*Merck*

[Cristovao]

Merck has been one of the world's greatest pharmaceutical company over the years . In terms of its most recent strategies, drugs, and any other aspects, what elements do you think have contributed to its success :?:

I would like to gather some opinions and it would be really grateful if I would have a chance to talk to those who are existing or ex- employees of MERCK.

[Cristovao]

Dear all,

There have been people viewing the topic question, however, it seems that noone is willing to comment or even vote for the poll. It is a discussion forum, and I'll be really pleased if I would have a chance to discuss with people about Merck.

PLEASE give me a bit of help? just vote on the poll?

[admin]

I think people maybe feel they can't vote on a poll on a company they know little about. Most people on here are retail pharmacists, and as such will have a general knowledge about a lot of companies, but not any great knowledge about a particular one, unless they have worked for them.

In terms of its most recent strategies, drugs, and any other aspects, what elements do you think have contributed to its success

Have you any specific examples of drugs / stratagies etc ?

[Cristovao]

Hi. The most recent strategy of Merck would be its entire restructuring, i.e. closing over 30 manufacturing plants and cutting off roughly 11% of its labour force. In my opinion, it might be due to its voluntary withdrawal of its painkiller drug, Vioxx in 2004 which had also caused billions of legal lawsuits.

The restructuring of Merck would mean that it would rely more on outsourcing and building up closer relationships with its key suppliers.

[mike harvey]

Good evening
Congratulations on having a section for Big Pharma.....as you say the majority of pharmacists work in retail/community and hospitals.
There is a very small proportion of us who work or have worked in Big Pharma....I am one...35 years in the same Company.

What I need to know is WHY pharmacists have such critical and cynical opinions about the Industry,usually they look at the bad news but forget that without these discoveries they would not have a job !
and talking about innovations..did you know that in this weeks PJ there is an announcement of a new anti-biotic formulation for MRSA...and if that isnt progress...what is ???
Lets applaud and support them...through thick and (Vioxx) thin !!!

mike harvey

[admin]

Mike

Hello and welcome. I am not against the industry in any way. In fact I worked for a Pharmaceutical company for six years as a lab technician (Formulation Development) before I went to study for my pharmacy degree.

It was a very interesting job, and I would personally recommend industry to any newly qualified pharmacist. I just happen to drift into hospital and then retail pharmacy.

[Cristovao]

So have you got any opinions of Merck??

[admin]

Cristovao

All I really know about Merck is that it is a big company and makes drugs and vaccines. I am familiar with the products we use here, such as Proscar, Zocor, Cosopt eye drops, Fosamax, Cozaar err I'm running out of products I know.

I do recall good drug information for product releases such as Fosamax. I can recall talking to a rep from Merck when Fosamax first came out, and talking about the hip advantages it give.

[nenah]

wut exactly does a job in pharmaceutical industry entail? i kno its dam well paid! is it stressful. wud it be 4 the cleverest? is it boring, chances of promotion good or bad?....etc i want 2 kno more!!

[johnep]

Welcome Mike, this is a much more friendly forum than the other place.
If our enquirer logs onto Merck's web site, usually a few pages on the history.
Merck does have an enviable record. I seem to remember there were two brothers, fell out and you then had E Merck and Merck Sharpe and Dohme.

It was Merck who pioneered thiazide diuretics and Blood Pressure drugs.

One story was that Roche originally discovered amitryptylline but failed to develop it as preoccupied with benzos. MSD introduced as Tryptizol and Laroxyl was a poor second except overseas where Roche had good marketing forces, as they did with Bactrim vs Septrim.
Those were very exciting days.
johnep