Why was the thread removed?

[Anonymous]

Why was the thread don't you miss the day removed? It spoke about how great AMI was and how we all felt valued and respected.

[Anonymous]

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe because someone was talking about a girl they used to date years ago?

[Anonymous]

[QUOTE]
I was wondering the same thing. Maybe because someone was talking about a girl they used to date years ago?

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Diana probabaly asked the mod to delete.

[Anonymous]

I just want to put it down for the record that Astra Merk was an amazing place to work. The people that I worked with had vision and insight. Understood the business, treated everybody as a valuable member of the team. Can we say the same about the culture that we work in today. I think not. Oh yes let's not forget we also had a lot of fun. This was a place where people truly liked and respected each other. I really can''t say that now. What a shame that AMI is no longer around.

[Anonymous]

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Worked for 5 Pharma and biotech companies, AMI was the best. We were respected , valued, and made a real difference. There will never be another like it.

[Anonymous]

I worked for Astra USA and still firmly believe that AMI was a joke of a company.

[Anonymous]

You would believe that. It's too bad you never learned to think for yourself.

[Anonymous]

You worked for Astra and you thought Astra Merck was a joke. We were never on 60 minutes for any type of misconduct the way you guys were. We had a real product to sell. Your company didn't even trust you with Prilosec and that is why we had it. What did you have Rhinocort and two national sales meetings a year where you guys partied and treated women poorly. Give me a break. Which company was the joke of the industry. It wasn't Astra Merck it was Astra USA

[Anonymous]

Again, you folks at AMI cannot remember the facts. Astra USA was a small hospital force that sold Xylocaine and other anesthesia products. Astra AB in Sweden had an amazing drug named Losec and they did not have a salesforce to promote it, nor the American marketing know how to do it. They went to one of the most respected companies in America at the time, which was Merck, and struck a deal. Thus AMI was formed. When it was obvious Toprol XL and Rhinocort were coming, Astra AB formed their own sales force. When they firmly established themselves in the states, they bought out Merck's share in AMI. Don't get wrapped up in your self-importance. You had a great drug (made by Astra) that anyone could have sold.
As for Astra's troubles, you are completely correct. There was a scoundrel at the helm who cared only about himself. He got his just due. The vast majority of people treated women with respect. Us on the front lines were an agressive sales team. We took a beta-blocker to market, when other companies laughed at us because it was not a sexy ACE or CCB, and we succeeded. We SOLD, because that was what we were paid to do. Not to mention helping patients, who were taking a drug that was cost effective and worked. I never met an AMI legacy who could sell shit, but to your credit I never met them all.

[Anonymous]

You want to talk facts the reason why Astra wanted to buy out Merck's share of AMI because the powers that be at Astra Sweden no longer wanted to Astra and wanted to merge with Zeneca. Zeneca wanted no part of Merck therefore Astra had to get Merck out of the picture. But of course Astra (not the smartest company) wound up paying for future Prilosec and Nexium sales. Don't tell me how well respected Astra's sales force was I have met many of their hospital sales people and I am not impressed. These guys can't sell they bargain.
The one credit that I will give Astra was that they were a good research company but also the original deal was that Merck would have right of first refussal for all Astra drugs marketed in the US excluding Pulmacort.
Toprol XL is a great drug but it became a billion dollar drug after the merger when the AMI people and the Zeneca people started to sell it.

[Anonymous]

I worked at Astra and was give permission to move over to Astra Merck in late 1993 because my family had to move. I can tell you from first hand experience that Astra Merck was the best, the VERY BEST, company I have ever worked for. I've been through a total of 6 pharma & biotech organizations and Astra Merck was something truly special. I had the autonomy to work my territory as I felt it should be worked with the support of my business unit director, CSM, business manager and two Pharm D's or MD's at the district level. I was very much empowered to manage my territory as I saw fit. Our sales as an organization were amazing. It just goes to show that if you hire good people, support them and give them autonomy - the sky is the limit. As for comparing Astra to Astra Merck, well, there is no comparison. Astra Merck was by far a better organization. Culture, support, calibur of employees... Astra was not even in the same league as Astra Merck. Astra did give me my start in this crazy industry and for that I will always be thankful, but Astra Merck was the best company I have ever worked for.

[Anonymous]

Everything you have said about AMI is so right on. Astra Merck was the best place to work with the best people to work with. There are not many at AstraZeneca that hold a candle to the vision and the intelligence that so many of the people at AMI had. I can't speak for all the Customer Units but the one that I worked out of was made up of a group of people who really liked each other and took pride in the service that we provided to our customers. I looked forward to working each and every day.

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
Everything you have said about AMI is so right on. Astra Merck was the best place to work with the best people to work with. There are not many at AstraZeneca that hold a candle to the vision and the intelligence that so many of the people at AMI had. I can't speak for all the Customer Units but the one that I worked out of was made up of a group of people who really liked each other and took pride in the service that we provided to our customers. I looked forward to working each and every day.

