German drugmaker Merck KGaA (MRCG.DE) nudged its earnings outlook higher after beating quarterly expectations, helped by higher sales of multiple sclerosis drug Rebif and a strong dollar. Merck said on Tuesday it had seen a “solid top-line performance in all divisions driven especially by strong organic sales growth from (prescription drug unit) Merck Serono and favourable foreign exchange rates”. Second-quarter adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 14 percent to 747 million euros ($922 million), compared with a forecast for 706 million in a Reuters poll.
