Pharma Roundup: Merck Gets Transparent, Pfizer Mulls Layoffs, and More

(MoneyWatch)  Merck latest to announce transparency policies -- As the Physician Payments Sunshine Act approaches Congressional approval, Merck has announced a plan to publicize the grants they offer medical organizations and speakers. Earlier this week, Lilly made a similar promise, and several other pharma companies have recently retooled their disclosure policies. [Source: Pharmalot]

Pfizer embracing collaborative R&D, maybe cutting jobs -- Reuters quotes Pfizer's global head of R&D Martin McKay saying he would "certainly like to do more" collaborative development with other drug companies, citing Pfizer's partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb as "excellent." Meanwhile, In The Pipeline's Derek Lowe reports that Pfizer may soon make "deep cuts" to its therapeutic research staff. [Source: CoreyNahman.com, In The Pipeline]

GlaxoSmithKline spends most on ads -- FiercePharma reveals the big ad spenders among top pharmaceutical companies. GSK spent $2.46 billion on advertising in 2007, followed closely by Johnson & Johnson's $2.41 billion. Boehringer Ingelheim's 2007 ad budget saw the largest increase (163 percent) from 2006. [Source: FiercePharma]

Consumers buying fewer prescription drugs -- Consumers are cutting back on health care costs, and one consequence is that the number of prescriptions filled in the U.S. declined two percent from last year, the first drop reported in at least 12 years. [Source: WSJ]