MSD presents research pipeline

Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) has this week presented its pharmaceutical pipeline and predicted future growth based on its new financial strategy. MSD has said that the company is on course to achieve long-term double-digit compound earnings-per-share (EPS) growth until 2010.

The company forecast that it would make three regulatory filings in 2007, including HIV integrase inhibitor MK-0518, insomnia treatment Gaboxadol and extended-release niacin with flushing pathway inhibitor MK-0524A.

It also predicted that next year would see a number of compounds moving into phase II and phase III clinical trials, with the company reporting a “four-fold” increase in productivity of the early stages of its research pipeline since 2002.

Richard T Clark, chief executive officer and president of MSD, said: “We’ve successfully launched five novel medicines and vaccines, advanced promising products through every phase of our pipeline and driven the continued success of our in-line products.”

He added that the company had reached these goals while “executing on a new strategy” and making its cost structure more efficient and flexible.

Earlier this month, the company reported that it expected 2007 to see continuing growth in new pharmaceutical franchises, including Rotateq, Zostavax, Gardasil and Januvia, while reporting a predicted EPS range of $2.48-2.52 (1.26-1.28 pounds) for 2006.