Q3 2025: Merck Shows Solid Organic Growth Across All Sectors

Merck affiche une croissance organique solide de 5.2% pour ses ventes nettes, atteignant 5.3 milliards d'euros, avec un EBITDA pre en hausse de 8.8% à 1.7 milliard. Des performances remarquables dans les solutions de processus, les maladies rares et les semi-conducteurs renforcent cette dynamique, malgré les vents contraires des devises. L'entreprise confirme sa guidance ambitieuse pour 2025.

13 NOV 2025 | DARMSTADT, GERMANY
Net sales increase organically by +5.2% to € 5.3 billion; foreign exchange effects of –4.9%, portfolio effects of +0.7%
EBITDA pre grows organically by +8.8% to € 1.7 billion; foreign exchange effects of –6.5%, portfolio effects of +0.9%
Strong performance by Process Solutions, Rare Diseases and Semiconductor Solutions
Merck confirms guidance for 2025

Merck, a leading science and technology company, delivered solid organic growth in the third quarter of 2025. This performance demonstrates resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty and strong currency headwinds. Growth was mainly driven by Process Solutions in the Life Science business sector, Rare Diseases in Healthcare, and Semiconductor Solutions in Electronics. The company confirms its guidance for the full year 2025.

Net sales of the Group grew by 1.0% compared with the year-earlier quarter to € 5.3 billion. Negative currency headwinds of –4.9% were offset by organic growth of 5.2%. EBITDA pre rose by 3.1% to € 1.7 billion with strong organic growth of 8.8% exceeding negative foreign exchange effects of –6.5%. The EBITDA pre margin increased by 0.7 percentage points to 31.4%. Favorable one-time effects, including from local legislative changes in South America and the sale of a priority review voucher from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), supported this high margin. Earnings per share pre reached € 2.32 and were thus approximately at the level of the year-earlier quarter (Q3 2024: € 2.30).

“We delivered solid organic growth across all three business sectors, illustrating the resilience of our diversified portfolio against significant external headwinds. As we confirmed at our recent Capital Markets Day, our powerful value drivers and cash-generating businesses are poised to create sustainable value for years to come,” said Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck. “We remain focused on disciplined execution of our strategy. Our recent agreement with the U.S. administration will further strengthen our presence in this highly attractive market, while providing affordable access to innovative fertility treatments to families with the dream of having children.”

In October 2025, Merck agreed with the U.S. administration to expand access to its portfolio of in vitro fertilization therapies in the United States. The company has also entered into an agreement with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to exclude its pharmaceutical products and ingredients from Section 232 tariffs, provided it invests in future biopharmaceutical manufacturing and research in the country. To further expand therapeutic options for patients with complex fertility issues, Merck will also file Pergoveris for accelerated review under the U.S. FDA Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program.

Life Science: Process Solutions powers sector performance

Process Solutions was again the growth driver in Life Science. Overall, the business sector achieved net sales of € 2.2 billion, an increase of 1.4%. Organic growth of 5.9% more than compensated for foreign exchange effects of –4.6%. EBITDA pre grew by 2.4% to € 662 million. Foreign exchange effects of –5.7% were more than offset by organic growth of 6.1% and portfolio effects of 1.9%.

Process Solutions, which offers solutions for the entire pharmaceutical production value chain, grew by 10.3% organically. This was mainly driven by strong demand. The book-to-bill ratio in the third quarter of 2025 remained strong.

Science & Lab Solutions saw organic growth of 2.5% in net sales. Enhanced product availability and surcharges to mitigate tariff costs contributed to this. However, foreign exchange effects led to an overall sales decline of –1.8%. The business unit offers products and services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and academic research.

Life Science Services posted solid organic growth of 5.2% in the third quarter of 2025. However, negative foreign exchange and portfolio effects led to an overall net sales decline of 0.8%. The business unit serves as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies and provides testing services.

As communicated at the Merck Capital Markets Day, Life Science is transforming its business units and aligning its go-to-market approaches even more closely to specific customer needs. From January 1, 2026, onward:

Process Solutions will continue supporting pharma and biotech manufacturers with solutions directly embedded in biopharmaceutical processes.
Advanced Solutions will offer specialized products and services that require high-touch commercial models.
Discovery Solutions will offer a digital-first platform for fast, convenient purchases of high-quality biology and chemistry catalog products.

