Merck Receives 'Approvable' Letter from FDA on New Drug Application for ARCOXIA (MRK) 31.22: The FDA has informed Merck in the letter that before approval of the NDA can be issued, additional safety and efficacy data for ARCOXIA are required. "We continue to believe that ARCOXIA has the potential to become a valuable treatment option for many Americans with arthritis and pain... We plan to work with the FDA to address what steps need to be taken before the application may be approved."
MRK 8:11AM ET 32.00 +0.43 (+1.36%) |
das Ganze auf Deutsch
FDA: Mercks Vioxx-Nachfolger hat Chancen https://www.boerse-go.de/nachricht/f...7,a114442.html |
EURO am Sonntag: Merck & Co. Finger weg
18.10.2004
hier klicken zur Chartansicht Die Experten der "EURO am Sonntag" empfehlen, die Finger von der Merck & Co.-Aktie (ISIN US5893311077/ WKN 851719) zu lassen. Der zukünftige Wegfall des Präparates "Vioxx" dürfte den amerikanischen Pharmakonzern langfristig belasten. Auch die weitere Produkt-Pipeline sehe nicht überzeugend aus. Die ABN Amro sei der Ansicht, dass mit dem Titel von Merck & Co. in den kommenden Jahren kein Geld zu verdienen sei. Vor dem Hintergrund der schlechten Perspektiven raten die Experten der "EURO am Sonntag" zum Verkauf der Merck & Co.-Aktie. |
Der Aktionär: erck & Co. Finger weg
14.10.2004 12:53:34 (DER AKTIONÄR)
Die Experten des Anlegermagazins "Der Aktionär" empfehlen bei der Merck-Aktie (ISIN US5893311077/ WKN 851719) die Finger weg zu lassen. Nachdem bekannt geworden sei dass Merck sein Medikament Vioxx mit sofortiger Wirkung vom Markt nehme, habe der Titel heftige Kursverluste hinnehmen müssen. Bei Langzeitstudien über Vioxx habe sich heraus gestellt, dass das Arthritis-Präparat das Risiko von Schlaganfällen und Herzerkrankungen bei Patienten erhöhe. Die Experten von "Der Aktionär" raten bei der Merck-Aktie die Finger weg zu lassen. Quelle: AKTIENCHECK.DE |
UPDATE 2-FDA holds off approval of new Merck arthritis drug
Reuters, Fri Oct 29, 2004 11:06 AM ET
(Updates with analyst comment, share price) NEW YORK, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Merck & Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Friday said U.S. regulators won't approve its experimental arthritis drug Arcoxia until the company provides more data showing it is safe and effective. Arcoxia is a successor to Merck's arthritis drug Vioxx, which the company withdrew from the market after it was shown to double the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients who had been taking it for at least 18 months. Investors had not expected the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to immediately approve Arcoxia, which, like Vioxx, is in a class of drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors. The withdrawal of Vioxx, which generated some $2.5 billion in annual sales, has cast a cloud over the entire class, including Celebrex and Bextra, made by Pfizer Inc. "Arcoxia will not see the light of day until at least 2007, if it gets to market," said Barbara Ryan, an analyst at Deutsche Bank. "Even then, its future annual sales will probably not exceed $200 million because the drug has a lot of properties similar to Vioxx." Merck did not say exactly what new data the FDA has requested, or whether the company needs to begin entirely new trials. Raymond Gilmartin, the company's chief executive officer, said the company plans to work with the agency to "address what steps need to be taken before the application may be approved." Arcoxia has been launched in 48 countries around the world, including Europe, Latin America and Asia. Merck said it will continue to work with regulatory agencies in those countries to determine whether changes need to be made to the drug's prescribing label. Before the recall of Vioxx, analysts had expected Arcoxia to generate annual sales of about $1 billion by 2008. Merck was counting on Arcoxia to help fill the financial void caused by the disappearance of Vioxx, which accounted for more than 10 percent of Merck's revenue in 2003. Arcoxia could have a long road ahead of it. The only trial in which the drug has been tested against placebo lasted 12 weeks, though a one-year study of osteoarthritis patients taking the drug showed they had no greater incidence of heart attacks than patients taking diclofenac, a standard treatment. Merck's shares rose 23 cents, less than 1 percent, to $31.81 on the New York Stock Exchange. |
Merck (MRK) shares sagged 6% to a new eight-year low ahead of the open after The Wall Street Journal unearthed emails suggesting the drug maker knew a lot more than it let on about Vioxx's heart risks
Merck tried to bury Vioxx concerns for years - WSJ Mon Nov 1, 2004 06:23 AM ET NEW YORK, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Internal e-mails and other documents from Merck & Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) show the company fought for years to keep safety concerns from undermining the drug's commercial prospects, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. Vioxx, a drug known as a COX-2 inhibitor, was withdrawn from the market after it was shown to double the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients who had been taking it for at least 18 months. Vioxx generated some $2.5 billion in annual sales, and its withdrawal pummeled Merck's shares. On Monday, the Journal reported that an e-mail dated March 9, 2000, suggested Merck recognized that something in Vioxx was linked to increased heart risk. Edward Scolnick, Merck research chief at the time, wrote in the e-mail that cardiovascular events "are clearly there" and called it a "shame." Although Scolnick compared Vioxx with other drugs with known side effects and wrote, "there is always a hazard," the company's public statements continued to reject the link between Vioxx and increased intrinsic risk. Ted Mayer, a lawyer representing Merck, told the journal that the e-mails and marketing materials were "taken out of context" and "do not accurately represent the conduct of Merck and its employees." But a memorandum dated Nov. 21, 1996, by a Merck official illustrated that the company wrestled with Vioxx's potential to induce a cardiac event, the report said. Another e-mail highlighted the possibility that patients could suffer blood clots unless they were also given aspirin. Those documents may be used in ongoing litigation against the company. On Friday, Merck -- citing documents that had been made public -- issued a statement saying that it acted "responsibly and appropriately" in developing and marketing Vioxx. It was not immediately clear if it was referring to those obtained by the Journal, and a company representative was not immediately available to comment early Monday. |
Pharma
Merck kannte Vioxx-Risiken angeblich seit Jahren http://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaf...n-1193804.html |
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Das Märchen von interner E-Mail sorgt offensichtlich auch heute weiter für fallende Kurse. Die Axxie steht in NY gerade bei 27.06 USD und die Dividendenrendite steigt damit auf 5,61%. Die Rendite von Bayer war damals während der Lipobay-Story aber bei mind. 8% (wenn nicht 11%?). Andererseits sind wir aber nicht im Krieg, warten wir es also weiter ab.
