Today: 15 April 2026
Merck stock (MRK) heads into a holiday pause as FDA fast-review program draws scrutiny
18 January 2026
1 min read

Merck stock (MRK) heads into a holiday pause as FDA fast-review program draws scrutiny

New York, Jan 18, 2026, 14:53 EST — Market closed.

  • Merck & Company, Inc. shares ended Friday at $108.83, dropping roughly 1.9%.
  • After a Reuters report highlighted concerns about legal risks and review delays, traders are focusing on the FDA’s fast-track “priority voucher” pathway.
  • Investors are gearing up for Merck’s Q4 earnings call, scheduled for Feb. 3.

Merck & Company, Inc. shares closed Friday at $108.83, slipping 1.9%. U.S. markets will be shut Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Investors now have a few days to weigh a growing regulatory issue for major drug companies: just how much influence the FDA’s drive for quicker approvals should carry. The next regular trading session isn’t until Tuesday.

Timelines are crucial for Merck. The stock’s trajectory still hinges largely on upcoming pipeline developments and the pace at which new drugs clear regulatory hurdles.

Merck upgraded its forecast earlier this month, projecting $70 billion in revenue from “new growth drivers” by the mid-2030s. The company is pushing launches faster as competition heats up for Keytruda. Reuters

The FDA Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher Program, aiming to slash approval times to one or two months for select drugs, is colliding with some industry skepticism. According to a Reuters report, certain drugmakers worry that rushing reviews could open the door to legal battles if safety problems come up later. Richard Pazdur, a former FDA official, said some firms have told him they’re “not going ahead with it.” Greg Graves, a McKinsey partner, warned it might be “hard to unmake history” if the process turns out to be strict. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly’s research chief Dan Skovronsky emphasized that companies still want the FDA to remain “science-driven.” Reuters

Merck stumbled on Friday, trailing several big-cap rivals. The S&P 500 edged down 0.06%, while the Dow lost 0.17%. Merck’s shares slid 1.93%, compared with a 0.41% drop for Johnson & Johnson and a 0.93% decline for Pfizer, according to MarketWatch data.

The upcoming week is brief but packed with headlines. Investors are gearing up for a batch of earnings reports, including Johnson & Johnson, alongside crucial U.S. economic data that could shift risk sentiment.

Merck’s calendar is straightforward: the company plans to hold its Q4 2025 earnings call on Feb. 3. Investors will be looking for clearer insights into what will make up for lost revenue, the timeline for upcoming launches, and how confident management feels about the next batch of approvals.

The FDA’s fast-review drive isn’t without its pitfalls. Should the voucher program stall, face legal challenges, or spark stricter labeling disputes, a speedier timeline might backfire — introducing fresh risks. That kind of uncertainty often weighs on stocks reliant on pipeline milestones.

MRK’s next major event is set for Feb. 3. Before then, the FDA might drop more clues about how the voucher pathway will actually operate. Traders will be on alert for any updates once markets open Tuesday.

Stock Market Today

  • Allbirds Shares Soar 550% as Company Shifts from Footwear to AI Compute Business
    April 15, 2026, 11:49 AM EDT. Shares of Allbirds surged over 550% in early New York trading after the footwear company announced plans to exit consumer products and focus on AI compute infrastructure. The firm has signed an agreement to sell its shoe business to American Exchange Group, subject to shareholder approval. The transition includes a $50 million convertible financing facility to acquire GPU assets for AI services under long-term leases. Rebranding as NewBird AI, the company aims to become a GPU-as-a-Service and AI cloud solutions provider amid strong demand for specialized AI computing. The shift reflects structural market pressures like extended hardware procurement times and tight data centre capacity, as enterprises race to secure AI training resources.

Latest article

Oracle Stock Jumps Again After Bloom Energy Deal and AI Push—but Risks Still Linger

Oracle Stock Jumps Again After Bloom Energy Deal and AI Push—but Risks Still Linger

15 April 2026
Oracle shares jumped 5.3% to $171.68 Wednesday morning, extending a rally after the company unveiled new AI features and expanded its fuel-cell partnership with Bloom Energy. Oracle agreed to procure up to 2.8 gigawatts of Bloom’s fuel-cell systems for data centers, with 1.2 GW already contracted. The stock had climbed 12.7% Monday and 4.7% Tuesday.
Allbirds Stock Soars as Shoe Brand Bets $50 Million on AI Compute Pivot

Allbirds Stock Soars as Shoe Brand Bets $50 Million on AI Compute Pivot

15 April 2026
Allbirds secured up to $50 million in senior secured convertible notes and will pivot to AI compute infrastructure after selling its footwear business to American Exchange Group for $39 million. Shares jumped to $10.10, up $7.61, after the announcement. The company plans to rename itself NewBird AI and use the funds to buy GPUs for a rental business. A May 18 shareholder vote will decide on the asset sale and charter changes.
Broadcom Jumps on Meta AI Chip Deal as Marvell Gets New Bull Call

Broadcom Jumps on Meta AI Chip Deal as Marvell Gets New Bull Call

15 April 2026
Broadcom shares rose 3.9% after Meta extended its chip partnership through 2029, with the first rollout phase exceeding 1 gigawatt of compute. Marvell gained 1.5% as Oppenheimer raised its price target to $170, citing strong data-center networking growth. Wall Street opened higher, with the S&P 500 near record levels amid easing inflation signals.
U.S. Mortgage Applications Rise as Rates Hit One-Month Low, but Buyers Stay Cautious

U.S. Mortgage Applications Rise as Rates Hit One-Month Low, but Buyers Stay Cautious

15 April 2026
U.S. mortgage applications rose 1.8% last week as the average 30-year rate fell to 6.42%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Refinance applications climbed 5%, while purchase applications slipped 1%. Existing-home sales dropped 3.6% in March, and the median price increased 1.4% to $408,800. The Fed held rates steady in March and meets again April 28-29.
Bank of America (BAC) Q1 Earnings Beat as Profit Jumps 17% on Record Equities Trading

Bank of America (BAC) Q1 Earnings Beat as Profit Jumps 17% on Record Equities Trading

15 April 2026
Bank of America reported a 17% rise in first-quarter profit to $8.6 billion, or $1.11 per share, beating analyst estimates. Revenue rose 7% to $30.3 billion, with record equities trading and higher investment-banking fees driving gains. Net interest income climbed 9% to $15.7 billion. Consumer credit and debit card spending increased 7% to $245 billion.
Cisco stock (CSCO) eyes holiday week after 57 million-share filing and email security patch
Previous Story

Cisco stock (CSCO) eyes holiday week after 57 million-share filing and email security patch

Hermes stock: why RMS.PA slid on Friday and what investors watch next week
Next Story

Hermes stock: why RMS.PA slid on Friday and what investors watch next week

Go toTop