Healthcare: Strong CM&E performance and positive portfolio effects

Organic growth in Healthcare was once again driven by the Cardiovascular, Metabolism & Endocrinology (CM&E) franchise as well as the blockbuster drugs Mavenclad and Erbitux. Compared with the year-earlier quarter, net sales of the business sector grew organically by 4.6%. Foreign exchange effects of –5.4% were partially offset by strong positive portfolio effects of 4.0% through the acquisition of SpringWorks Therapeutics, which forms the basis for the Rare Diseases franchise as a new strategic pillar. Overall, net sales increased by 3.2% to € 2.2 billion. EBITDA pre came in at € 818 million, a decline of 2.1% year-on-year. Foreign exchange effects of –10.4% offset the strong organic growth of 8.5%.

The new Rare Diseases franchise includes sales from Ogsiveo, which treats progressing desmoid tumors, and Gomekli, approved for neurofibromatosis type 1. Merck gained these products through the SpringWorks Therapeutics acquisition, which closed on July 1, 2025. Both treatments contributed to results as of the third quarter of 2025, reflected in the 4.0% portfolio effects.

The Cardiovascular, Metabolism & Endocrinology franchise achieved organic net sales growth of 7.2%. The franchise includes the diabetes medicine Glucophage, the beta-blocker Concor, the thyroid medicine Euthyrox, and Saizen, which is primarily used to treat various growth hormone disorders. Euthyrox delivered organic net sales growth of 9.6%, while Saizen benefited from strong demand and grew by 21.4% organically.

Mavenclad, an oral short-course treatment for highly active relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), delivered organic growth of 20.4%. Rebif, another treatment for multiple sclerosis, saw net sales decline organically by 19.7% as expected. This is in line with the global interferon market, which sees increased competition from oral dosage forms and high-efficacy MS therapies. Compared with the year-earlier quarter, combined net sales in the Neurology & Immunology franchise increased by 5.6% organically.

Net sales of Erbitux, for treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer as well as cancer of the head and neck, climbed organically by 10.3% thanks to increased demand. For Bavencio, net sales declined by 12.9% organically. The drug, which is used to treat a type of bladder cancer, faces increasing competition from other treatment options for this indication. Overall, net sales of the Oncology franchise grew by 3.1% organically.

Pergoveris achieved organic net sales growth of 36.5% with all regions contributing. The drug stimulates follicular development in the ovaries and is available in 74 countries. To expand access, Merck will file Pergoveris for priority review with the FDA following an agreement with the U.S. administration. Gonal-f, a hormone treatment for infertility, saw an organic net sales decline of 7.7% due to lower demand. Overall, net sales of the Fertility franchise grew by 2.4% organically.

Electronics: AI demand powers continued Semiconductor Materials growth

The Semiconductor Materials business continued to be the main growth engine in Electronics, fueled by strong demand for AI-enabling technologies. Overall, the business sector achieved solid organic net sales growth of 4.8%, overcoming foreign exchange effects of –4.3%. However, net sales declined to € 875 million due to a portfolio effect of –5.7% from the divestment of the Surface Solutions business unit, which closed on July 31, 2025. EBITDA pre was roughly stable at € 236 million, with organic growth of 4.7% and positive portfolio effects of 0.9% being offset by foreign exchange effects of –5.3%.

Semiconductor Materials achieved strong organic net sales growth in the high single-digit percentage range. The AI boom continued to drive demand for materials needed for advanced nodes: The latest semiconductor manufacturing processes that allow for smaller feature sizes and the most powerful chips. Delivery Systems & Services recorded an organic sales decline caused by ongoing delays to major customer projects. The business is expected to stabilize in 2026 and will return to growth in the medium term. Overall, the Semiconductor Solutions business unit grew by 3.0% organically.

Optronics delivered organic sales growth of 2.9%. The business unit comprises the businesses with liquid crystals, photoresists for display applications, OLED materials, and metrology and inspection equipment for semiconductor and optoelectronic manufacturing. The acquisition of Unity-SC had a positive portfolio effect of 7.1%.

Merck confirms guidance for 2025

Merck confirms and narrows its full-year guidance for the Group for 2025, reflecting increased visibility as the year progresses. The company expects net sales of between € 20.8 billion and € 21.4 billion and EBITDA pre of between € 6.0 billion and € 6.2 billion. The midpoint remains unchanged. Merck expects EPS pre of around € 8.20 to € 8.60. The company guides to organic net sales growth of around 3% and organic EBITDA pre growth of 5% to 7%.

