KIRKLAND, QC, March 24, 2026 /CNW/ -- Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that British Columbia, Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB), Nova Scotia, Quebec and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) have added WINREVAIR^® (sotatercept) to their public drug formularies. As the first jurisdictions to implement public coverage following the completed pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) agreement, these listings mark an important step toward improving access for Canadians living with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare, progressive and life‑limiting disease.

WINREVAIR^® is indicated in combination with standard pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) therapy, for the treatment of adults with World Health Organization [WHO] Group 1 PAH and Functional Class (FC) II, III or IV.

"Today's announcement represents meaningful progress for Canadians affected by PAH," said Jamie Myrah, Executive Director at Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada. "PAH is a debilitating and progressive disease that places a significant physical, emotional and financial strain not only on patients, but also on the families and caregivers who support them. Increasing access to treatment options is needed to help these patients. When people living with PAH have more options, the benefits extend beyond patients to their loved ones and the broader community."

"We are encouraged to see WINREVAIR^® now listed in five public programs," said David Jones, Managing Director, Merck Canada. "This is an important step toward expanding access to therapies for people living with PAH, and we remain committed to working collaboratively with remaining jurisdictions to ensure timely access for all eligible Canadian patients."

About pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)

PAH is a serious, progressive condition in which the small arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs become narrowed by excess cell growth and scarring. That narrowing reduces blood flow to the lungs and lowers oxygen levels in the blood. PAH can be idiopathic, inherited, or linked to other conditions. Common symptoms include increasing shortness of breath (especially with exertion), fatigue, swelling of the feet and legs, chest pain, dizziness and fainting — symptoms that often develop slowly and can be mistaken for deconditioning or other heart and lung problems. Left untreated, PAH places strain on the heart, which can lead to reduced mobility, heart failure and reduced life expectancy.

About Merck

At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable, and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information about our operations in Canada, visit www.merck.ca and connect with us on LinkedIn @MerckCanada.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the "company") includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov).

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SOURCE Merck

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New Public Listings for Canadians Living with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension