Tidbits From The SG Cowen Health Care Conference

King/Elan deal in jeopardy?: King is "evaluating the effect" that FTC's investigation into Elan's Skelaxin will have on its proposed acquisition of Elan's primary care business. King is "evaluating what our rights are under our contract," company says at SG Cowen March 19. FTC opened an investigation into Elan's "Orange Book" patent listings for the muscle relaxant (1"The Pink Sheet" March 17, In Brief). King reiterated that it will not purchase the sleep agent Sonata as a stand-alone product. "The transaction is not structured that way." The $850 mil. deal, which has a deadline of July 31, would add 400 sales reps to King's 800-person force ("The Pink Sheet" Feb. 3, p. 29)...