Merck 2017 forecast reassuring; full-speed ahead with Keytruda

Merck & Co Inc, faced with patent expirations and increasing development costs for its high-profile Keytruda cancer immunotherapy, reassured investors on Thursday with a 2017 profit forecast roughly in line with Wall Street expectations. Shares of Merck were up nearly 3 percent at $63.90 after the U.S. drugmaker also reported fourth-quarter earnings that matched analysts' expectations. Despite acknowledging a need to hold down costs, Merck said it was charging ahead with Keytruda development