Merck disclosed plans to stop producing Gardasil and Gardasil 9 at its Durham, North Carolina, facility and will lay off 147 workers tied to that operation, citing a worldwide reduction in demand for the product. The company previously invested roughly $1 billion to expand vaccine capacity at the site. Merck said the decision is part of ongoing network optimization to ensure reliable, compliant supply of its vaccine portfolio. The company has adjusted distribution to manage inventory imbalances in specific markets, notably China, where demand has fallen sharply. The move underscores how rapid market shifts can force manufacturers to reconfigure production footprints even after recent capacity investments; Merck will continue other vaccine manufacturing at the broader Durham complex.