The Merck Druggernaut: The Inside Story of a Pharmaceutical Giant

by Fran Hawthorne

An in-depth look at big pharma's flagship company The Merck Druggernaut takes readers inside Merck, the world's second most profitable drug company and maker of the world's bestselling drug, Prilosec. Consistently named one of Fortune magazine's Most Admired Companies, Merck struggles to maintain its reputation for being the most ethical of the big drug makers, refusing to slash research and development budgets in the face of declining profits, falling stock market prices, and questionable accounting. Author Fran Hawthorne, one of the leading journalists covering healthcare, has written an excellent examination of a business paragon with much-needed insight on the cutthroat world of pharmaceuticals. It's a story that will interest the business world as well as consumer and healthcare advocates by detailing the vital issues in medicine and healthcare today. More than just a compelling story of success in a difficult industry, more than simply the biography of one of big business's most recognizable names, The Merck Druggernaut takes a thoughtful look at some of the major issues of our time and the way those issues intertwine with the world of business. Fran Hawthorne (New York, NY) is the Assistant Managing Editor at Crain's New York Business. She has been covering business for more than twenty years for such publications as Fortune, BusinessWeek, and Institutional Investor, with a prevailing interest in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. At Crain's, she spearheads the publication of two to three special healthcare issues per year.

Genres: Nonfiction

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 14, 2003

About the author

Fran Hawthorne got sidetracked for three decades writing award-winning nonfiction, including eight books, mainly about consumer activism and business social responsibility. But she's been actually been writing novels since she was in elementary school.

Her newest--HER DAUGHTER--will be published in January 2026 by Black Rose Writing. Kirkus Review said of it: "A deep dive into the pain of separation and hope for reconciliation conveyed with grace, realism, and empathy."

Fran has also published two other novels, including I MEANT TO TELL YOU (Stephen F. Austin State University Press, November 2022), a finalist for the SARTON AWARD, the ERIC HOFFER BOOK AWARD, the NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS (in both contemporary novel and women's fiction), and other honors.

Reviews

[Stacey B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merck Pharmaceuticals - maker of Prilosec and more.
I happen to be someone who is a stickler for detail.
This book is full of knowledgable and documented information that I would never have been aware of until I read it. Our author writes a great non- fiction book about the hidden secrets, and rollercoaster rides of Merck Pharmaceuticals. This company has been around for a long time.

A personal example-
Im hoping that neither my Dr. nor the pharmacist were not aware at the time about the side effects from Vioxx when I was put on this drug to treat a bad staph infection. OMG

"In 2011, Merck Pharmaceuticals (“Merck”) admitted to illegally
misbranding its prescription painkiller Vioxx.1 Researchers and
executives concealed evidence that Vioxx caused an alarming number of
heart attacks during clinical trials.2 Rather than disclose these
results, Merck hired ghostwriters to draft deceptive journal articles."
The word "admit" used above, speaks volumes.
I could kick myself for not reading this sooner.
There is so much to learn about Merck; Fran Hawthorne being the one to share this inside story based on her covering healthcare as a journalist during that period.
But wait, there's more.
Fran Hawthorne is also the author of nine other books, including two fiction books that were terrific.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Merck is a German drug company that produces many well-known medications. This book focuses heavily on their accounting scandals and other issues, but did offer information that was relevant to my project for school. Merck was involved in the Holocaust by providing drugs to experiment on concentration camp prisoners. Merck was able to come out of World War II, a leader in chemicals and drugs, which are used worldwide today. If you are interested in drug companies, this may be a book for you.

[Leader Summaries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desde Leader Summaries recomendamos la lectura del libro Merck, de Fran Hawthorne.
Las personas interesadas en las siguientes temáticas lo encontrarán práctico y útil: management, análisis de empresas y líderes de éxito.
En el siguiente enlace tienes el resumen del libro Merck, Logros y fracasos de una de las empresas farmacéuticas más admiradas del mundo: Merck