• Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) from "Overweight" to "Cautious" despite its ongoing advancements in cancer treatment.
• Merck, in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo, has initiated the IDeate-Esophageal01 study for the treatment of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
• The stock has experienced a recent increase, with a market capitalization of approximately $195.79 billion and a trading volume of 11,343,324 shares.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is a global healthcare company known for its innovative medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. The company operates in a competitive pharmaceutical industry, with key competitors like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. On May 20, 2025, Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded Merck's stock from "Overweight" to "Cautious," with the stock priced at $77.97 at the time.

Despite the downgrade, Merck is actively pursuing advancements in cancer treatment. The company, in collaboration with Japan's Daiichi Sankyo, has initiated the IDeate-Esophageal01 study. This phase III study focuses on evaluating the safety and efficacy of their antibody-drug conjugate, ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd), in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

The IDeate-Esophageal01 study follows promising results from the earlier IDeate-PanTumor01 study, where I-DXd showed encouraging responses in heavily pretreated ESCC patients. The primary goal of the current study is to measure overall survival, with secondary goals including progression-free survival and objective response rates. This reflects Merck's commitment to developing effective cancer treatments.

Merck's stock is currently priced at $77.97, with a recent increase of $0.74, or 0.96%. The stock has traded between $77.42 and $79.18 today. Over the past year, it has seen a high of $134.63 and a low of $73.31. Merck's market capitalization stands at approximately $195.79 billion, with a trading volume of 11,343,324 shares.