Topic: Merck

Tucker Carlson interviews a functional medicine doctor who claims pharmaceutical companies buy TV advertising not to sell drugs, but to "buy off" news networks and prevent investigative reporting. The hosts play a clip from 2011 where they made the same observation, noting that the U.S. is one of only two countries that allow direct-to-consumer prescription drug ads. They argue the media has been "captured" by the medical-industrial complex.

Moderna and Merck released trial results for a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine used in conjunction with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda. The combination therapy reportedly showed a 65% reduction in the recurrence of stage 3 and 4 melanoma. Unlike traditional vaccines, this treatment is customized to the genetic sequence of an individual patient's tumor.

Johnson & Johnson is undergoing a global overhaul as it faces massive legal liabilities from talcum powder and asbestos lawsuits. Meanwhile, Merck's COVID-19 drug is reportedly linked to viral mutations, potentially putting the company at a disadvantage against competitors like Pfizer. These financial pressures are forcing major shifts in the pharmaceutical industry.

Moderna and Merck announced promising results from a small study using mRNA technology to treat melanoma, claiming it significantly lowers the risk of relapse. Scientists are also exploring mRNA for flu vaccines and using base-editing gene technology to treat leukemia in teenagers. Critics remain skeptical of the "platform" approach, fearing long-term side effects from widespread mRNA application.

President Biden experiences a "rebound" COVID-19 infection after taking Pfizer's Paxlovid, a phenomenon some producers suggest is more common than reported. In Alberta, Canada, "unknown causes" became the leading cause of death in 2021, surpassing dementia and COVID-19. The hosts criticize the media for failing to investigate potential links between these trends and mass vaccination campaigns.

A report discusses the concept of "agency capture," specifically alleging that the CDC has become a "sock puppet" for the vaccine industry. The discussion focuses on former CDC head Julie Gerberding, who later became president of Merck's vaccine division. Allegations include the silencing of whistleblowers regarding the MMR vaccine and the approval of products like Gardasil and the chickenpox vaccine.

The FDA authorized a COVID-19 pill from Merck, though it is only recommended when Pfizer's more effective treatment is unavailable. Merck has faced criticism for not pursuing Ivermectin as a COVID treatment, despite a Japanese university offering to conduct tests on the drug.

An FDA advisory committee voted 13-10 to recommend EUA for Merck's antiviral pill, Molnupiravir, despite concerns over its 34% efficacy and potential risks during pregnancy. The discussion contrasts the approval of this expensive pill with the suppression of cheaper alternatives like ivermectin.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped approximately 1,000 points on the Friday following Thanksgiving, coinciding with the launch of the Omicron narrative. Speculation suggests the timing was optimized for low-volume trading days to maximize market impact while pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Merck prepare new therapeutics.

The FBI and CDC investigate the discovery of several vials labeled "smallpox" at a Merck facility in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980 and is officially stored only at the CDC in Atlanta and a lab in Russia. A similar discovery of vials occurred in 2014 at an NIH storage room, raising questions about the security of deadly pathogens.

Merck reported a strong fiscal quarter, exceeding expectations by $1 billion, driven by growth in its oncology business and a 68% increase in Gardasil sales. CEO Robert Davis discussed the upcoming launch of Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral pill intended for home use, with an advisory committee meeting scheduled for late November. Merck plans to produce 10 million courses of the drug by the end of the year, with pricing estimated by some analysts at up to $2,000 per course.

Kitasato University in Japan requested that Merck conduct clinical trials for ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment, but the company declined. The hosts note that ivermectin's co-discoverer, Satoshi Omura, won the Nobel Prize in 2015. They speculate that Merck's refusal is based on the drug being off-patent and therefore not profitable compared to new proprietary treatments.

Merck announced that its experimental antiviral pill, Molnupiravir, reduced COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths by 50% in clinical trials. The drug's origins are traced back to Emory University research on Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, leading to its nickname "Merc-mectin" due to Merck's simultaneous dismissal of the cheaper Ivermectin. Financial details reveal a U.S. government procurement agreement for 1.7 million courses at a price of $1.2 billion, equating to roughly $700 per treatment.

Nobel Prize winner William Campbell, a co-discoverer of Ivermectin, expressed frustration over Merck's public denigration of the drug for COVID-19 use. While Ivermectin is a generic drug derived from Japanese soil, Merck's corporate website now focuses heavily on ESG goals and social justice rather than pharmaceutical innovation. The company's stance against its own historic product is seen as a move to protect newer, more profitable treatments.

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's return from hiatus featured a monologue mocking ivermectin users and referencing Alex Jones. The segment notes that Merck, the drug's manufacturer, has issued statements against using ivermectin for COVID-19, likely to protect their upcoming proprietary COVID treatments.

A study published in JAMA estimates that over 80% of American adults now possess COVID-19 antibodies, a figure traditionally associated with herd immunity. Big Pharma companies like Pfizer and Merck are now shifting focus toward oral therapeutics, such as a "COVID pill," to manage the virus long-term.

Mainstream media outlets and the FDA continue to warn against the use of Ivermectin for COVID-19, often characterizing it solely as a "horse dewormer." Critics suggest this suppression is intended to clear the market for a new, patentable antiviral pill currently under development by Merck. Despite numerous international studies suggesting Ivermectin's efficacy, public health messaging focuses on isolated incidents of improper usage to discourage its adoption.

Dr. Pierre Kory argues that Ivermectin is a highly effective, low-cost treatment for COVID-19 that is being ignored in favor of expensive, patented drugs. He claims that over 100,000 American lives could have been saved if the NIH had adopted Ivermectin protocols earlier.

The White House and NIH announced a $3.2 billion investment to develop over-the-counter antiviral pills for COVID-19, with Merck expected to be a primary contractor. Meanwhile, President Biden's goal of 70% adult vaccination by July 4th is slipping, with the national rate currently at 65%. Vice President Kamala Harris has framed the vaccination effort in biblical terms, urging citizens to "love thy neighbor."

A new oral antiviral drug called Molnupiravir is being positioned as a "Tamiflu for COVID," with early Phase 2 data showing it clears the virus in five days. Dr. Fauci and other researchers suggest that oral drugs are necessary to suppress the virus, similar to treatments for HIV and Hepatitis C. Critics argue that existing, cheaper alternatives like Ivermectin are being ignored in favor of expensive new pharmaceutical products like "COVID-27" preparations.