In the following video, Fool contributor Maxxwell Chatsko provides an update on the outlook of Merck's best-selling type 2 diabetes drug franchise of Januvia/Janumet. While the franchise reeled in about $5.75 billion in 2012, it stumbled out of the gates in 2013 and surprised investors with declining overall sales. Merck has been hit especially hard by the patent cliff, so this could become a worst-case scenario for investors. Maxxwell cautions that while the slide may be temporary, investors absolutely need to know and watch two key areas in the rest of 2013.
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2 Red Flags for Merck's Type 2 Diabetes Blockbuster
NYSE: MRK
Merck

A Fool breaks down the unexpected slide in Januvia/Janumet revenue in the first quarter.
About the Author
Maxx has been a contributor to Fool.com since 2013. He graduated from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (2012) with a Bachelor of Science in Bioprocess Engineering and from Carnegie Mellon University (2016) with a Master of Science in Materials Science & Engineering.
Fool contributor Maxx Chatsko has no position in any stocks mentioned. Check out his personal portfolio, his CAPS page, or follow him on Twitter @BlacknGoldFool to keep up with his writing on energy, bioprocessing, and emerging technologies.
The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson & Johnson. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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