CMO Eliav Barr On Merck & Co.'s Post-Keytruda Game Plan

Merck & Co. chief medical officer Eliav Barr talks with Scrip about the generational leadership change under way at the company, Merck's next oncology plays and its bold plan to rebuild a cardiovascular franchise.

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Merck R&D leader Barr talks to Scrip about the pipeline • Source: Shutterstock

When Merck & Co., Inc. chief medical officer and head of global clinical development Eliav Barr took over the position from Roy Baynes earlier this year, it was the latest transition in a broader leadership change that has been under way at Merck since 2021, with new CEO Rob Davis and new head of R&D Dean Li. That new guard is tasked with laying the groundwork to ready Merck for the approaching loss of exclusivity (LOE) for Keytruda.

The mega-sized cancer drug has dazzled investors and reshaped the company's portfolio and pipeline for years, but Merck’s reliance on...

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