So, farewell then Wellcome and Beecham. Two of the oldest names in the history of the pharmaceutical industry are the first high profile casualties of the proposed merger between Glaxo Wellcome and Smithkline Beecham announced this week (p125).
The deal is aimed at creating a "world class" pharmaceutical company, but, until more details are revealed, the merger is only likely to bring stress and uncertainty, except to those at the very top.
The merger, and the intended move of the new company's operational headquarters to the United States, seem inevitable given the trends in the industry over the past five years. Whether it will be successful remains to be seen. Smithkline Beecham lasted 10 years as one entity; Glaxo Wellcome, only five. How long for Glaxo Smithkline?