Merck (MRK 0.01%) announced this week that its experimental anesthesia reversal drug sugammadex was rejected by the Food and Drug Administration. This isn't the only drug that the big pharma company has failed to get past the FDA this year; its insomnia drug suvorexant was also rejected earlier in 2013. What does this most recent rejection mean for investors, and is Merck making the right changes to its research and development structure? In the following video, a segment from The Motley Fool's health care show Market Checkup, analysts Max Macaluso and David Williamson discuss the impact of the FDA's decision.
Can Merck Recover From This FDA Rejection?
By Max Macaluso, Dave Williamson, and Alison Southwick – Sep 24, 2013 at 1:45PM
NYSE: MRK
Merck
Market Cap
$219B
Today's Change
(-0.00%) $0.01
Current Price
$87.61
Price as of October 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM ET
Merck's latest setback comes from the Food and Drug Administration's rejection of sugammadex.
About the Author
Max is the Technology, Biopharma & Health Care Bureau Chief at Fool.com. Prior to joining the Fool, he completed a PhD in chemistry at the University of Cambridge and an MBA at the College des Ingenieurs.
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