Nauseating. Consolidation/amputation as the unthinking substitute for strategic investment.
As Dew (who I suspect would not agree with the above statement) did indicate, 'Ampakines' played zero role in whatever calculations went into this plan--which is all about shoring up products-on-the-market in the face of patent expiration.
The only positive fact is that to the degree to which SP may be looking at an Ampakine licensing, such a deal is so small that it probably would not be affected much by a merger. Had SP been thinking about acquiring Cortex, which I don't think is the case, that would be derailed, but not tiny licensing deals. Reviewing all of the neuroscience programs to decide what to cull or keep is probably a year away.
Merck has not been an ADHD player, so this can't be seen as a plus for Org-26576, though if data is positive, it could still be brought ahead. Darryle Schoepp, who I know slightly, is Merck's head of neuroscience, and is a mGluR specialist. He is acquainted with Ampakines, since he was previously at Lilly, and he is at least obliquely acquainted with Cortex, since he has been a NI subscriber for many years.
Bottom line for Cortex: Cortex/Ampakines constitute such a small issue that, if either Merck or Schering (far more likely the latter) had a licensing interest in ADHD, this would not necessarily interfere with it much, though for Cortex, even a few weeks of delay is now relevant. Neither company would likely have been a RD/sleep apnea partnering candidate, so this is probably a nonfactor therein.
But this merger will keep larger companies running around like barflies at last call trying to figure out who to hook up with before closing time. A real waste of effort, and reflecting a profound dearth of creativity.
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