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FDA drug monitoring system probed
By Laura Gilcrest, CBS MarketWatch
Last Update: 11:58 AM ET Nov. 5, 2004 WASHINGTON (CBS.MW)-- The U.S Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that it has asked the Institute of Medicine to review how FDA monitors drugs after they hit the market. IOM, an arm of the National Academies of Science, will assess what steps can be taken to learn more about drugs' side effects once they're being prescribed to patients, then give advice for enhancing public confidence in drugs' safety and effectiveness. FDA's request for the IOM study is part of a broader plan to shore up the nation's post-market drug monitoring system in the wake of the recent market withdrawal of Merck's (MRK: news, chart, profile) arthritis drug Vioxx. FDA reviews a drug's clinical data on safety and effectiveness to decide whether to grant market approval, but continues to scrutinize the drug's safety once it's on the market. The agency gets post-market data via additional clinal studies and through adverse events reports submitted through FDA's MedWatch program. But managing a drug's risks and benefits is no easy task, said Acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford. "FDA is determined to meet this challenge by employing cutting edge science, transparent policy, and sound decisions based on the advice of the best experts in and out of the agency," he said in a statement issued on Friday. Crawford said FDA would also set up a program to resolve conflicting opinions among its drug reviewers about a particular drug's approvability. In most cases, FDA's medical reviews reach agreement, he said, adding that, "Sometimes, however, a consensus decision cannot be reached and an employee may feel that his or her opinion was not adequately considered." Under the plan, an ad hoc panel not directly involved in internal disputes will have 30 days to review relevant data and recommend a course of action. FDA said it would also work to fill the vacant position of director of its Office of Drug Safety, hold workshops and advisory panel meetings on drug risk management issues, and release by year's end, three final guides to help drug firms manage product risks. Quelle |
Vioxx Recall Dogs Merck
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Mein Kommentar: Die Informationen von Merck sind wahrscheinlich hier zu finden. Aber sie interessieren momentan an der Börse keinen. Mich würde sehr interessieren: 1. ob die Fondsmanager nur so naiv sind, oder 2. ob der Wert gezielt leerverkauft wird. In dem ersten Fall geht es bis zur ersten gewonnenen Verhandlung sicher runter, aber im zweiten könnte ein Turnaround früher kommen, denn dann spielen Nachrichten eine untergeordnete Rolle. @Alle: kann man irgendwo die Leerverkäufe für Merck sehen? Wäre sehr dankbar für diese Info! |
Merck Faces Twin Vioxx Inquiries
By SCOTT HENSLEY
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL November 9, 2004; Merck & Co. said the Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into the company's handling of Vioxx, the painkiller that the drug maker withdrew in September, and the Securities and Exchange Commission has begun an informal inquiry. Merck, which made the disclosure in a quarterly regulatory filing, said it is cooperating with both investigations. The pharmaceuticals giant warned in the filing that it couldn't predict how the investigations would turn out, but said their conclusions could be "highly unfavorable" and include dispositions that "could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, liquidity and results of operations." The disclosure came yesterday after the stock market closed and is the latest sign of the deepening crisis over Vioxx. The company pulled the popular arthritis medicine from the market after finding the drug increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients who took it for more than 18 months. In a written response to questions about the investigations, Merck said "it acted responsibly and appropriately as it developed and marketed Vioxx." A week after learning of the results of a company-sponsored clinical trial demonstrating Vioxx's risks, Merck said it "acted in what it believed was the best interest of patients and voluntarily withdrew Vioxx from the market." Merck, of Whitehouse Station, N.J., said the Justice Department subpoenaed information related to the company's research, marketing and selling activities for Vioxx. A Justice Department spokesman had no comment. The SEC's focus is likely to be on issues of disclosure, such as whether Merck fully informed investors about the information that emerged from research about Vioxx's risks. An SEC spokesman declined to comment. Merck yesterday also quantified the litigation it faces. As of Oct. 31, the drug maker said it was a defendant in about 375 Vioxx personal-injury lawsuits, involving about 1,000 plaintiff groups. One or more of those cases may go to trial in the first half of 2005, the company said. Citing "media reports and other sources," Merck said it expects more lawsuits will be filed against the company and possibly its current and former officers and directors. The company said it had at least $190 million in insurance to cover its directors and officers and to cover lawsuits related to securities law. As for product liability, Merck said it has about $630 million in insurance coverage. That amount could fall far short of potential damage awards, according to recent estimates from some Wall Street analysts. In its filing, Merck said it is "unable at this time to determine" whether its insurance coverage "will be adequate to cover its defense costs and losses, if any," in relation to Vioxx. "The endgame of an SEC investigation or criminal probe pales in comparison to what they face in terms of product liability," said Richard Evans, a drug industry analyst with Sanford Bernstein in New York who estimates that Merck's potential product liability is "$12 billion and climbing." The greatest danger of the Justice Department's probe may be that its "more aggressive and complete discovery process" could ease the burden of proof for plaintiffs' lawyers to show negligence or to win punitive damages. Even so, proving that any particular patient died or was injured by Vioxx could be difficult. The 2,600-patient study that led Merck to pull Vioxx gave patients either a 25 milligram dose of the drug daily or a sugar pill. Based on a preliminary analysis, there were 45 confirmed cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks or strokes, among the patients taking Vioxx compared with 25 events among those on the placebos. The risk emerged only after 18 months of treatment and no difference in overall mortality was observed between the groups. Mr. Evans, in a report last month, acknowledged the heavy burden on plaintiffs to show that Vioxx and not nature caused their specific injuries. Merck declined to comment on financial analysts' estimates of potential liability. The Wall Street Journal reported last week about Merck documents and e-mails that raised the possibility the company may have known more about the risks of Vioxx than previously acknowledged. A lawyer representing Merck said the internal e-mails and marketing materials were "taken out of context" and "do not accurately represent the conduct of Merck and its employees." Merck didn't provide other documents to furnish context, citing continuing litigation. Merck stock, which traded at around $45 before the Vioxx fiasco, fell 2.5% to $25.91 in after-hours trading yesterday. Quelle: Wall Street Journal |
Merck Falls on Word of Federal Probes Over Vioxx
By Robert Steyer
TheStreet.com Staff Reporter 11/9/2004 8:16 AM EST Updated from Nov. 8 Merck (MRK:NYSE - commentary - research) shares were near their 52-week intraday low in early trading Tuesday after the company late Monday revealed that it is the subject of a criminal investigation by the Justice Department concerning events leading up to the removal of the arthritis drug Vioxx from the market on Sept. 30. In addition, Merck said that it is the subject of an "informal inquiry" about Vioxx by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In premarket trading, the stock was off 76 cents, or 2.9%, to $25.81. The company revealed the developments in a quarterly filing with the SEC after markets had closed on Monday. Merck previously said it was removing the arthritis drug from the market because tests showed long-term use of Vioxx -- more than 18 months -- showed a greater cardiovascular risk among Vioxx patients than among people who took a placebo. Merck said Monday that it had received a subpoena from the Justice Department relating to the "research, marketing and selling activities" in an investigation "under criminal statutes." Merck, which provided few details in its quarterly filing, said it was told by the SEC staff that the commission was beginning an informal inquiry. Merck said it would cooperate with the Justice Department and the SEC. "The company cannot predict the outcome of these inquiries," Merck said. "However, it is possible that highly unfavorable outcomes, including a potential civil disposition from the SEC and/or potential civil or criminal dispositions from the Justice Department, could have a material adverse effect on the company's financial position, liquidity and results of operations." Merck's potential legal bill for Vioxx is getting as much, if not more, attention on Wall Street than its products and its research efforts. Standard & Poor's said recently that it was putting Merck's corporate credit and unsecured debt ratings on its CreditWatch list "with negative implications," thus placing Merck's AAA credit rating in jeopardy, because of increasing concern about the "magnitude of possible litigation" due to Vioxx. |
Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals Announces New Clinical Trial for VYTORIN
Press Release Source: Merck & Co., Inc.
Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals Announces New Clinical Trial for VYTORIN -ezetimibe/simvastatin- Tuesday November 9, 8:38 am ET Nov. 9, 2004-- Large Trial to Evaluate VYTORIN(TM) in Reducing Major Cardiovascular Events Through Intensive Lowering of LDL Cholesterol in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals today announced a large scale clinical outcomes trial that will be conducted for VYTORIN(TM) (ezetimibe/simvastatin). The trial known as IMPROVE IT (Improved Reduction of Outcomes: VYTORIN Efficacy International Trial) will evaluate the risk reduction provided by VYTORIN 10/40 mg as compared to Zocor (simvastatin) 40 mg in reducing death and major coronary events in approximately 10,000 patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). In clinical trials, VYTORIN has been shown to provide superior LDL cholesterol lowering as compared to Lipitor or Zocor. The intent of the study is to determine whether VYTORIN provides incremental reductions in cardiovascular events in these patients as compared to simvastatin. The primary endpoint of the trial is the composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), rehospitalization for ACS or revascularization (occurring 30 days or more after the initial event). "The purpose of IMPROVE IT is to evaluate the potential incremental impact of VYTORIN versus simvastatin alone in reducing mortality and morbidity in high risk patients with ACS by dramatically lowering LDL cholesterol through dual inhibition," said Eugene Braunwald, M.D., F.A.C.C., Distinguished Hersey Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, chairman TIMI Study Group, Brigham and Women's Hospital. Study Design IMPROVE IT is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind active comparator study that will enroll approximately 10,000 patients with ACS, including unstable angina (UA), non-ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). Patients will be randomized to either VYTORIN 10/40 mg or simvastatin 40 mg per day. Patients will be followed for over two years. "There is growing clinical evidence that intensive lipid lowering provides additional benefits to high-risk patients. IMPROVE IT will potentially provide further clinical evidence on how best to manage high-risk patients with ACS. It will also further characterize the clinical profile of VYTORIN beyond its already demonstrated significant efficacy in LDL cholesterol reduction," said Robert M. Califf, M.D., F.A.C.C., professor of medicine, director, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center. About Acute Coronary Syndromes ACS includes unstable angina (UA), non ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. ACS is usually caused by the buildup of plaque (deposits of fat-like substances) in the coronary arteries of the heart. These plaques may tear or rupture, leading to the formation of a blood clot which may partly or completely block the blood flow in a coronary artery, abruptly limiting the supply of oxygenated blood to a portion of heart muscle. Patients with UA often experience severe constricting pain in the chest occurring at rest, but testing does not show evidence of heart muscle damage. However, the development of UA is a warning sign that a heart attack may soon occur. NSTEMI, the most common form of heart attack, presents similarly to UA but is accompanied by evidence of heart muscle damage. In STEMI, an abrupt complete blockage of the coronary artery causes more extensive damage to the heart muscle. The treatment of ACS includes improving blood supply to the heart muscle, preventing further clot formation, and, ultimately, preventing further progression of coronary atherosclerosis. According to the American Heart Association, it is estimated that approximately 1.5 million patients are annually admitted for symptoms of ACS in the United States alone. Full indications and contraindication for VYTORIN VYTORIN is indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet for the reduction of elevated total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Apo B(1), triglycerides and non-HDL cholesterol and to increase HDL cholesterol in patients with primary (heterozygous familial and non-familial) hypercholesterolemia or mixed hyperlipidemia. VYTORIN also is indicated for the reduction of elevated total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g. LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable. VYTORIN is a prescription medicine and should not be taken by people who are hypersensitive to any of its components. VYTORIN should not be taken by anyone with active liver disease or unexplained persistent elevations of serum transaminases. Women who are of childbearing age (unless highly unlikely to conceive), are nursing or who are pregnant should not take VYTORIN. Selected cautionary information for VYTORIN Muscle pain, tenderness or weakness in people taking VYTORIN should be reported to a doctor promptly because these could be signs of a serious side effect. VYTORIN should be discontinued if myopathy is diagnosed or suspected. To help avoid serious side effects, patients should talk to their doctor about medicine or food they should avoid while taking VYTORIN. In three placebo-controlled, 12-week trials, the incidence of consecutive elevations (Greater than 3 X ULN) in serum transaminases were 1.7 percent overall for patients treated with VYTORIN and 2.6 percent for patients treated with VYTORIN 10/80 mg. In controlled long-term (48 week) extensions, which included both newly-treated and previously-treated patients, the incidence of consecutive elevations (Greater than 3 X ULN) in serum transaminases was 1.8 percent overall and 3.6 percent for patients treated with VYTORIN 10/80 mg. These elevations in transaminases were generally asymptomatic, not associated with cholestasis and returned to baseline after discontinuation of therapy or with continued treatment. Doctors should perform blood tests before, and periodically during treatment with VYTORIN when clinically indicated to check for liver problems. People taking VYTORIN 10/80 mg should receive an additional liver function test prior to and three months after titration and periodically during the first year. Due to the unknown effects of increased exposure to ezetimibe (an ingredient in VYTORIN) in patients with moderate or severe hepatic insufficiency, VYTORIN is not recommended in these patients. The safety and effectiveness of VYTORIN with fibrates have not been established; therefore, co-administration with fibrates is not recommended. Caution should be exercised when initiating VYTORIN in patients treated with cyclosporine and in patients with severe renal insufficiency. In clinical studies VYTORIN was well tolerated with a low incidence of adverse events VYTORIN has been evaluated for safety in more than 3,800 patients in clinical trials and was generally well tolerated at all doses (10/10 mg, 10/20 mg, 10/40 mg, 10/80 mg). In clinical trials, the most commonly reported side effects, regardless of