Merck to cut 1,800 U.S. sales jobs, add 960 in chronic
care
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[October 21, 2017]
By Deena Beasley
(Reuters) - Drugmaker Merck & Co Inc
<MRK.N>, moving to a new sales team structure in the United States,
plans to cut 1,800 sales positions, while adding 960 jobs to a new
chronic care sales force, the company said on Friday.
Three of Merck's U.S. sales teams will be cut: primary care,
disease-focused endocrinology and hospital chronic care, spokeswoman
Claire Gillespie said in an emailed statement.
The aim is "to better support changes in our business in the United
States," she said.
The spokeswoman said Merck's new chronic care team will focus on
diabetes drug Januvia, as well as other primary care products such as
sleep medication Belsomra, and products for respiratory conditions and
women's health.
She noted that Merck's pipeline also has potential new candidates in
primary care - for Alzheimer's disease, asthma, chronic cough and heart
failure.

Merck's stock was little changed in midday trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, at $63.78.
Earlier this month, Merck said it would not seek regulatory approval for
once-promising cholesterol drug anacetrapib after disappointing trial
results.
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The logo of Merck is pictured in this illustration photograph in
Cardiff, California April 26, 2016. REUTERS/Mike
Blake/Illustration/File Photo

Last month, the drugmaker discontinued developing an experimental drug
combination for chronic hepatitis C, as competition rises and patient population
shrinks. The company has previously written off an earlier hepatitis C program.
Other pharmaceutical companies have also downsized. Eli Lilly & Co <LLY.N>
earlier this month said it would lay off about 8 percent of its employees as the
drugmaker, which has suffered setbacks over the past year in the development of
two potential blockbuster drugs, works to cut costs.
Merck said none of the jobs being eliminated are being moved outside of the
United States.
(Reporting By Deena Beasley; Editing by Dan Grebler)
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