Another Big Pharma Goes After Alzheimer's

Each week, we like to take a moment to boil down the biggest news from the most influential companies in the pharmaceuticals industry, and tell our viewers what that news means for you. We call that segment our Big Pharma Roundup.

In this week's installment, Merck (NYSE: MRK  ) announced it was moving its Alzheimer's drug candidate, MK-8931, into mid-stage trials. The drug is a BACE inhibitor and will be the latest attempt at gaining any ground in the fight against the widespread and devastating disease. Unfortunately, with previous industry attempts at a drug proving futile, the odds are certainly stacked against its ultimate success.

For nearly 100 years, Merck's cutting-edge research has led to a number of medical breakthroughs. Today, however, this pharma stalwart is staring down a steep patent cliff and facing generic competition for its top-selling drug. Will Merck crumble under its own weight, or will it continue to pay dividends to investors for another century? To find out if this pharma giant has the stamina to keep its Bunsen burners alight, grab your copy of our brand new premium research report today. Our senior biotech analyst Brian Orelli, Ph.D., walks you through both the opportunities and threats facing Merck, and the report comes with a full 12 months of updates. Claim your copy now by clicking here.