Merck KGaA Raises Profit Forecast Aided by Health-Care Unit

  • German drugmaker has 24 percent jump in third-quarter profit
  • New medicines likely to generate 2 billion euros by 2022

Merck KGaA's Priority Is to Pay Down Debt, Says Kuhnert

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Merck KGaA reported a 24 percent jump in third-quarter profit aided by a previous acquisition and boosted its earnings forecast for the year on lower-than-expected research costs in its health-care operations.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and excluding some costs is now expected to reach 4.45 billion euros ($4.78 billion) to 4.6 billion euros from the previous forecast of 4.25 billion euros to 4.4 billion euros, the Darmstadt, Germany-based company said in a statement on Tuesday. Its sales forecast for the year remained unchanged at 14.9 billion euros to 15.1 billion euros.