UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) February 1, 2024 (January 29, 2024)

Merck & Co., Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) (908) 740-4000

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ¨

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

The following information, including the exhibits hereto, is being furnished pursuant to this Item 2.02.

Incorporated by reference is a press release issued by Merck & Co., Inc. on February 1, 2024, regarding earnings for the fourth quarter and year end of 2023, attached as Exhibit 99.1. Also incorporated by reference is certain supplemental information not included in the press release, attached as Exhibit 99.2.

This information shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, and is not incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 2.05. Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.

On January 29, 2024, the Company approved a new restructuring program (the “2024 Restructuring Program”) intended to continue the optimization of the Company’s Human Health global manufacturing network as the future pipeline shifts to new modalities and also optimize the Animal Health global manufacturing network to improve supply reliability and increase efficiency.

The actions contemplated under the 2024 Restructuring Program are expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2031, with the cumulative pretax costs to be incurred by the Company to implement the program estimated to be approximately $4.0 billion. Approximately 60% of the $4.0 billion will be non-cash, relating primarily to the accelerated depreciation of facilities to be closed or divested; the remainder of the costs will result in cash outlays primarily relating to facility shutdown costs. 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.