the audit committees at both companies. He previously served on the boards of Imago Biosciences and ProfoundBio, which were acquired by Merck and Genmab, respectively. His board experience includes financial oversight and corporate governance responsibilities relevant to biotechnology companies operating in capital-intensive research and development environments. Kariuki earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Texas Southern University and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in research and development strategy and analytics at Bristol Myers Squibb. Epicrispr continues to advance EPI-321 through clinical development while expanding its portfolio of gene-modulating therapies. Kariuki's appointment adds biotechnology financing, transaction and operational experience to the board as the company prepares for its next stage of clinical development and evaluates opportunities to advance its epigenetic medicines platform.

Ash secures $10M Series A funding led by Merck GHI Fund. We are scaling at home lab test programs to close care gaps and bring patients into the care cycle.