Results of Operations

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) October 26, 2023   Merck & Co., Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)   New Jersey (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)   1-6571 (Commission File Number)   22-1918501 (I.R.S Employer Identification No.)   126 East Lincoln Avenue , Rahway , NJ (Address of principal executive offices)   07065 (Zip Code)   (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:   ¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) ¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))   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:   Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered           Common Stock ($0.50 par value)   MRK   New York Stock Exchange 0.500% Notes due 2024   MRK 24   New York Stock Exchange 1.875% Notes due 2026   MRK/26   New York Stock Exchange 2.500% Notes due 2034   MRK/34   New York Stock Exchange 1.375% Notes due 2036   MRK 36A   New York Stock Exchange             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 October 26, 2023, regarding earnings for the third quarter 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 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.   (d)  Exhibits     Exhibit 99.1 Press release issued October 26, 2023, regarding earnings for the third quarter of 2023         Exhibit 99.2 Certain supplemental information not included in the press release         Exhibit 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)         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.       Merck & Co., Inc.     Date: October 26, 2023 By: /s/ Kelly E. W. Grez     Kelly E. W. Grez     Corporate Secretary