[/ QUOTE ]

I totally agree - 1992 to 1999 were the golden years of my career working when I was lucky enough to be at AMI.
Most of us that were there tend to agree that it is unlikely we will encounter a more positive working environment in the future.

Matt, Wayne, and everyone else: Thanks for the awesome memories!!!

[Anonymous]

To the dink from Astra. If you have a memory Prilosec was not so easy to sell when it had a black box warning for carcinoid tumors up against the biggest names in GI Tagament and Zantac (SKB and Glaxo). You are clearly jealous that your company was the joke! You also have no perspective since you do not recall the days of black box warning. When evryone said you were crazy to leave Merck.

Grow up get a clue and go f yourself whileyour at it.

AMI was the best company this industry may ever see period!

[Anonymous]

Agree that AMI was a great place to work. I was one of the original 300 Merck people to start AMI and saw the tremendous growth from 1992-2000. One of the few places that I knew almost everyone. Will never forget our first national meeting in Florida back in 1992 where you could literally see everyone's face in the room. AMI was that small at the time. Glad I have been out of AZ since 2000 running my own business ever since. Still speak to Matt E. and Tony Z. to this day.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but I have read these threads for years and have never responded but... I got my start in the Pharmaceutical Industry at AMI. I am a senior executive with a Mid-Size Pharma company now. I have been a rep, hospital rep, DM, RM and now a VP and AstraMerck was, without a doubt the best place I have ever had the experience of working at. To this day, I have not seen the commitment to excellence that I experienced there. I know that I will probably get flamed on the board for my comments, but fellow AMI'ers, my goal is to start a company with the same spirit and Esprit de Corp we had with Wayne and later Matt and if you have AMI on your resume in the past, you will forever have a place on my team, and in my heart! BTW, What CU were you all in? Me, St. Louis.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it amazing that the only people who knock AMI are the people who never worked there. The Astra and Zeneca people are just jealous because they were never treated with respect the way AMI treated their people. We were valued and treated like true professionals. Can the AstraZeneca people say that now. I can tell you since I am still with AZ no.
People like Joe Canning and Tony Zook set out to destroy the AMI culture and they did a fine job but look at the culture they developed. Certainly not the same. Most people who were lucky enough to be with AMI all feel the same way. Wish they can go back but that will never happen. So when AMI gets slammed on this board we can all laugh and say - another bitter jealous person who never had any fun, or respect in this industry

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry, but I have read these threads for years and have never responded but... I got my start in the Pharmaceutical Industry at AMI. I am a senior executive with a Mid-Size Pharma company now. I have been a rep, hospital rep, DM, RM and now a VP and AstraMerck was, without a doubt the best place I have ever had the experience of working at. To this day, I have not seen the commitment to excellence that I experienced there. I know that I will probably get flamed on the board for my comments, but fellow AMI'ers, my goal is to start a company with the same spirit and Esprit de Corp we had with Wayne and later Matt and if you have AMI on your resume in the past, you will forever have a place on my team, and in my heart! BTW, What CU were you all in? Me, St. Louis.

[/ QUOTE ]

AMI was the absolute BEST organization most of us have ever worked for. A new AMI would be a dream come true.

The Astra take over (toxic culture) drove true AMI'ers to new homes, but the original AMI bonds still survive today.

When you're in sight of building your sales force, post a quiet heads up here. You'll have NO problem assembling a premier group of professionals committed to being the best....for the RIGHT reasons.

GOOD LUCK!

[Anonymous]

WRONG!! the facts are, that at the time no one would touch losec with a ten foot pole. It is you that does not remember that facts!

Prilosec launched in the states with a black box warning and could only be used for 8 weeks. It caused carcinoid tumors in rats, and do not think Glaxo did not remind docs of that everyday.

Docs would not go near it the first 2 years, especialy with drugs proven safe and effective like Zantac, which if you remeber your FACTS ASS, was the market leader and out manned 3 to 1.

We sold that drug when no body wanted to use it and when Astra's best hope was that maybe it would sell 500 mil.

So shut your f-ing pie hole you arrogant think you know it all dink!!!!!

[Anonymous]

That's right you did not meet all the great people that worked at AMI. The people with vision and intelligence because as soon as the clowns from Astra took over they took the package and left. They were not going to work for a company that would not allow them to think and be creative.
The people at AMI did not care about what their next job was going to be they cared what they were doing at the time. It wasn't about checking the boxes and going on to a new position. It was being the best you could be with what you were given. The AMI people that I knew were amazing. They were intelligent and cared about the teams not about themselves. Could anybody have sold Prilosec? It had a box warning and a limited use indication. Doctors use to say "I'm not using that drug, let the GE's write it" No AMI made that drug the number 1 in the world and AMI was the most respected sales force in the GE office. Where was Astra most respected????????????????

