---
title: "Merck Buy Rating Reiterated as sac-TMT Data De-Risk Oncology Pipeline; 12-Month Price Target Maintained at $137"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/292874131.md"
description: "Goldman Sachs analyst Asad Haider reiterated a Buy rating on Merck with a $137 price target, citing de-risked oncology pipeline data for sac-TMT. Positive Phase 3 OptiTROP-Lung06 results showed improved survival versus Keytruda-plus-chemotherapy in non-squamous NSCLC. Scotiabank also maintained a Buy rating with a $155 target."
datetime: "2026-07-16T08:05:33.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/292874131.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/292874131.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/292874131.md)
---

# Merck Buy Rating Reiterated as sac-TMT Data De-Risk Oncology Pipeline; 12-Month Price Target Maintained at $137

Goldman Sachs analyst Asad Haider maintained a Buy rating on Merck & Company yesterday and set a price target of $137.00.

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Asad Haider has given his Buy rating due to a combination of factors, chiefly the de-risking of Merck’s key oncology pipeline asset sac-TMT through its partner Kelun Biotech. The positive Phase 3 OptiTROP-Lung06 results in first-line non-squamous NSCLC with low PD-L1 expression, showing longer progression-free survival and an encouraging overall survival trend versus the standard of care Keytruda-plus-chemotherapy regimen, bolster confidence in this combination strategy.

These data build on prior success from OptiTROP-Lung05 and provide direct clinical evidence that sac-TMT plus Keytruda can outperform existing Keytruda-based therapy, addressing a critical segment of the lung cancer market. Supported by this strengthened pipeline outlook, Haider maintains a 12-month price target of $137, reflecting his view that the risk-reward profile remains attractive despite ongoing concerns about Keytruda loss-of-exclusivity dynamics, vaccine performance, regulatory uncertainties, and broader market risks.

In another report released yesterday, Scotiabank also maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a $155.00 price target.

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