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Fortune scolds Merck for "risky" programs
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Fortune writer John Simons is taking Merck to task for two development programs he finds particularly risky. "The riskiest of Merck's current projects is taranabant," writes Simons, "a treatment that until recently was hailed as an elegant solution for attacking excess weight. Rather than working in the gut, taranabant manipulates the brain to suppress appetite. More specifically, the drug acts on the same receptors in the brain that cause marijuana-smokers to experience hunger. Taranabant, in essence, causes a patient to experience the reverse-munchies."
Psychiatric side effects could derail that program, says Fortune. The there's the cholesterol medicine, anacetripib, which bears far too close a resemblance for Simons to Pfizer's infamous torcetrapib. Towards the end of the piece there's at least one analyst willing to agree that Merck is taking big risks, but stands to gain enormous rewards. Sounds like the kind of bet the Big Pharma developers should make more often if they want to find a way to a brighter, richer future. The last thing biopharma needs now is an even more cautious approach to drug development.
- read the Fortune article
ALSO: Take a look at Merck's R&D pipeline. Report
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Comments
By Anonymous | Posted 9:23pm | February 10, 2008
There are many other worrisome issues at Merck; especially at Merck Research.
The entire leadership structure for Global Operations has been eliminated during teh last 6 months and replaced with incompetent leadership. There is complete chaos , no procedures, no leadership and no one to provide any guidance.
It is a miracle that druga are being supplie d to clinical sites. the best Merck could do is outsource all their clinical trial operations before it's too late
By Anonymous | Posted 7:06pm | February 14, 2008
Regardless of the leadership structure, the mere fact that you would advocate the removal of trained experts in their field in order to outsources specialized and delicate operations says it all. The continued breakdown in structural management, combined with inadequate follow-up to vital processes, is what will ultimately be the demise of this corporation.
Releasing their integrated staff is an unwise practice, especially in the manner in which Merck has done so. It shows much about their business practices, their continued trend of doing only what is absolutely necessary for legality, and the integrity of their management teams.
Shame on them, and shame on you.