[Anonymous]

I loved AMI. I am out of pharma now thanks to AZ's toxic corporate culture and my own personal weaknesses. I couldn't take another minute of it. I spent 5 wonderful years in AMI and I will always remember those years and the AMI friends I made for the rest of my life. Now that I am out of AZ I can sleep again and I have rediscovered my family and the world around me. I mourn for what we all lost when the AZ monster was born.

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
That's right you did not meet all the great people that worked at AMI. The people with vision and intelligence because as soon as the clowns from Astra took over they took the package and left. They were not going to work for a company that would not allow them to think and be creative.
The people at AMI did not care about what their next job was going to be they cared what they were doing at the time. It wasn't about checking the boxes and going on to a new position. It was being the best you could be with what you were given. The AMI people that I knew were amazing. They were intelligent and cared about the teams not about themselves. Could anybody have sold Prilosec? It had a box warning and a limited use indication. Doctors use to say "I'm not using that drug, let the GE's write it" No AMI made that drug the number 1 in the world and AMI was the most respected sales force in the GE office. Where was Astra most respected????????????????

[/ QUOTE ]

I completely agree. The only reason Merck kicked Prilosec over to AMI was because they forecasted peak year sales of $800M and they strongly believed it would NEVER surpass Zantac due to the boxed warning. People that weren't there at AMI from '92 to '96 just won't ever understand.

[Anonymous]

I started with AstraMerck, shortly after it became Astra, then on to AstraZeneca. What a change in just two short years. I had never seen a merger/take-over totally demoralize a sales force like that one did. I understood Zeneca's desire for Astra but never could see the advantage Astra was getting from the deal.....

[Anonymous]

You seem to have a hard time holding down a job. Or do you just hang in until they catch up to you.


[ QUOTE ]
Worked for 5 Pharma and biotech companies, AMI was the best. We were respected , valued, and made a real difference. There will never be another like it.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Anonymous]

Merck never had the rights to omep. or any other Astra research product for the USA. The agreement from day one was Merck had to set up an independent stand alone 50/50 venture in the US market at their expense.

Astra bought out Merck's share to ensure they had full control over the product line in the USA. This allowed them to then merge with Zeneca.

[Anonymous]

That's not true. The stand alone company that was AMI was only to be set up if AMI met a sales number that was "trigger" then when that number was met and I think it was $800 million in sales, Astra then had decided whether they wanted to spend another $800 million and let AMI become a stand alone company. If they choose not to Merck still would have right of first refusal for all Astra drugs in the US. At that time it was better for Astra to get 50% of the profits for Prilosec then just small royalities. It was after a number of years and the controling family of Astra who no longer wanted to be in the Pharmaceutica industry wanted to sell their share to Zeneca but Zeneca wanted no part of dealing with Merck. That is when Astra had to buy Merck out. Merck is still making a profit on Nexium. Tfhe biggest winner out of the deal was Merck. Astra and Zeneca were basically 2nd tier pharmaceutical companies. Astra Merck was a jewel except Astra and Zeneca upper management was threatened by the intelligence and the vision of those at AMI and that is why they were gotten rid of. As a matter of fact I still see the AMI people being targeted.

[Anonymous]

Targeted is a euphemism for "not getting the job done". Get over yourself with half-baked conspiracy theories.

[Anonymous]

AMI not only got the job done but people who worked for AMi was glad to be there. They cared about the company and the people that they worked with.; We worked hard and had so much fun. We were valued and respected and never ignored. "Not getting the job done" what a joke what job are those at AZ getting done. All anybody cares about in upper management is what their next job is going to be, not what they are doing now.

[Anonymous]

You had a great drug (made by Astra) that anyone could have sold.

Hmmm...explain this genuis...AMI sold as much Plendil las Astra did Toprol XL & sold the first 2 & 3 Billion drug prior to merger..all with the smallest sales force EVER to achieve such sales feats...don't know who you met but numbers don't lie..show me a better rep than Susan Chappell or Ed Shupenus, John Anderson etc., best of the best hands down!

[Anonymous]

I worked in the Northern California CU.

[Anonymous]

Leapfrog is lurking. Zecca is the wizard behind the curtain.

[Anonymous]

I was at AMI and have been in the industry far longer than most. AMI was hands down an outstanding company for which to work. Matt and Wayne not only had vision, they both knew how to motivate and connect with the sales force.

There was another company with the same incredible environment. I also had the honor of working for Mr. Ewing Kaufman of Marion Labs. Mr. K had started as a drug rep and was shafted by his company too often. He decided to start his own company and vowed to treat the reps as they should be treated. Those reps who started with Mr. K retired as millionaires. Just as AMI fell prey to buyouts, so did Marion.

