Merck & Co's third-quarter profit rose sharply on the back of its sales of vaccines and cholesterol drugs.
The company said it earned $1.53 billion, or 70 cents per share, compared with $941 million, or 43 cents per share, in the year-ago period when it took $598 million charge for legal expenses related to its withdrawn Vioxx arthritis drug.
Excluding special items, Merck earned 75 cents per share.