Straight talk with...Mervyn Turner

Abstract

In recent years, pharmaceutical giants have overcome challenges to innovation by collaborating with small biotechnology firms. These partnerships not only accelerate drug discovery but also help large companies survive competition in the market for generic drugs. Last month, New Jersey–based Merck & Co. announced that the company is launching its own division, Merck BioVentures, to develop generic versions of 'biologics', drugs commonly produced by living cells. Merck acquired some of the technology for the new division by fostering precisely such ties with smaller firms. Merck's newly appointed chief strategy officer, Mervyn Turner, has overseen many of those partnerships during his 23 years at the company. Turner, who holds a doctorate in stereochemistry from Sheffield University, UK, joined the pharmaceutical giant in 1985 as director of its biochemical parasitology unit. He has since led part of Merck's basic and applied research and supervised all of the licensing of research conducted outside the company. Turner spoke with Prashant Nair about the future promise of drug development and about how pharmaceutical companies can cope with the current economic downturn.