cause, included headache (6.8 percent), upper respiratory tract infection (3.9 percent), myalgia (3.5 percent), influenza (2.6 percent) and extremity pain (2.3 percent). Additional Outcomes Trials for VYTORIN In addition to the IMPROVE-IT trial, Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals is conducting three other large-scale clinical outcomes trials. They are: The trial known as SHARP (Study of Heart And Renal Protection) will evaluate the effects of lowering LDL-C with ZETIA 10 mg and simvastatin 20 mg daily versus placebo in 9,000 patients with chronic kidney disease. The study will assess the effect of this combination therapy on the time to the first major vascular event (i.e., heart attack, stroke, or revascularization) and on progression to end-stage renal disease among pre-dialysis patients, as well as assessing safety and tolerability in the different treatment arms. The trial known as SEAS (Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis) is a placebo controlled study that will examine the reduction in mortality and morbidity of patients with aortic stenosis with the co-administration of ZETIA and simvastatin 40 mg. The trial known as ENHANCE (Ezetimibe and Simvastatin in Hypercholesterolemia Enhances Atherosclerosis Regression) will evaluate ZETIA 10 mg and simvastatin 80 mg versus simvastatin 80 mg alone in reversing the atherosclerotic thickening of the carotid artery in patients with high cholesterol. |
MRK 8:58AM ET 25.87 -0.70 (-2.63%)
kurze deutsche Übersetzung Merck & Co. im Visier von Ermittlungen Der Pharmakonzern Merck & Co. sieht sich im Zusammenhang mit dem Rückruf des Arthritis-und Schmerzmittels Vioxx mit Ermittlungen durch das US-Justizministerium konfrontiert. Wie Merck & Co am Montag nach Börsenschluss mitteilte, sind für Anfang Dezember Unternehmensvertreter behördlich geladen. Die Untersuchung würde sich auf bundesstrafgerichtliche Belange erstrecken. Zudem hat die Börsenaufsichtsbehörde SEC eine Untersuchung gegen Merck & Co hinsichtlich der Rechtmäßigkeit der Vorgehensweise des Unternehmens bei Vioxx eingeleitet. Merck hat zugleich betont, dass jene Verfahren geeignet seien negativen Auswirkungen auf die Finanzsituation, Liquidität und den operativen Bereich nach sich zu ziehen. Merck geben vorbörslich an der NYSE um rund 3% auf 25,80 USD nach ©Godmode Trader |
Merck & Co von Moody`s herabgestuft
https://www.boerse-go.de/nachricht/m...7,a114522.html MRK 8:04AM ET 25.76 -0.24 (-0.92%) |
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NYT: Vioxx-Problematik war Merck lange bekannt
https://www.boerse-go.de/nachricht/n...7,a114554.html MRK 8:03AM ET 27.25 -0.09 (-0.33%) |
Congress Told FDA Failed Public on Vioxx
Reuters
Thursday November 18, 2:37 pm ET By Lisa Richwine WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration failed the public in its oversight of Merck & Co Inc.'s (NYSE:MRK - News) withdrawn painkiller Vioxx and is "incapable of protecting America" from another dangerous drug, an agency researcher told Congress on Thursday. David Graham, an FDA scientist who had warned about the heart risks of Vioxx, called the FDA's actions "a profound regulatory failure." Concerns about a possible link between Vioxx and heart problems were building during the drug's more than four years on the market. The FDA required a warning about heart risks but felt the drug's benefits made it worth keeping on the market. Merck Chief Executive Raymond Gilmartin said the company had believed wholeheartedly in Vioxx and had followed a rigorous scientific procedure every step of the way. "In fact, my wife was taking Vioxx, using Vioxx, up until the day we withdrew it from the market," Gilmartin told the Senate Finance Committee. Merck withdrew Vioxx, which was taken by millions of Americans, on Sept. 30 after a study showed the drug doubled heart attack and stroke risk. "I would argue the FDA as currently configured is incapable of protecting America against another Vioxx. We are virtually defenseless," said Graham, associate director for science in the FDA's Office of Drug Safety. Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said he was concerned the FDA had a "far too cozy" relationship with drug companies and suggested an independent office of drug safety might be needed. Dr. Sandra Kweder, deputy director of the FDA's Office of New Drugs, said the agency "worked actively and vigorously with Merck to inform public health professionals of what was known regarding (cardiovascular risk) with Vioxx and to pursue further definitive investigations." Kweder also declined to fault Merck: "I believe that Merck acted responsibly once the problem was recognized." Graham told the committee he felt pressured by supervisors to water down his findings from a study of patient insurance records that Vioxx users had a 50 percent greater chance of heart attack and sudden cardiac death than people who took Pfizer Inc.'s (NYSE:PFE - News) rival medicine Celebrex. Graham named five medicines currently on the market that he believes need closer scrutiny for safety: Abbott Laboratories Inc.'s (NYSE:ABT - News) weight-loss drug Meridia, AstraZeneca Plc's (London:AZN.L - News) cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor, Pfizer Inc.'s (NYSE:PFE - News) painkiller Bextra, Roche's (ROG.VX) acne drug Accutane, and GlaxoSmithKline Plc's (London:GSK.L - News) asthma drug Serevent. Kweder disagreed. "I do not have reason to believe that set of five drugs is specifically more concerning," she said. In a statement on Wednesday, acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford said Graham had violated long-standing procedures for publishing scientific findings when he submitted his research to a medical journal without FDA clearance. Grassley said Crawford's statement appeared intended to intimidate a witness on the eve of a hearing. Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, urged fellow senators to keep an open mind, saying, "Today some are trying to punish one drug company for acting appropriately within the framework of our regulatory system." But Grassley said Vioxx was the second example this year of the FDA not respecting its own scientists. Another FDA reviewer, Dr. Andrew Mosholder, had warned that antidepressants were linked to suicidal behavior in pediatric patients, but supervisors initially kept him from making those views public. "Now we have scientists in this particular (Vioxx) case who are being harassed within the agency because of sticking to their own science," Grassley said. He also faulted Merck for aggressively marketing Vioxx for nearly two years between submitting results of a trial to the FDA in June of 2000 showing a higher incidence of cardiac problems with Vioxx, and the FDA approving a new label detailing those risks in April 2002. Merck's Gilmartin insisted the company had acted properly with Vioxx. "Over the past six years, we have promptly disclosed results of numerous Merck-sponsored studies to the FDA, physicians, the scientific community and the media," he said. (Additional reporting by Susan Heavey, Susan Cornwell and Tim Dobbyn, editing by John Wallace; Reuters Messaging: lisa.richwine.reuters.com Klammeraffe reuters.net; Tel: 202 310-5691)) |
