What happened to the once great Merck

[anonymous]

On another subject - any thoughts on the new company care lineup?

I heard the new Volvo among others.

 

[anonymous]

I heard the new Volvo among others.

The car is all that’s left for us.

 

[anonymous]

Getting back to the topic:

Everything changed when they stopped having someone in the medical/sciences in charge of the company

When they went from Roy Vagelos A physician to Ray Gilmartin An MBA

They went from being a true innovator and leader in science and medical research to just another giant corporation only interested in stuffing the pockets of their senior management.

The bean counters took over and rather look at ways to innovate they started mandating all the BS that the consultants could milk out of them.

It became more important to have your desk items taped off and labeled according to 5S than to actually conduct research and look for new medicines! People were promoted more on how well they ass-kissed instead of actual R&D. It was more important not to hurt someones feelings (remember the micro-inequities training) than to tell them what they are doing is a pile of crap.

Meanwhile the sycophants at the top agreed that we don't need to actually conduct research we can "purchase innovation"

Then we had the ultimate used car salesman (Fred Hassan) sell Merak the Edsel of companies SGP. where they were promised their pipeline was rich with new products (turns out nearly all of them were turds) Along with the stupid thought that Remicade would be its new blockbuster.

That is the sorry state of where Merck ended up today!

 

[anonymous]

Getting back to the topic:

Everything changed when they stopped having someone in the medical/sciences in charge of the company

When they went from Roy Vagelos A physician to Ray Gilmartin An MBA

They went from being a true innovator and leader in science and medical research to just another giant corporation only interested in stuffing the pockets of their senior management.

The bean counters took over and rather look at ways to innovate they started mandating all the BS that the consultants could milk out of them.

It became more important to have your desk items taped off and labeled according to 5S than to actually conduct research and look for new medicines! People were promoted more on how well they ass-kissed instead of actual R&D. It was more important not to hurt someones feelings (remember the micro-inequities training) than to tell them what they are doing is a pile of crap.

Meanwhile the sycophants at the top agreed that we don't need to actually conduct research we can "purchase innovation"

Then we had the ultimate used car salesman (Fred Hassan) sell Merak the Edsel of companies SGP. where they were promised their pipeline was rich with new products (turns out nearly all of them were turds) Along with the stupid thought that Remicade would be its new blockbuster.

That is the sorry state of where Merck ended up today!

Well-said! Any way the BD is interested in turning this ship around? Find a qualified MD, scientist, etc. as CEO to get us back on course. Other companies have found effective leaders with the above qualifications. Time to Make Merck Great Again...

 

[anonymous]

About that Schering pipeline, it seems the only big moneymaker Merck has -- Keytruda -- came from Schering-Plough via Organon.

 

[anonymous]

Getting back to the topic:

Everything changed when they stopped having someone in the medical/sciences in charge of the company

When they went from Roy Vagelos A physician to Ray Gilmartin An MBA

They went from being a true innovator and leader in science and medical research to just another giant corporation only interested in stuffing the pockets of their senior management.

The bean counters took over and rather look at ways to innovate they started mandating all the BS that the consultants could milk out of them.

It became more important to have your desk items taped off and labeled according to 5S than to actually conduct research and look for new medicines! People were promoted more on how well they ass-kissed instead of actual R&D. It was more important not to hurt someones feelings (remember the micro-inequities training) than to tell them what they are doing is a pile of crap.

Meanwhile the sycophants at the top agreed that we don't need to actually conduct research we can "purchase innovation"

Then we had the ultimate used car salesman (Fred Hassan) sell Merak the Edsel of companies SGP. where they were promised their pipeline was rich with new products (turns out nearly all of them were turds) Along with the stupid thought that Remicade would be its new blockbuster.

That is the sorry state of where Merck ended up today!

Brought in too many managers from Lilly, Pfizer and Amgen and now we're replicating their shitty company performance. Roger is OK but the rest are ladder climbing sycophants who follow trends and General Electric playbook. Look at the lack of new drugs from R&D or the performance evaluation system disasters. Smart, independent staff leave or are moved off to the side and ignored.

 

[anonymous]

Brought in too many managers from Lilly, Pfizer and Amgen and now we're replicating their shitty company performance. Roger is OK but the rest are ladder climbing sycophants who follow trends and General Electric playbook. Look at the lack of new drugs from R&D or the performance evaluation system disasters. Smart, independent staff leave or are moved off to the side and ignored.

Too true!!

 

[anonymous]

Merck really does have a great and proud history.

Merck developed the first mumps vaccine, developed thiazides and the first statin. Published the Merck Manual. Merck was named company of the year several times and once considered the best organization to work for.

Today it's a mere shell of that former greatness. Self absorbed egotis such and Ken Frazier will surely lay all the blame on previous leadership. He would insist that he is forced to work with the train wreck he inherited and deflect any responsibility. There is a thread of truth there but upon accepting a position of leadership Mr Frazier then needs to accept accountability and responsibility for the mess today. He has made the choice to systematically dismantle the infrastructure of this company to slash expenses and sacrifice long term sustainability for short term profit. If our R&D group is incapable of developing new products then we could purchase some and use our resources to promote and generate revenue. I guess Mr. Frazier considers that to much of a risk and slash and burn Sherman style as the more prudent course of action.

I'm interested in the boards thoughts??

What happened in your view and solutions------

 

[anonymous]

Merck really does have a great and proud history.

Merck developed the first mumps vaccine, developed thiazides and the first statin. Published the Merck Manual. Merck was named company of the year several times and once considered the best organization to work for.

Today it's a mere shell of that former greatness. Self absorbed egotis such and Ken Frazier will surely lay all the blame on previous leadership. He would insist that he is forced to work with the train wreck he inherited and deflect any responsibility. There is a thread of truth there but upon accepting a position of leadership Mr Frazier then needs to accept accountability and responsibility for the mess today. He has made the choice to systematically dismantle the infrastructure of this company to slash expenses and sacrifice long term sustainability for short term profit. If our R&D group is incapable of developing new products then we could purchase some and use our resources to promote and generate revenue. I guess Mr. Frazier considers that to much of a risk and slash and burn Sherman style as the more prudent course of action.

I'm interested in the boards thoughts??

What happened in your view and solutions------

 

[anonymous]

What Happened to Merck you ask?

The simplest answer is that a company whose core business is medicines CANNOT be run by individuals who don't enough human anatomy to know their own anuses from a hole in the ground.

The golden age of Merck that everyone seems to miss now was driven by MDs. They were individuals, and Medical Doctor, who were extremely knowledgeable and qualified to understand what diseases could be tackled successfully when they were in control.

A perfect example was Dr. Hilleman who was responsible for creating over 40 vaccines. Merck research Laboratories were the envy of the world when he ruled the place.

What you see happening to Merck today is because the company was taken over by hucksters, marketers and lawyers who know absolutely nothing about inventing needed medicines or where to go to hire the talent that will make those medicines for you.

It really is that simple.

Merck will begin its slow ascent again when it is given back to the Doctors.

 

[anonymous]

You forgot to mention that stick insect head of research IT who had no science credentials.

The beginning of the end started when Merck instituted the MBA program (only competitive Ivy league business school grads need apply!) and allowed them to make multi-million dollar decisions without the requisite depth and breath of experience. Throw in an academic (Peter Kim, PhD , not MD) to run to the research labs and you had a recipe for disaster.

 

[anonymous]

...and some originally started at Merck too

Most people used to be focussed on the science and discovering new medicines and disease. Then, the culture changed because management hired and promoted a new type of leader in many departments. Self-absorbed ladder climbers who are great overstating their past success, their ability to lead teams, and maximizing their visibility to anyone who ranks above them. They only see and reward a small number of people in their organization. But underneath every action, "What's in it for me?" This mindset spreads like a disease and makes an organization ill.

Brought in too many managers from Lilly, Pfizer and Amgen and now we're replicating their shitty company performance. Roger is OK but the rest are ladder climbing sycophants who follow trends and General Electric playbook. Look at the lack of new drugs from R&D or the performance evaluation system disasters. Smart, independent staff leave or are moved off to the side and ignored.

 

[anonymous]

...and some originally started at Merck too

Most people used to be focussed on the science and discovering new medicines and disease. Then, the culture changed because management hired and promoted a new type of leader in many departments. Self-absorbed ladder climbers who are great overstating their past success, their ability to lead teams, and maximizing their visibility to anyone who ranks above them. They only see and reward a small number of people in their organization. But underneath every action, "What's in it for me?" This mindset spreads like a disease and makes an organization ill.

Add to the above, GREED and Incompetencd , which permeates all of Pharma.

