Merck & Co. on Monday said third-quarter earnings rose, as lower costs offset the loss of its withdrawn arthritis drug Vioxx and sharply lower U.S. and overseas demand for its Zocor cholesterol fighter.
Merck, based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., reported net income of $1.42 billion (65 cents per share), compared with $1.33 billion (60 cents) a year earlier. Analysts, on average, expected 62 cents per share.
