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MERCK PROFIT RISES, BUT SALES FALL

October 24, 2005

Merck & Co. on Monday posted a 7 percent rise in third-quarter earnings, as lower costs offset the withdrawal of arthritis drug Vioxx and sharply lower demand for its Zocor cholesterol fighter. Merck, along with marketing partner Schering-Plough Corp. , got a boost in the period from new cholesterol medicines Vytorin and Zetia. The strong performance fueled a threefold rise in earnings at Schering-Plough, and lifted shares of both drugmakers in early trading. Net income at Merck, which faces thousands of lawsuits over the Vioxx withdrawal last year, rose to $1.42 billion, or 65 cents per share, from $1.33 billion, or 60 cents per share, in the 2004 quarter.

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