Three things to know:
1. Merck saw its worldwide sales increase 5 percent to $11 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018, including a 3 percent negative effect from foreign exchange. Its full-year total sales also increased 5 percent to $42.3 billion.
2. An increase in pharmaceutical sales was driven primarily by growth in the company’s oncology and vaccine units. In addition, lost sales due to a cyberattack in June 2017 unfavorably affected the drugmaker’s revenue for the full year of 2018 by $150 million.
3. For full-year 2018, Merck said pharmaceutical sales increased 6 percent to $37.7 billion, thanks to growth in its oncology, vaccines and hospital acute care businesses.
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