Merck stock slips after Cidara tender offer; $9 billion R&D hit and HPV schedule shift in focus
Merck shares slipped 0.3% to $108.59 after it completed its tender offer for Cidara Therapeutics and expects to finalize the $9.2 billion acquisition later Wednesday. The deal will add about $9 billion to 2026 R&D expenses and reduce earnings per share by 30 cents in the first year. Merck also began a Phase 3 lung-cancer trial of calderasib with Keytruda QLEX. U.S. officials updated HPV and rotavirus vaccine guidance this week.