Merck Maintains Quarterly Dividend
Wednesday November 24, 7:40 am ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK - News) has declared its regular quarterly dividend, maintaining its status as one of the richest dividend payors among blue-chip stocks, even following the withdrawal of its arthritis drug Vioxx and subsequent loss of nearly $27 billion in market value. In a statement after the market closed on Tuesday, the company declared a quarterly dividend of 38 cents a share for the first quarter of 2005, payable on Jan. 3 to stockholders of record on Dec. 3, 2004. The payout represents a 5.6 percent yield based on Merck's closing price Tuesday of $27.15 a share and is the second-highest among the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones industrial average. The only Dow component with a higher yield is Microsoft Corp., but its 11.6 percent yield is skewed by its recent one-time $3 a share dividend. Merck said at the time of the withrawal of Vioxx in late September that it would not change its dividend. |
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Re: Vioxx Recall Dogs Merck
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An der Börse wird also nach wie vor das alte Spiel gespielt, daß nur die Outsider nicht verstehen. Ich mag die Hedgies. Sie helfen, Ungleichgewichte schneller zu beseitigen und sorgen für ein oder anderes Schnäppchen. Merck ist übrigens immer noch durchaus günstig und zahlt denjenigen, die die Aktie heute hatten, die Dividende von 38 Cents/Aktie. @Alle: stellen die deutsche Banken für Dividenden der US-Aktien bei der IRS automatisch einen Antrag auf eine Befreiung von der Backup Witholding Tax oder muß ich mich darüber selber kümmern? Glaube zwar nicht, daß mir jemand diese Frage hier im Board beantworten kann, werde sie aber stellen, damit mrbomb mir später nicht widersprechen kann, wenn ich der Meinung bin, daß es sich nicht lohnt, hier im Board Fragen zu stellen. :D |
DowJones: MERCK - Kurserholung läuft, aber...
MERCK (MRK) : 28,52$ (+2,89%) Tageschart (log) seit Januar 2004 (1 Kerze = 1 Tag) Diagnose: MERCK brach Mitte 2004 aus einem symmetrischen Dreieck trendbestätigend nach unten aus. Nach negativen News erfolgt hier im September ein massiver Abverkauf der bis auf 25,60$ fortgesetzt wurde. Der langfristige Support bei 28,25$ sowie die ebenfalls dort liegende Unterkante des langfristigen Abwärtstrendkanals wurden nach unten durchbrochen. Eine Erholung an diesen Kreuzwiderstand läuft derzeit. Weiteren Widerstand bildet der Bereich 30,65 sowie 33,78$, eine langfristige Unterstützung findet sich noch bei 19,00$. Prognose: Eine Bodenbildung ist bei MRK nicht erfolgt und bleibt abzuwarten. Mittelfristig ist die Aktie klar überverkauft, der bisherige Anstieg erfolgt aber in der Form einer kurzfristigen Bearflag. Scheitert die Aktie daran am Kreuzwiderstand bei 28,25$ drohen hier mittelfristig weiter fallende Notierungen bis zunächst 25,60$. Erholungspotential bis 33,77$ würde sich bei Rückeroberung der 28,25$ auf Wochenschlussbasis eröffnen. http://godmode-charts.de/chart/charts2004/ttt/19363.gif Quelle: Godmodetrader |
Zitat:
Es bleibt natürlich noch die Pipline, die Sorgen und den langfristigen Abwärtstrend ausgelöst hat, aber ich bin kein ANALyst, um ihre Entwicklung und die Umsätze der neuen Produkte vorherzusagen. |
On The Firing Line At Embattled Merck
With claims against Vioxx mounting, Ken Frazier is in for the fight of his career
Merck & Co. (MRK ) general counsel Kenneth C. Frazier isn't scared off by tough odds. In 1991, when he was a partner at Philadelphia law firm Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Frazier and two colleagues took on the case of James Willie "Bo" Cochran, an Alabama man on death row for allegedly committing a 1976 murder. Frazier believed Cochran hadn't received a fair trial because African Americans were underrepresented on the juries that heard his case. Frazier and his team, working on a pro bono basis, won a new trial for Cochran, who was acquitted in 1997. "I thought: 'I finally got somebody who will help me,"' says Cochran of his first meeting with the aggressive Frazier and his colleagues. As much of an uphill battle as Cochran's case proved to be, it was nothing compared to the challenge Frazier faces now. The 49-year-old lawyer will lead Merck's defense against a mounting avalanche of lawsuits surrounding its painkiller Vioxx. Merck yanked the drug off the market in September after a company study confirmed it raised the risk of heart attack and stroke. If Frazier has a soft spot for the underdog, he certainly has a doozy on his hands now. "This will be the most significant challenge I've ever faced," Frazier says, adding that he's confident in the legal team he leads. AFFAIRS OF THE HEART Concerns about Vioxx surfaced in 2000, when a study showed the risk of heart attack was higher in patients taking the drug than in those who took an older painkiller called naproxen. Merck scientists argued that the difference was that naproxen protected the heart, not that Vioxx harmed it. Yet Merck had an unpublished study showing an increased risk of cardiovascular problems with Vioxx -- proof, critics say, that the company was downplaying the risks. Merck says regulators had data on that study, which Frazier contends were not statistically significant. Still, Merck continued to market Vioxx aggressively to consumers, racking up $2.5 billion in sales in 2003. Now, Merck's future is in question. The bill for settling Vioxx lawsuits could run as high as $18 billion, Merrill Lynch & Co. (MER ) estimates. And if a Justice Dept. investigation finds criminal wrongdoing, the cost could be even higher. Merck's stock has plunged 38%, to $28, since September. And corporate governance experts slammed Merck's board for its recent approval of golden parachutes for the top 230 managers, including Frazier. The lawyer's ability to lessen the damage from Vioxx will help determine whether Merck is left with enough capital to regain its status as an innovative drugmaker or if it will be nothing more than an also-ran waiting to be snapped up by a stronger player. Frazier has an ambitious plan for fighting the coming wave of claims. He says Merck will vigorously argue that the recent study only showed an increased risk of cardiovascular problems after 18 months of continuous Vioxx use. Furthermore, he says, many taking the drug may have had other risk factors for heart attack or stroke, including obesity or smoking habits. "They are going to have to produce [medical evidence] to exclude those other potential causative factors," Frazier insists. "And I don't think that is easy to do." Frazier will also fight to prevent the cases from being consolidated in a class action -- preferring instead to take each one on separately. Legal experts say he's probably betting the company can settle the most troubling