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...