Merck CEO & Kimmel’s Return 9/24/25

Squawk Pod

CNBC

Business News, Business, Investing, News

4.2 • 543 Ratings

🗓️ 24 September 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The FDA has approved the injectable version of Merck’s cancer therapy Keytruda. Merck CEO Robert Davis discusses the pricing of this drug and others with CNBC’s Angelica Peebles, Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin. Davis also stands firm on the safety of vaccines and weighs in on the Trump administration’s agenda for health care. Jimmy Kimmel has returned to ABC’s airwaves. Puck’s Matt Belloni discusses the host’s temporary suspension, Kimmel’s response, and the contractual obligations of Disney’s affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair. Plus, the U.S. has barred Iran’s diplomats from shopping at wholesale stores like Costco without permission. Matt Belloni - 15:12 Robert Davis - 28:47 In this episode Matt Belloni, @mattbelloni Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie

Transcript

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0:00.0	Bring in show music, please.
0:03.0	Hi, I'm CNBC producer Katie Kramer.
0:07.0	Today on Squawk Pod.
0:09.0	New guidance on vaccines for children has thrown questions to parents and care providers.
0:14.0	Merck is the maker of several key vaccines for early health.
0:18.0	CEO Robert Davis joins us exclusively.
0:20.0	As we start to bring hesitancy to vaccines, my concern is people are going to not get vaccinated
0:25.6	and we're going to face diseases we thought were gone.
0:28.6	Plus, his thoughts on funding science innovation when there's new leadership in Washington.
0:33.6	On principle, I would say we're aligned with the administration.
0:37.9	It's just now figuring out how do we best do it in a way that preserves the innovation
0:42.7	of this industry and the value we bring, but gives better pricing for U.S. patients.
0:49.4	And free speech versus the declining fortunes of the legacy media business, the debate we can't stop
0:55.2	having about Jimmy Kimmel, politics, and Disney.
0:58.4	I've been...
0:59.2	Normal people have been complaining.
1:01.6	You've been complaining, yes.
1:02.6	Everyone's allowed to have their perspective, but that's the point.
1:05.0	They should be able to watch you or not.
1:07.7	We get into it.
1:08.7	And we ask Puck's Matt Bellany about the 70-year-so ABC affiliates still
1:13.0	at odds with their parent company.
	...

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