The drugmaker reported a 62 percent increase in third-quarter earnings, as revenues rose by double digits thanks to sales of the Gardasil HPV vaccine, the new Januvia diabetes pill. Meanwhile, marketing costs and research and development spending rose. Net income was $1.53 billion, or 70 cents per share, compared with $940.6 million, or 63 cents, a year earlier, beating Wall Street estimates of 69 cents. Revenues totaled $6.07 billion, up from $5.4 billion.

R&D spending rose 18 percent, excluding a charge, and including a particularly large milestone payment to one of its partners. Marketing costs rose 6 percent, before a $70 million charge for Vioxx litigation. Vioxx reserves now stand at $720 million, but this is only to cover the cost of defending lawsuits; the drugmaker hasn’t yet set aside funds to pay for legal liability. Merck, meanwhile, raised its financial guidance for the year.

Want more on Merck’s earnings. Here’s the statment and an Associated Press story.