 

[anonymous]

...and some originally started at Merck too

Most people used to be focussed on the science and discovering new medicines and disease. Then, the culture changed because management hired and promoted a new type of leader in many departments. Self-absorbed ladder climbers who are great overstating their past success, their ability to lead teams, and maximizing their visibility to anyone who ranks above them. They only see and reward a small number of people in their organization. But underneath every action, "What's in it for me?" This mindset spreads like a disease and makes an organization ill.

I take a different view, Merck became stagnant, did not keep up with changing times and requirements...many of the people in this company are functioning on knowledge from the 80-90's, Merck wanted way to long to bring in fresh, new perspectives...

 

[anonymous]

...and some originally started at Merck too

Most people used to be focussed on the science and discovering new medicines and disease. Then, the culture changed because management hired and promoted a new type of leader in many departments. Self-absorbed ladder climbers who are great overstating their past success, their ability to lead teams, and maximizing their visibility to anyone who ranks above them. They only see and reward a small number of people in their organization. But underneath every action, "What's in it for me?" This mindset spreads like a disease and makes an organization ill.

I take a different view, Merck became stagnant, did not keep up with changing times and requirements...many of the people in this company are functioning on knowledge from the 80-90's, Merck wanted way to long to bring in fresh, new perspectives...​

You mean like the "fresh, new perspective" in 1993 of acquiring Medco when Hillary-care looked like it was going to pass? Merck faked out the rest of the industry who were forced to scramble afterwards and buy up pharmacy benefit companies, only to have Merck realize the mistake a decade later and spin Medco off again. This did nothing for patients but was all about profits. And somebody in the C-suite got a big bonus and promotion in 1993 for thinking up the fresh new idea. And somebody different got a big bonus and promotion in 2003 for undoing the mistake.
No, what happened to Merck was its deviation from George Merck's watchword "We try never to forget that medicine is for the people. It is not for the profits. The profits follow, and if we have remembered that, they have never failed to appear." When Momma hired marketeers, bean-counters, and lawyers to run the company instead of medical professionals, it became all about the god-almighty profits and the patient (and corporate ethics) were forgotten.

 

[anonymous]

You mean like the "fresh, new perspective" in 1993 of acquiring Medco when Hillary-care looked like it was going to pass? Merck faked out the rest of the industry who were forced to scramble afterwards and buy up pharmacy benefit companies, only to have Merck realize the mistake a decade later and spin Medco off again. This did nothing for patients but was all about profits. And somebody in the C-suite got a big bonus and promotion in 1993 for thinking up the fresh new idea. And somebody different got a big bonus and promotion in 2003 for undoing the mistake.
No, what happened to Merck was its deviation from George Merck's watchword "We try never to forget that medicine is for the people. It is not for the profits. The profits follow, and if we have remembered that, they have never failed to appear." When Momma hired marketeers, bean-counters, and lawyers to run the company instead of medical professionals, it became all about the god-almighty profits and the patient (and corporate ethics) were forgotten.

Well said. Profits before people is what’s bringing Pharma down. Trump is starting his efforts to bring down druo prices. He’s sending a message that if we don’t do it ourselves, he’ll do it for us. Think Pharma is listening?

 

[anonymous]

Well said. Profits before people is what’s bringing Pharma down. Trump is starting his efforts to bring down druo prices. He’s sending a message that if we don’t do it ourselves, he’ll do it for us. Think Pharma is listening?

Oh they are listening why do you thing manpower is on the chopping block. You are the profit killer with most of you eliminated price levels can by adjusted and still retain profit levels!

 

[anonymous]

Oh they are listening why do you thing manpower is on the chopping block. You are the profit killer with most of you eliminated price levels can by adjusted and still retain profit levels!

I have been highly vocal in support of downsizing the nonproductive masses of employees. Not needed not valued!

 

[anonymous]

Oh they are listening why do you thing manpower is on the chopping block. You are the profit killer with most of you eliminated price levels can by adjusted and still retain profit levels!

That and start raising prices to foreign countries. We’ve been subsidizing them for too long. Time to pay their fair share. Trump knows that we’ve allowed ourselves to be screwed for years selling our products at a fraction of their price in the US to foreign countries.

 

[anonymous]

That and start raising prices to foreign countries. We’ve been subsidizing them for too long. Time to pay their fair share. Trump knows that we’ve allowed ourselves to be screwed for years selling our products at a fraction of their price in the US to foreign countries.

Yes, the biggest fraud on the planet is the USA subsidizing all other countries by inventing, studying, and then selling these products at a fraction of the cost. These foreign countries want these miraculous drugs, they need to pay their fair share.