Merck scores an FDA win for its HIV pill

Another FDA checkmark for Merck

Merck just got the green light from the FDA for IDVYNSO™, a new once-daily, two-drug HIV-1 regimen built from doravirine and islatravir. The pill is meant for adults who are already virologically suppressed and looking to swap in a new stable antiretroviral regimen.

Why investors should care

This is the kind of news that won’t move the stock like a blockbuster cancer approval, but it does matter. Every new approved therapy gives Merck a bigger shot at stacking revenue streams, especially in areas where durable, repeat prescriptions can quietly turn into long-term cash flow.

The bigger Merck playbook

Merck has been busy lately, and this approval fits the pattern: keep broadening the pipeline, keep finding new lanes, and keep reducing dependence on any one mega-franchise. In biotech terms, it’s a little like adding another card to an already crowded poker hand.

• It strengthens Merck’s HIV portfolio
• It gives doctors another single-tablet option for patients stable on treatment
• It adds one more commercial asset to a pipeline investors are already watching closely

Big picture: Merck doesn’t need every approval to be a fireworks show. Sometimes the smartest growth story is just the one that keeps getting longer.