Merck Stock Surges 39.61% in Trading Volume Ranking 40th with $1.33 Billion Turnover

On June 18, 2025, Merck (MRK) experienced a significant surge in trading volume, with a turnover of $1.33 billion, marking a 39.61% increase from the previous day. This substantial rise positioned Merck as the 40th most traded stock of the day. The company's stock price also saw a notable increase of 1.30%.

Merck has initiated the IDeate-Prostate01 Phase 3 trial, which aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ifinatamab deruxtecan compared to docetaxel in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have experienced disease progression despite treatment with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors. This trial is a significant step in the development of ifinatamab deruxtecan, a potential first-in-class B7-H3 directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and jointly developed with Merck.

The trial is designed to assess whether ifinatamab deruxtecan can replace standard taxane-based chemotherapy as a treatment strategy for mCRPC patients. The primary endpoints of the trial include overall survival and radiographic progression-free survival, with secondary endpoints focusing on various measures of treatment response and safety. The trial will enroll approximately 1,440 patients across multiple regions, including Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania.

This development underscores Merck's commitment to addressing critical unmet needs in oncology. The company's continued progress in the exploration of ifinatamab deruxtecan, in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo, highlights its pursuit of novel science to improve outcomes for patients with advanced prostate cancer. The initiation of this trial follows promising results from earlier phase trials, which showed encouraging responses in heavily pretreated patients with mCRPC.