Replies to post #126324 on Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

ARIA—Would you (or anyone else) care to opine on the circumstances by which this MRK guy has come to work for Ariad? Would you believe that this was done under a friendly arrangement between MRK and Ariad or do you think Ariad wooed him away?

The latter.

If the latter, why would Berger look to stick his finger in MRK's eye at such a critical time for the company?

MRK is a large company that probably doesn’t perceive this transaction as a finger in the eye. There could be many reasons why the executive in question wanted to leave MRK and MRK was content to see him depart.

[biomaven0]

circumstances by which this Mrk guy has come to work for Ariad?

Despite the seemingly grand titles (SVP and "General Manager Global Oncology"), I suspect this was only a mid-level position at Merck - below Associate Director, Director and Senior Director in this division.

I would read absolutely nothing into this hire being from Merck.

Peter