M&A - the trials and tribulations, as viewed by former Schering-Plough CEO Fred Hassan

17 February 2010

With the recent completion of the Merck & Co acquisition of Schering-Plough, Fred Hassan, the former chief executive of the latter, has been speaking to Meettheboss.TV on the future of the pharmaceutical Industry, mergers, acquisitions and the resistance felt.

Last year Mr Hassan over saw the $41.1 billion sale and predicts that more mergers and acquisitions should be expected throughout 2010. Company investments are a necessity for the funding of key research and development projects. 'Innovation costs, but is the price too high for those involved?' he asked.

Mr Hassan speaks out during this candid interview on how he dealt with a plethora of financial pressures and resistance. S-P was under Food and Drug Administration investigation, as well as the Securities and Exchange Commission for accounting irregularities and, although Mr Hassan saw this as a challenge it was not an impossible one.

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