Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership (Form 3)

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Maraldo David R. 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 05/01/2026 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Merck & Co., Inc. [MRK] (Last) (First) (Middle) 126 EAST LINCOLN AVENUE 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP & Pres. MMD 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (Month/Day/Year) (Street) RAHWAY, NJ 07065 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5) Common Stock 17,819.434 D Common Stock - 401(k) Plan 8,359.14 I By 401 (k)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.			SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Unit	05/02/2024(1)	05/02/2026	Common Stock	552	(2)	D
Restricted Stock Unit	04/30/2025(3)	04/30/2027	Common Stock	581	(2)	D
Restricted Stock Unit	04/29/2026(4)	04/29/2028	Common Stock	2,361	(2)	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	05/04/2022(5)	05/03/2031	Common Stock	9,465	$73.73	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	05/03/2023(6)	05/02/2032	Common Stock	9,709	$87.1	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	05/02/2024(7)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	8,990	$117.89	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	04/30/2025(8)	04/29/2034	Common Stock	8,789	$129.22	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	04/29/2026(9)	04/28/2035	Common Stock	8,060	$84.71	D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Maraldo David R. 126 EAST LINCOLN AVENUE RAHWAY, NJ 07065			EVP & Pres. MMD

Signatures

/s/ Kelly E. W. Grez as Attorney-in-Fact for David Maraldo		05/04/2026
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	These restricted stock units vest and are distributed as shares of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock in three equal installments on 5/2/2024, 5/2/2025,and 5/2/2026.
(2)	Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock.
(3)	These restricted stock units vest and are distributed as shares of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock in three equal installments on 4/30/2025, 4/30/2026, and, 4/30/2027.
(4)	These restricted stock units vest and are distributed as shares of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock in three equal installments on 4/29/2026, 4/29/2027, and, 4/29/2028.
(5)	The options became exercisable in equal installments in on 5/4/2022, 5/4/2023, and 5/4/2024.
(6)	The options became exercisable in equal installments in on 5/5/2024, 5/5/2025, and 5/5/2026.
(7)	The options vest and become exercisable in equal installments on 5/2/2024, 5/2/2025, and 5/2/2026.
(8)	The options vest and become exercisable in equal installments on 4/30/2025, 4/30/2026, and 4/30/2027.
(9)	The options vest and become exercisable in equal installments on 4/29/2026, 4/29/2027, and 4/29/2028.

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