Overview of the key figures for Q3 2025

Merck Group




Key figures




€ million



 



Q3 2025



 



Q3 2024



 



Change




Net sales



 



5,318



 



5,266



 



1.0%




Operating result (EBIT)1



 



1,221



 



1,097



 



11.3%




Margin (% of net sales)1



 



23.0%



 



20.8%



 



 




EBITDA2



 



1,679



 



1,546



 



8.6%




Margin (% of net sales)1



 



31.6%



 



29.4%



 



 




EBITDA pre1



 



1,669



 



1,618



 



3.1%




Margin (% of net sales)1



 



31.4%



 



30.7%



 



 




Profit after income tax



 



898



 



812



 



10.6%




Earnings per share (€)



 



2.07



 



1.86



 



11.3%




Earnings per share pre (€)1



 



2.32



 



2.30



 



0.9%




Operating cash flow



 



1,518



 



1,458



 



4.1%




Net financial debt1, 3



 



9,288



 



7,155



 



29.8%




Number of employees4



 



62,346



 



62,255



 



0.1%




1 Not defined by IFRS® Accounting Standards (IFRS).




2 Not defined by IFRS® Accounting Standards (IFRS); EBITDA corresponds to operating result (EBIT) adjusted by depreciation,
amortization, impairment losses, and reversals of impairment losses.




3 Figures for the reporting period ending on September 30, 2025, prior-year figures as of December 31, 2024.




4 Figures for the reporting period ending on September 30, 2025, prior-year figures as of June 30, 2024. This figure refers to all employees at sites of fully consolidated entities.

 

Merck Group




Net sales by business sector




€ million



 



Q3 2025



 



Share



 



Organic
growth1



 



Exchange
rate effects1



 



Acquisitions/
divestments1



 



Total change



 



Q3 2024



 



Share




Life Science



 



2,241



 



42%



 



5.9%



 



-4.6%



 



0.1%



 



1.4%



 



2,210



 



42%




Healthcare



 



2,203



 



41%



 



4.6%



 



-5.4%



 



4.0%



 



3.2%



 



2,133



 



40%




Electronics



 



875



 



17%



 



4.8%



 



-4.3%



 



-5.7%



 



-5.2%



 



923



 



18%




Merck Group



 



5,318



 



100%



 



5.2%



 



-4.9%



 



0.7%



 



1.0%



 



5,266



 



100%




1 Not defined by IFRS® Accounting Standards (IFRS).

 

Life Science




Net sales by business unit




€ million



 



Q3 2025



 



Share



 



Organic growth1



 



Exchange rate effects1



 



Acquisitions/ divestments1



 



Total change



 



Q3 2024



 



Share




Science & Lab Solutions



 



1,122



 



50%



 



2.5%



 



-4.6%



 



0.2%



 



-1.8%



 



1,143



 



52%




Process Solutions



 



949



 



42%



 



10.3%



 



-4.4%



 



0.1%



 



6.0%



 



896



 



40%




Life Science Services



 



170



 



8%



 



5.2%



 



-5.0%



 



-1.0%



 



-0.8%



 



171



 



8%




Life Science



 



2,241



 



100%



 



5.9%



 



-4.6%



 



0.1%



 



1.4%



 



2,210



 



100%




1 Not defined by IFRS® Accounting Standards (IFRS).

 

Healthcare



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 




Net sales by major product lines/products




€ million



 



Q3 2025



 



Share



 



Organic growth1



 



Exchange rate effects1



 



Acquisitions/ divestments1



 



Total change



 



Q3 2024



 



Share




Oncology



 



493



 



23 %



 



3.1%



 



-6.2%



 



0.0%



 



-3.1%



 



509



 



24%




thereof: Erbitux®



 



310



 



14%



 



10.3%



 



-7.4%



 



0.0%



 



2.8%



 



301



 



14%




thereof: Bavencio®



 



149



 



7%



 



-12.9%



 



-4.2%



 



0.0%



 



-17.0%



 



180



 



8%




Rare Diseases



 



85



 



4 %



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 




thereof: Ogsiveo®



 



62



 



3 %



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 




thereof: Gomekli®



 



23



 



1 %



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 




Neurology & Immunology



 



423



 



19%



 



5.6%



 



-4.8%



 



0.0%



 



0.8%



 



419



 



20%




thereof: Mavenclad®



 



305



 



14%



 



20.4%



 



-5.3%



 



0.0%



 



15.1%



 



265



 



12%




thereof: Rebif®



 



118



 



5%



 



-19.7%



 



-4.0%



 



0.0%



 