cases first and then bring a few cases to trial that it has a good shot at winning. If it does indeed win them, that might discourage other lawyers from going ahead with their claims. UNASSUMING ROOTS Merck's approach is fraught with peril, though. Some attorneys say juries might scoff at its argument that it's not responsible for heart damage in people who had other risk factors. In addition, Dr. Eric J. Topol, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic and a longtime Vioxx critic, calls Merck's argument that the increased cardiac risk only surfaces after 18 months on Vioxx "indefensible." He points out that the trial comparing Vioxx to naproxen showed a difference in heart attack rates starting after just one month of use. If any early cases go against Merck, trial lawyers will be emboldened to drive the cost of settling future cases through the roof. Although he has kept a low profile, Frazier is no stranger to high-profile cases. During his 14 years as a litigator and then partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath, he represented companies such as AlliedSignal and Lorillard Tobacco Co. (CG ) in asbestos claims. He also handled a number of cases for Merck. One of the toughest was brought by the family of a girl who developed a fatal neurological disease after being injected with Merck's vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella. Frazier won the case by arguing that Merck had contracted to provide the vaccine to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, which in turn was responsible for warning the public about its risks. Frazier's success in such cases prompted Merck to hire him as general counsel at its Astra Merck joint venture in 1992. He joined Merck in 1994. Frazier's rise to the upper ranks at Merck belies his unassuming roots. His father, the son of a sharecropper, moved to Philadelphia as a teen with the equivalent of a third-grade education. Frazier's mother died when he was 12, leaving his dad to raise three children alone in a rough North Philadelphia neighborhood on a modest salary from United Parcel Service (UPS ), where he worked as a janitor. Frazier's father set lofty goals for his children, insisting they study hard and strive for excellence. "His view of what was possible was unconstrained by the circumstances we lived in," says Frazier, who once raised pocket money during college by catching newts and tadpoles and selling them to a local aquarium store. "We were raised to think we could do anything." FUN-LOVING STREAK Throughout the Vioxx battle, Frazier will rely on his trademark intensity and relentlessness. Colleagues describe him as a high-energy manager who has a tough time sitting still. Shortly after he joined Astra Merck, Frazier felt meetings lasted too long. When his supervisor noted that Frazier seemed fidgety in the meetings, Frazier suggested they get rid of the chairs in the conference room to speed the meetings along. The demanding lawyer has a fun-loving streak, too -- he often trolls the halls to chat with his colleagues about sports. And in his spare time, Frazier, who is married with two children, volunteers for organizations that serve the underprivileged. In the late 1990s he helped run the Cornerstone Christian Academy, an inner-city Philadelphia school that was racked with financial trouble and staff turnover. "Kenny was instrumental in saving the school," says Drinker Chairman and Cornerstone co-founder Jim Sweet. Some who have worked with Frazier speculate the lawyer will eventually abandon corporate life to devote himself to his favorite social causes. Frazier says he wouldn't dream of leaving anytime soon. "I'm committed to seeing this through," he says of the Vioxx cases. How he handles the Vioxx morass will surely determine how long Merck remains on the critical list. Quelle: Bussinessweek |
Merck Cuts Outlook for 2005
Associated Press
Merck Cuts Outlook for 2005 Wednesday December 8, 9:05 am ET Merck Puts Earnings Outlook for 2005 Below Analysts' Estimates Due to Vioxx Withdrawal WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. (AP) -- Merck & Co. Inc. said Wednesday it expects the withdrawal of its Vioxx painkiller from the market to reduce full-year earnings by 50 cents to 55 cents a share. The company said it now expects full-year earnings to be in the range of $2.59 to $2.64 per share, reflecting the Vioxx impact, and estimates fourth-quarter net income at 48 cents to 53 cents per share. The company said the Vioxx withdrawal will result in a reduction to sales of $700 milllion to $750 million. The drug maker also lowered its guidance for 2005, saying it expects earnings in the range of $2.42 to $2.52 per share, below the current analysts' estimate of $2.56 per share. The earnings guidance does not "reflect the establishment of reserves for any potential liability for settlements relating to the Vioxx lawsuits," the company said. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call currently expect Merck to report earnings of 50 cents for the 2004 fourth quarter and $2.61 for the year. |
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Merck: Kaufempfehlung
Beliebt sind die Aktien von Merck an der Wall Street derzeit nicht wirklich. Und doch wagt sich ein Analyst des Brokerhauses Raymond James auf’s dünne Eis. Investoren sollen die Aktie aggressiv kaufen, rät der Analyst. Was die potentiellen Klagen im Zusammenhang mit dem vom Markt genommenen Schmerzmittel Vioxx betrifft, seien die Bedenken überzogen. Bei einer Dividendenrendite von aktuell 5,1 Prozent werde die Aktie quasi wie eine Wandelanleihe gehandelt. Sollten neue Medikamente zugelassen werden, dürfte die Aktie durchstarten. Wer keine starken Nerven hat, sollte dem Titel fern bleiben. Bei der Credit Suisse landet die Aktie erneut auf der Verkaufsliste. Wegen des nachlassenden Ertragsumfelds, sollten Investoren bei Kursstärke verkaufen. WSC - © Wall Street Correspondents Inc. |
MERCK - Gegenbewegung gewinnt an Dynamik
Wochenchart (log) seit Februar 2002 (1 Kerze = 1 Woche) Kurz-Kommentierung: MERCK wurde nach dem Bruch des Supports bei 42,85$ in den Vormonaten massiv abverkauft und fiel dabei auch aus dem langfristigen Abwärtstrendkanals bei derzeit 28,25$ heraus. Bei 25,60$ konnte die aktie ein Tief markieren und sich seitdem deutlicher erholen. Mit der Rückeroberung des Abwärtstrendkanals nähert sich der Kurs jetzt einem ersten Erholungs-Ziel bei 30,65$. Das Gap der Vorwochen wird dabei nahezu nach oben geschlossen. Kurzfristig besteht bei 30,65$ die Gefahr eines weiteren Rücksetzers in den Bereich 28,25$. Kann Merck diesen Widerstand aber direkt nach oben durchbrechen ist nach dem massiven Kurseinbruch eine Fortsetzung der Erholung bis 33,77$ möglich. Eine Bodenbildung ist hier bisher mittelfristig nicht erfolgt. http://godmode-charts.de/chart/charts2004/ttt/19720.gif Quelle: Godmode Trader |
Zitat:
Frage: was sind und die charttechnischen Erkenntnisse wert, wenn sich keiner danach hält? Antwort: nichts! :D @crazy_coco: stell die ANALysen von Godmode Trader zu Merck bitte trotzdem rein, ich bin neugierig, wie oft sie noch falsch liegen und wann sie der Chart wieder "fängt" und zur Charttechnik passen wird. |
