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Is the M&A Frenzy Short-Circuiting Pharma R&D?
A Former Researcher Speaks Out

A conversation with Kenneth "Eric" Milgram, Ph.D., Principal, Applied Scientific Consulting and the creator of the Pharma Conduct blog, former Director, Systems Biology Technologies at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals/Pfizer, about what happens to pharmaceutical companies when they put Wall Street expectations ahead of science-driven innovation.

• Live Streaming Audio Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010 * 2 PM Eastern US

• Live Streaming Audio Duration: 30 minutes
  
  
• Go to this Pharma Marketing Talk Segment Page at the time indicated above to listen to the LIVE show via streaming audio on the Web. You will also be able to participate in an online chat with the host and speakers to ask questions!

  Call in to ask questions or participate in discussion: (347) 996-5894

Background
Why is it that a high-end grocery store like Wegman's can go 94 years without having any layoffs and almost every month you hear about layoffs in the pharmaceutical industry?

According to a DataMonitor report, twenty-two large-scale M&A events (defined as those valued above $5 billion) will have occurred within Big Pharma over the period 1995 to 2014. In this same period, Big Pharma prescription pharmaceutical sales are forecast to increase from $84 billion to $381 billion. Two-thirds of Big Pharma sales growth over a 20-year period (1995 to 2014) will be driven entirely by M&A activity, according to this report.

But at what cost to future innovation?

Some Questions/Topics to be Discussed

• Please tell us how Pfizer's acquisition of Wyeth affected you.
• Don't you think it is a good idea to eliminate redundancies that result from mergers and acquisitions? After all, it saves the company money.
• How do you see M&A's affecting innovation in the drug industry? What's the link?
• Is research paying off for big pharma companies or is it a losing proposition?

Guest Bio

Eric is a formally trained analytical chemist with more than 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Most recently, he was Director of Systems Biology Technologies for Wyeth, where he managed groups in Collegeville, PA and Cambridge, MA. Eric is currently the owner of Applied Scientific Consulting, which helps clients mitigate technology related risks.

Eric is also and the creator of the Pharma Conduct blog

Additional Resources

• Drug Companies Not Getting Enough Bang for Their Buck Out of Research
• Pfizer Plans to Cut Research Spending By Up To $3B
• Drugs companies face deeper cuts in research