Merck Gets FDA Approval for Noxafil Tablets, Increases Dividend

A new offering from Merck 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.