1. Schering-Plough Corp. ceased to exist on 11/3/09, because of its acquisition of Merck & Co., Inc. and then renaming itself as Merck (a so called reverse merger). The fallout for drug reps was that most Schering-Plough employees were not offered any positions in the new Merck, whereas nearly all Merck employees stayed put. The new Merck now owns and promotes: Asmanex, Avelox, the family of Clarinex products, Nasonex, Foradil, Proventil HFA, Singulair (originally old Merck's only respiratory product!). Actually, this is a pretty all-round lineup. Only a combination product, inhaled corticosteroid + long-acting bronchodilating agent (LABA), is lacking (i.e. Asmanex + Foradil) and this is actively being studied.
It was sad for me to hear this news about the reps. I knew one of Schering's reps had spent 25 years with them - an absolute eternity in their topsy-turvy field, like 9-10 lifespans. This brings me to fallout item number two. They were essentially not replaced. There is only one Merck rep per territory, which contrasts with the former industry philosophy of having many reps per company promoting the same products to create constant noise for their products to stimulate sales at the doctor's offices. I am seeing that all pharmaceutical companies are favoring employees with shorter experience in this field also.
2. The first product news of 2010 involves Sciele and its Adrenaclick. This is essentially a single dose of epinephrine in otherwise the same delivery device as Twinject.
It was sad for me to hear this news about the reps. I knew one of Schering's reps had spent 25 years with them - an absolute eternity in their topsy-turvy field, like 9-10 lifespans. This brings me to fallout item number two. They were essentially not replaced. There is only one Merck rep per territory, which contrasts with the former industry philosophy of having many reps per company promoting the same products to create constant noise for their products to stimulate sales at the doctor's offices. I am seeing that all pharmaceutical companies are favoring employees with shorter experience in this field also.
2. The first product news of 2010 involves Sciele and its Adrenaclick. This is essentially a single dose of epinephrine in otherwise the same delivery device as Twinject.