Although Merck had a higher than anticipated second-quarter profit, stocks are down 2 percent and a new round of job eliminations is planned that could cut as many as 13,000 from the workforce.
Since 2009, Merck eliminated 12,500 positions but only reduced headcount by 6,000. The latest round of cuts would bring the total number of jobs eliminated by Merck to 30,000, since 2009. The workforce will drop from 91,000 (July 2011) to about 80,000. The job cuts are to be completed by 2015.
Merck makes Singulair, Januvia and Janumet (their three top-selling drugs). Singulair’s patent is expiring next year which will cut profits as generics hit the market. Adjusted earnings for Merck came to $2.95 billion, up 9 percent over last year. Revenue was $12.15 billion, up seven percent over analyst’s projections.
Time will tell what this means for the Lansdale plant.
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