-23.7%



 



154



 



7%




Fertility



 



360



 



16%



 



2.4%



 



-6.9%



 



0.0%



 



-4.4%



 



377



 



18%




thereof: Gonal-f®



 



179



 



8%



 



-7.7%



 



-6.9%



 



0.0%



 



-14.6%



 



209



 



10%




thereof: Pergoveris®



 



79



 



4%



 



36.5%



 



-6.6%



 



0.0%



 



29.9%



 



61



 



3%




Cardiovascular, Metabolism and Endocrinology



 



774



 



35%



 



7.2%



 



-4.8%



 



0.0%



 



2.4%



 



755



 



35%




thereof: Glucophage®



 



247



 



11%



 



4.1%



 



-4.5%



 



0.0%



 



-0.3%



 



247



 



12%




thereof: Concor®



 



156



 



7%



 



0.8%



 



-3.1%



 



0.0%



 



-2.3%



 



160



 



8%




thereof: Euthyrox®



 



169



 



8%



 



9.6%



 



-4.7%



 



0.0%



 



4.9%



 



161



 



8%




thereof: Saizen®



 



94



 



4%



 



21.4%



 



-9.2%



 



0.0%



 



12.2%



 



84



 



4%




Other



 



68



 



3%



 



 



 



 



 



0.0%



 



 



 



73



 



3%




Healthcare



 



2,203



 



100%



 



4.6%



 



-5.4%



 



4.0%



 



3.2%



 



2,133



 



100%




1 Not defined by IFRS® Accounting Standards (IFRS).

 

Electronics




Net sales by business unit




€ million



 



Q3 2025



 



Share



 



Organic growth1



 



Exchange rate effects1



 



Acquisitions/ divestments1



 



Total change



 



Q3 20242



 



Share




Semiconductor Solutions



 



631



 



72%



 



3.0%



 



-4.7%



 



-0.1%



 



-1.8%



 



642



 



69 %




Optronics



 



193



 



22%



 



2.9%



 



-4.4%



 



7.1%



 



5.7%



 



183



 



20%




Surface Solutions



 



51



 



6%



 



20.5%



 



-2.2%



 



-66.2%



 



-47.9%



 



98



 



11%




Electronics



 



875



 



100%



 



4.8%



 



-4.3%



 



-5.7%



 



-5.2%



 



923



 



100%




1 Not defined by IFRS® Accounting Standards (IFRS).




2 Prior-year figures have been adjusted owing to an internal realignment.

 

Forecast for the Merck Group




Forecast for FY 2025




 



 



 



 



 



 



 




€ million



 



Net sales



 



EBITDA pre1



 



Operating cash flow




Merck Group



 



~20,800 to 21,400
Organic ~+3%
Foreign exchange effect -5% to -3%
Portfolio ~+0.5%



 



~6,000 to 6,200
Organic +5% to +7%
Foreign exchange effect -6% to -4%
Portfolio ~-0.5%



 



~3,600 to 4,000




Life Science



 



~8,900 to 9,100
Organic +4% to +5%
Foreign exchange effect -5% to -3%



 



~2,550 to 2,650
Organic +4% to +6%
Foreign exchange effect -5% to -3%



 



 




Healthcare



 



~8,500 to 8,700
Organic ~+3%
Foreign exchange effect -5% to -3%
Portfolio ~+2%



 



~3,000 to 3,100
Organic +9% to +11%
Foreign exchange effect -9% to -7%
Portfolio ~-0.5%



 



 




Electronics



 



~3,400 to 3,600
Organic -3% to -1%
Foreign exchange effect -4% to -2%
Portfolio ~-3%



 



~800 to 850
Organic -11% to -7%
Foreign exchange effect -6% to -4%
Portfolio ~-1%



 



 




Corporate and Other



 



n/a



 



~-350 to -400



 



 




1 Not defined by IFRS® Accounting Standards (IFRS); EBITDA corresponds to operating result (EBIT) adjusted by depreciation, amortization, impairment losses, and reversals of impairment losses.

 

Notes to editors:

The press conference will take place at 9:30 a.m. (CET).
The respective presentation and further information for journalists, including a digital press kit, can be found here.
The quarterly statement can be found here.
Merck on LinkedIn.
Merck photos and videos can be found here.
Merck stock symbols:
Reuters: MRCG, Bloomberg: MRK GY, Dow Jones: MRK.DE
Frankfurt Stock Exchange: ISIN: DE 000 659 9905 – WKN: 659 990
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