Merck to create separate cancer business to offset Keytruda patent loss, WSJ reports

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Merck is splitting its human-health business into two ‌divisions to offset pressures ‌related to the loss of patent for its ​top-selling drug Keytruda, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

One division will house its cancer drugs, including ‌Keytruda, while ⁠the other will sell its non-cancer products, the report ⁠said. Shares of the U.S. drugmaker were up 1.4% in premarket ​trading.

Keytruda, approved ​for several ​forms of cancers, ‌recorded sales of more than $30 billion in 2025. The drug is set to lose certain patent protections in 2028, exposing it to intense ‌competition from lower-cost ​copycats.

Merck has been pursuing ​several deals ​over the past year ‌to fill up its ​pipeline and ​create new blockbuster growth drivers.

The company did not immediately respond ​to a ‌Reuters request for comment.

(Reporting by ​Padmanabhan Ananthan in Bengaluru; Editing ​by Shilpi Majumdar)