Merck: Vioxx belastet Aktie
Das Management von Merck dürfte in 2005 wenig zu lachen haben. Die Kontroverse um das vom Markt genommene Arthritis-Medikament VIOXX spitzt sich zu. Ein führender Mediziner der US Gesundheitsbehörde mahnt, dass das Schmerzmittel möglicherweise bei bis zu 139.000 Menschen zu gesundheitlichen Schäden geführt hat. Die Anzahl der betroffenen Personen überflügelt die ursprünglichen Schätzungen um nahezu 500 Prozent. Dr. David Graham plant seine Forschungsergebnisse in dem englischen Medizin-Journal „The Lancelet“ zu veröffentlichen. Grahams Erkenntnisse dürften die Debatte um die Effektivität der amerikanischen Gesundheitsbehörde anheizen. Für Merck nimmt wiederum das Risiko von Schadensersatzklagen zu. © Wall Street Correspondents Inc |
Merck begins mid-stage trial of HIV vaccine
Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:22 PM ET
By Ransdell Pierson NEW YORK, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Merck & Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday said it has begun a mid-stage trial of a vaccine to determine if it can prevent infection by HIV or treat patients who are already infected with the virus. Unlike conventional vaccines that coax the body to create antibodies against a target virus, Merck said its vaccine is designed to coax immune system killer cells -- called T-cells -- to attack the virus that causes AIDS. "Merck's vaccine is especially promising because it has most consistently stimulated activity by 'killer' T-cells," said Dr. Susan Buchbinder, director of HIV research for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, who helped design the new trial. Merck said the vaccine -- made of synthetic components that cannot cause infection with HIV -- would be administered to people at high risk of infection with HIV, in North America, South America, the Caribbean and Australia. The trial, expected to last more than four years, aims to determine if the vaccine can prevent infection and/or maintain lower amounts of virus in people who may become infected during the study. Some volunteers will receive the vaccine, while others will receive a placebo. Researchers cautioned it could take many years or decades for an effective HIV vaccine to emerge, if ever, although Merck's approach is considered to be one of the most promising and farthest along in testing. Other companies developing HIV vaccines include Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and Chiron Corp. (CHIR.O: Quote, Profile, Research) . Merck's "proof-of-concept" study is being conducted in collaboration with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, an international collaboration of scientists that is partially funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. "If data generated by the study show that the vaccine candidate provides some protection against HIV, or delays or diminishes the course of HIV infection, this information will guide future research," Merck and the Network group said in a joint release. The Phase II trial will include 1,500 male and female volunteers ages 18 to 45 of diverse racial groups, all of whom will receive counseling on how to reduce their risk of HIV infection. The vaccine will consist of three synthetically produced HIV genes -- called gag, pol and nef. They are loaded into a weakened cold virus, the adenovirus, that acts as a delivery vehicle. The three genes are found in the core of the virus and are believed to be essential to its reproduction. Other HIV vaccines, including one developed by VaxGen Inc. (VXGN.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) that proved ineffective in a large trial, contain synthetic copies of proteins found on the shell of the virus. Merck and the trials network in 2003 began a smaller Phase I international trial of another HIV vaccine. It also uses the weakened cold virus but delivers only one of the synthetically made genes -- gag. About 40 million people globally are believed to be infected with HIV and a vaccine is considered the best hope of controlling the growing epidemic now in its third decade. Although cocktails of drugs can control the virus, many patients develop resistance to the medicines and the drugs are financially out of reach to most people in poor countries -- including those in Africa and Asia -- where the epidemic is taking its greatest toll. Shares of Merck were down 28 cents at $30.08 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange, amid a slight downturn for the drug sector. © Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved. Meine Meinung: Eine Impfung gegen AIDS wäre eine sehr schöne Sache. Wäre (rein menschlich) schade, wenn dieses Mittel nicht alle Phasen der klinischen Studien passieren würde. |
Merck & Co. schlägt Umsatzerwartungen
Der Pharmakonzern Merck & Co. hat im vierten Quartal 2004 einen Gewinn von $1,1 Mrd bzw 50 Cents je Aktie erzielt. Im vergleichbaren Vorjahreszeitraum erwirtschaftete das Unternehmen einen Gewinn von $1,4 Mrd bzw 62 Cents. Die Erlöse legten von $5,6 Mrd auf $5,7 Mrd leicht zu. Die von Thomson First Call erhobenen durchschnittlichen Analystenschätzungen liegen bei einem Gewinn von 50 Cents und Erlösen von $5,32 Mrd. Wie Merck am Dienstag weiter mitteilte, wird für das erste Quartal mit einem Gewinn von 54-58 Cents je Aktie gerechnet. Zugleich bestätigt das Unternehmen den Ausblick für 2005 hinsichtlich eines voraussichtlichen Gewinns von $2,42-$2,52 je Aktie. Hier gingen die Analysten von 56 Cents bzw $2,46 je Aktie aus. Weiters wurde ein Rekord an neuen Rückstellungen im Ausmaß von $604 Mio aufgrund von möglichen Aufwendungen im Zusammenhang mit der Vioxx-Rücknahme gebildet. Die gesamten Rückstellungen belaufen sich nun auf $675 Mio. Seit dem 31. Dezember wurden aufgrund eines vergangenen Oktober gestarteten Restrukturierungsplans 5.100 Jobs gestrichen. Quelle: Godmode Trader |
Merck & Co: wichtiges Patent wird für ungültig erklärt
Das US-Berufungsgericht hat heute beschlossen, dass das Patent für das bekannte Merck-Osteoporose-Medikament Fosamax in 2008 seine Gültigkeit frühzeitig verlieren wird. Dies berichtet der US-Nachrichtensender CNBC. Der Generika-Medikamentenhersteller Teva Pharmaceuticals hatte zuvor gegen das Patent Mercks geklagt, eine Klage, die zunächst zurückgewiesen wurde. Nachdem sich das Berufungsgericht nun erneut mit dem Fall befasste, wurde das Patent Mercks nun für ungültig erklärt. Ursprünglich lautete die Gültigkeitsdauer des Fosamax-Patents bis auf 2018. Fosamax generierte 2004 einen Erlös von $2 Milliarden in den USA, so IMS Health. Merck kündigte weitere rechtliche Schritte gegen die Entscheidung an. Die Merck Aktie, die heute bereits durch die Einleitung einer formellen Untersuchung durch die US-Börsenaufsichtsbehörde unter Druck geraten war, verliert weiter und liegt zuletzt mit 10.46% bei $27.92 im Minus. Quelle: GodmodeTrader |
Wußte Merck schon früher von Vioxx-Risiken ?