To the Senior Executive with a Mid-Sized Pharm Co, I would definitely appreciate the opportunity to discuss with you your offer to ex-AMI reps. I currently own my own corporation, but would be interested in discussing business with you.

[Anonymous]

I was with the Northeast CU & would luv 2 get that feeling again by far the best co. in the world, let me know who you are I would work for free in the first 6 months just to prove myself.

[ QUOTE ]
I was at AMI and have been in the industry far longer than most. AMI was hands down an outstanding company for which to work. Matt and Wayne not only had vision, they both knew how to motivate and connect with the sales force.

There was another company with the same incredible environment. I also had the honor of working for Mr. Ewing Kaufman of Marion Labs. Mr. K had started as a drug rep and was shafted by his company too often. He decided to start his own company and vowed to treat the reps as they should be treated. Those reps who started with Mr. K retired as millionaires. Just as AMI fell prey to buyouts, so did Marion.

To the Senior Executive with a Mid-Sized Pharm Co, I would definitely appreciate the opportunity to discuss with you your offer to ex-AMI reps. I currently own my own corporation, but would be interested in discussing business with you.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Anonymous]

Fourteen years ago the original AMI reps hit the streets, "Tomorrow's Horizon -- A/M Group" on the business cards -- most of us without a lot of experience, but with some really great training, and with a tremendous vision from our leadership: "Revolutionalize the pharmaceutical industry" -- and we did that.

No need now to pine for the past, but those of us who were there in Orlando know what we did and what a wonderful organization that was.

Thanks, Matt and Wayne!

[Anonymous]

Folks, Reading this has made me jealous... I tried to get into Astra Merck when they first started... Didn't get in... Have had a very good career otherwise but have never felt the pride that you folks have written down...I remember Plendil too..... Those lips were do inviting.... But seriously, take pride in what you had, because its never going to happen again....And yes...you folks worked hard and sold well...

[Anonymous]

I can't comment on the sales force and it seems as if you were happy at AstraMerck, but I can comment on AstraMerck's home office. I was privy to the merger between Astra and AstraMerck and what I found was that nobody actually did any real work at AstraMerck! Anderson consulting was running the company to the tune of 10 million a year. Peole were inexperienced but had degreees and whenever you went to a meeting and asked a question about how things worked or why,they needed to call Anderson in, even to takes notes at meetings because AM people were to high up for that. Iwas surprised at the lack of experience and money wasted. As for the sales force, sorry but I heard you guys got cashmere coats one year. Are you sure it was such a great company or did you all just like the money from Prilosec and the perks in you pockets!!

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but I have read these threads for years and have never responded but... I got my start in the Pharmaceutical Industry at AMI. I am a senior executive with a Mid-Size Pharma company now. I have been a rep, hospital rep, DM, RM and now a VP and AstraMerck was, without a doubt the best place I have ever had the experience of working at. To this day, I have not seen the commitment to excellence that I experienced there. I know that I will probably get flamed on the board for my comments, but fellow AMI'ers, my goal is to start a company with the same spirit and Esprit de Corp we had with Wayne and later Matt and if you have AMI on your resume in the past, you will forever have a place on my team, and in my heart! BTW, What CU were you all in? Me, St. Louis.

Previous poster, I agree with everything you said, and I was in the St. Louis CU too. What was your territory? I was the other "military" guy, who came later...

[Anonymous]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Doherty's_controversies

[Anonymous]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Doherty's_controversies.com

[Anonymous]

http://club.telepolis.com/carmellapmoy/pmoy2004/pmoy2004_13.jpg

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

Sorry, but I have read these threads for years and have never responded but... I got my start in the Pharmaceutical Industry at AMI. I am a senior executive with a Mid-Size Pharma company now. I have been a rep, hospital rep, DM, RM and now a VP and AstraMerck was, without a doubt the best place I have ever had the experience of working at. To this day, I have not seen the commitment to excellence that I experienced there. I know that I will probably get flamed on the board for my comments, but fellow AMI'ers, my goal is to start a company with the same spirit and Esprit de Corp we had with Wayne and later Matt and if you have AMI on your resume in the past, you will forever have a place on my team, and in my heart! BTW, What CU were you all in? Me, St. Louis.

Did you ever start your company? I was with AMI at the "creation" meeting in June of 1992 and can still remember that for the first time I truly shared a Vision with a corporate. I was a pleasure to work with the company with professional that loved their job and shared a common goal. I remained with the company through the two mergers until 2006 and witnessed the demise, polluted first by Astra (when I was a DSM) and later the ultimate pollution by the Zeneca culture (truly sad). I was in the Dallas CU originally and would love to find a company that has the AMI spirit and insight again.