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Merck Looks Beyond First-In-Class Only As It Seeks To Bolster R&D Productivity

 
• By Wendy Diller

With three large outcomes studies to read out interim or final results, 2012 is likely to be a pivotal year for Merck’s R&D, even as it rebalances its traditionally first-in-class emphasis to a hybrid model that also embraces best in class.

Merck & Co. Inc. has been rebalancing its R&D portfolio to mix more best-in-class molecules into its historic emphasis on first-in-class molecules. Several years into the effort, about 50% of its lead optimization resources in discovery are now dedicated to “best-in-class” programs, executives said during the company’s Nov. 10 R&D day.

While most biopharmaceutical companies aspire to a diversified pipeline, Merck’s enunciated focus marks a departure from recent trends in the industry, as companies have been gravitating toward first-in-class opportunities that offer clear innovation

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