Mergers of late… and of the years past were touted to be all about the pipeline. But is the pipeline the specific compounds that have been moved forward or the physicians and scientists that created them.
I would contend that the select group of intelligent and experienced individuals, who worked so diligently to select just the right compound, are the real pipeline, the real value of pharma and biotech companies.
When the headcount reductions come who will be there rebuild the pipeline when compounds fail and patents expire. These dedicated professionals will move onto new endeavors, maybe the next successful biotechnology firm will be build by those soon to be deemed redundant by “Mega” pharma. Or maybe they will just be re-hired in the back door a few months after the original layoffs.