The next few weeks at Merck may show that there are major changes coming. Merck may be looking at buying another company, or with the drug application advancements, Merck could be set to shake things up again around focused disease areas as well as changes in employee assignments. From listening to the recent Wall Street stories about how several companies are being targeted for acquisition, Merck is probably looking very hard at what valuable companies are out there that would provide synergies or new growth areas. They have probably been looking at this for some time now. Pfizer is looking at AstraZeneca and Valeant is trying to acquire Allergan. Glaxo and Lilly have swapped whole product lines and J&J is rumored to be looking for an acquisition. Merck won't be left out of this current race. The current quarter should be eventful for Merck. At a minimum, watch for how Merck uses cash and stock to improve it's competitive position.
Think of the worst deal that can be struck. The least profitable imaginable. Where no other company will go. That is the deal that Merck will strike.
Very true. These companies operate in the same way. They all follow trends. When Merck bought Medco in 1994 that was a response to BMS buying another pbm. I believe Pfizer did the same thing. That's what you can count on. They all sink and swim together. Whether is turns out to be negative or positive it is all to do about keeping up with the Jones. The Jones are now playing musical chairs at the altar of mergers. Measly pipelines and overstaffing will lead to many mergers as well as buyouts.
You know, if I had a company with lots of cash and nothing to sell, I'd look into buying something to sell, too. The problem is that Merck will strike a terrible deal, as they always do. In the end, the stock will suffer.
Change is all we do (and process). The more things change the more they stay the same as we continue to create churn. There isn't anybody left at Merck capable of recognizing a good deal let alone assessing the quality of the science behind anybody else's early pipeline. If all the big boys are moving strategic pieces around the chessboard you can be sure that will follow suit but will be unable to turn any of their moves to an advantage.
Merck has been playing checkers this whole time. All the Chessmasters we're let go years ago because they were a threat to upper management and their poor decisions were being questioned.
Um, that would be Chutes and Ladders. How violent do you think America's youth has become!? Still quite fitting as we have the CFO drifting off in his golden paraChute and all those lackies trying to climb those ladders!
Merck will focus on its 4 therapeutic portfolios Diabetes, Oncology, Vaccines and Cardiovascular and look to sell off Respiratory...if there are any buyers.
Incorrect amigo. Resp to stay as Dul & Nas bring in a couple of BILLION. Agree with your other points though.
Not much in pre-clinical CVD. What are you holding out for, MK-0859? Good luck. Anybody with the thought of success for this one is deranged.
Betcha the Diabetes and Cardio buddy up, respiratory continues on its own like the others... Maybe all PC become contract...... Hmmm, specialty or bust! Whatcha think?
