Respiratory force at risk for layoffs

I ran into the EPBU rep in my territory today. They told me that they will be launching Asmanex HFA 3rd quarter by themselves. WTH? Why would Merck spend that kind of money bringing a me-4 product to market! They said they will still have Dulera, Asmanex Twisthaler and Nasonex. I guess the jobs are going to contract!

 

Diabetes reps chatting with EPBU have had some insights over the last year too. No secrets out of the bag ........but they sort of make us think contract might be knocking on our doors.....

 

I wondered why they received an rfm budget this yr

 

They are generally good people, but total robots in the field. They detail by the book the same basic message over and over and hand the Doctor a PI. At a recent lunch I shared with them on their dime, the rep commented how she was surprised that every Doctor she talks to has already heard about Dulera. Really? It's three years old. BTW they are now calling on the exact same targets as we are. Coincidence probably not.

 

Merck still making money on Respiratory Franchise Think they would sell off before hand over to part time sales force.

 

Seems like Merck is into jettisoning business units lately. Why not throw respiratory into the mix?

 

Resp. franchise is finished. Lipid franchise is as good as finished. Diabetes franchise's clock is ticking and it's faltering.

Every group is at risk for layoffs.

 

I work in respiratory product development, right now in summit, that developed the product. I'm really scared for my job since they can't decide whether to move us to Rahway or Kenilworth, and all the PhDs that knew anything have left. We have very little work to do yet there are so many of us.

 

Hq info= b group going insomnia with Dulera = larger geographies. One new product and one old.

 

Respiratory products going over to Inventiv = bye bye B Team

 

Lipids team not so safe either. Look for major restructuring with layoffs.

 

Intermune will be hiring a new sales force in the. summer .

 

Is this a national cc as it seems by email it may be at the regional level bit everyone has it at the same time?

 

Regional TC's all happening at 11AM EST.

 

Re: What about EPBU sales force

There keeps being mention of Inventiv being the contract company. Do you mean the current EPBU, Pulicis, or is Publicis being ended as well? What about the flex timers currently on the contract?

 

Inventiv contract which is full time is being let go. Touchpoint Publicis which is the part time contract (EPBU) just got word that they will be launching Asamanex HFA.

 

It looks like our respiratory division is gasping for breath. Dulera should fix all this, right?

 

Yes the respiratory team is having a flare up. Apparently Dulera did not work that well.

 

Dulera is a me three. No value at all. Merck should do better than this!

 

EPBU picking up all respiratory products for primary care promotion.