Merck discloses Q2 earnings

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. Merck had global sales of $11.3 billion and profits of $752 million during second quarter 2010, according to an earnings report the drug maker released Friday. Sales and profits for the first six months of the year were $22.8 billion and $1.05 billion, respectively.

Those numbers compared with sales and profits of $5.9 billion and $1.6 billion in second quarter 2009, and $11.3 billion and $2.9 billion for the first six months of 2009. The changes reflect Merck’s purchase of Schering-Plough.

Several of Merck’s products had strong global sales during the period. The autoimmune disease drug Remicade (infliximab) had sales of $669 million during the quarter, while Merck also launched the once-monthly autoimmune treatment Simponi (golimumab). The cardiovascular drugs Zetia (ezetimibe) and Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin) had sales of $564 million and $490 million, respectively. The Type 2 diabetes drug Januvia (sitagliptin) had $600 million in sales during second quarter 2010, a 30% increase over second quarter 2009 sales, while Janumet (sitagliptin and metformin hydrochloride) had sales of $218 million. The HIV drug Isentress (raltegravir) had sales of $267 million, a 55% increase over second quarter 2009, while the hepatitis C drug Pegintron (peginterferon alfa-2b) had sales of $185 million.