New era begins at Merck as pandemic cuts Q1 sales, profit LINDA A. JOHNSON, AP Medical Writer April 29, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2014, file photo, a person walks through a Merck company building in Kenilworth, N.J. COVID-19 infections weighed Merck with so many people avoiding visits to hospitals or even the doctor early in the first quarter. The pharmaceutical company on Thursday, April 29, 2021, reported first-quarter earnings of $3.18 billion.Mel Evans/AP Merck is entering a new era, with sweeping changes across its executive suite and the spinoff off its women's health and other businesses, a bid to enable both resulting companies to grow faster.