Laut dem „Wall Street Journal“ ließen hinsichtlich des von Merck & Co vom Markt genommenden Arthritis-und Schmerzmittels Vioxx frühere externe Sicherheitsüberprüfungen den Schluss zu, dass für Patienten bei Einnahme des Mittels nach vier Monaten die Gefahr von zunehmenden Herzrisiken besteht. Merck hat die vergangenen September vollzogene Rücknahme dahingehend begründet, wonach klinischen Tests auf erhöhte Risiken für Herzinfarkte und Schlaganfälle hinweisen. Merck & Co. sieht sich nun mit einer Vielzahl von Klagen konfrontiert. Mit dem Beginn der Prozesswelle gegen das Unternehmen sei frühestens ab Mai 2005 zu rechnen, hieß es weiter von der Zeitung. Quelle: GodmodeTrader |
Analyst: Merck langfristig interessant
Morgan Stanley haben heute ihre Einstufung „equal weight“ für die Aktie des US-Pharmariesen Merck bestätigt. Das Kursziel wurde von 34 auf 31 Dollar abgesenkt. Wie der zuständige Analyst ausführte, werde nach einer Gerichtentscheidung aus dem Januar der Patenrechtsschutz auf das Osteoporose-Medikament Fosamax doch schon 2008 auslaufen. Fosamax sei für den Konzern derzeit der zweitwichtigste Umsatzbringer. Im Zuge dessen sei es möglich, dass Merck spezielle Vermarktungsrechte an GlaxoSmithKline zurückverkaufe. Dies könne rund 3,3 Milliarden Dollar in die Kassen spülen; die Umsätze und Gewinne aber weiter schmälern. Die Belastungen durch das zurückgezogene Schmerzmittel Vioxx dürften bei 14 bis 15 Milliarden Dollar liegen. Auf der anderen Seite verfüge die Aktie über eine hohe Dividendenrendite. Auch die Produktpipeline verbessere sich allmählich, so dass ein Kauf für langfristig agierende Investoren ratsam erscheine. An der NYSE verbessern sich Merck aktuell um 1,08 Prozent auf 29,07 Dollar. Quelle: GodmodeTrader |
DowJones: MERCK beendet Erholung?
MERCK (MRK) : 28,51 $ (-1,75%) Tageschart (log) seit Mai 2004 (1 Kerze = 1 Tag) Diagnose: Zu den Verlierer im Dow Jones zählt mit dem schwachen Pharmasektor heute die Aktie von Merck. Der Kurs bildete nach dem Abverkauf Ende 2004 ein Tief bei 25,60$ und konnte sich zunächst bis 32,66$ erholen. In den Vorwochen geriet die aktiv aber wieder stärker unter Druck. Die nach einem Test des Supportclusters um 28,25$ gebildete kurzfristige Bearflag wird jetzt nach unten aufgelöst. Prognose: Am Key-Level bei 28,25$ bietet sich weiter die Möglichkeit einer kurzfristigen Bodenbildung. Hebelt die aufgelöste Bearflag den Kurs aber auch auf Schlussbasis unter dieses Niveau, drohen weiter fallende Notierungen bis in den Bereich 25,60$. Eine mittelfristige Bodenbildung ist bei MRK bisher nicht erfolgt und bleibt abzuwarten. http://godmode-charts.de/chart/charts2005/iii/2405.gif Quelle: GodmodeTrader |
Will Merck & Co.Vioxx wieder einführen ?
Laut dem „Wall Street Journal“ plant der Phamakonzern Merck & Co. sein vergangenen September zurückgezogenes Arthritis und Schmerzmittel Vioxx wieder auf den Markt zu bringen. Eine solcher Schritt sei für den Fall geplant, dass vergleichbare Konkurrenzprodukte ähnliche Risiken wie Vioxx ausweisen. Eine mögliche Wiedereinführung käme weiters in Betracht, falls Experten zu der Ansicht gelangen, dass die Vorteile jener Gruppe von Medikamenten, sogenannten COX-2-Hemmern, die Risiken für gewisse Patientengruppen wettmachen. Zur Zeit überprüft ein FDA-Expertenteam das Risiko von Schmerzmitteln der COX-2-Gruppe Quelle: GodmodeTrader |
Größter Dow-Gewinner war der Pharmazeut Merck mit einem Plus von satten 13 Prozent. Die Zulassungsbehörde hat mit 17 zu 15 Stimmen entschieden, dass das umstrittene und seit vier Monaten zurückgezogene Arthritismittel Vioxx weiterhin auf dem Markt bleiben darf. Die Verdienste des Medikaments überstiegen bei weitem das Risiko, das allerdings bis zum Herzinfarkt reichen soll – entsprechend deutlich muss künftig auf der Verpackung über die Nebenwirkungen informiert werden.
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Aktie von Merck & Co. längst noch nicht gesund
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/finanzen/...d-1213764.html |
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