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  • November 2006 (Revised November 2007)
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

Strategy in the Twenty First Century Pharmaceutical Industry: Merck & Co. and Pfizer Inc.

By: David J. Collis and Troy Smith
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:37
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Abstract

The global pharmaceutical industry has gone through substantial changes in the last few decades and pharmaceutical firms face major challenges including headline-grabbing litigation, imminent patent expirations, new technologies, rising drug development costs, generic drug substitution, international competitors, and complex public policy issues. This case describes the pharmaceutical industry in 2006 including: the drug development process; threats from biotech and generics competitors; pharmaceutical manufacturing, selling, and marketing; and pharmaceutical consumption in Europe, the third world, and the U.S. Merck and Pfizer are analyzed in-depth and a contrast between Merck as a research-based firm opposed to mergers and Pfizer as a marketing powerhouse growing through acquisitions is developed. Thirteen exhibits give concrete focus to the issues of the case.

Keywords

Mergers and Acquisitions; Growth and Development Strategy; Product Development; Research and Development; Corporate Strategy; Pharmaceutical Industry; United States

Citation

Collis, David J., and Troy Smith. "Strategy in the Twenty First Century Pharmaceutical Industry: Merck & Co. and Pfizer Inc." Harvard Business School Case 707-509, November 2006. (Revised November 2007.)
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About The Author

David J. Collis

Strategy
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Related Work

    • March 2013
    • Faculty Research

    Strategy in the Twenty-First Century Pharmaceutical Industry: Merck & Co. and Pfizer Inc. (TN)

    By: David J. Collis
Related Work
  • Strategy in the Twenty-First Century Pharmaceutical Industry: Merck & Co. and Pfizer Inc. (TN) By: David J. Collis
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