Merck to Lay off Around 150 Employees at US Site Amid Slump in Sales
Merck will lay off about 150 employees across its facility in North Carolina that manufactures its human papillomavirus vaccine, Gardasil, according to a notice filed in the state's database. Gardasil has been one of Merck's top growth drivers after blockbuster cancer immunotherapy Keytruda, and much of its international growth has come from China. But the company halted shipments of the vaccine to China last year due to weak demand, driving a 39% slump in the shot's global sales in 2025. The vaccine protects against HPV infections that can lead to cervical, vulvar, vaginal and anal cancers. The U.S. also overhauled its long-standing childhood immunization schedule last month to recommend a single HPV vaccine dose instead of the approved two- or three-shot regimen. Gardasil is the only HPV vaccine licensed in the country. Merck's management last month said Gardasil was no longer a key growth driver for the company.
