A new offering from Merck (MRK 0.44%) is soon to hit pharmacy shelves. The company announced today that the Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for the company's Noxafil in the form of 100-milligram delayed-release tablets.
The treatment is used to combat certain fungal infections from spreading through the body, in patients who have a higher chance of contracting such ailments because of a weakened immune system. The total dosage is 600 milligrams on the first day of use, followed by a daily maintenance dose of 300 milligrams. The treatment is administered by delayed-release tablets or delivered in liquid form.
In 2012, Merck posted total sales of around $258 million for the other forms of Noxafil it produces. All told, the company brought in total sales of $47.3 billion that year.
Separately, the pharmaceutical giant announced an increase in its quarterly common stock dividend. It is to pay $0.44 per share on Jan. 8 of next year to stockholders of record as of this Dec. 16. This represents an increase of $0.01 per share over the company's most recent payout.
