Next Thursday, Merck Will Webcast 2009-2010 Guidance Update

It will precede the Merck version of the R&D day, on December 9, 2008 -- much like the one Schering-Plough put on, on Monday-just past. The expectation is that Merck will reduce Vytorin/Zetia sales and profit guidance, once again, for 2009 -- per a Citi stock analyst, via the AP-wires:

. . . .Boris [at Citi] also cut sales projections -- by nearly a half-billion dollars this year and smaller amounts the following two years [for Merck, company-wide].

. . .weekly prescriptions for Vytorin and Zetia, the cholesterol drugs Merck jointly sells with partner Schering-Plough Corp., would be down by 39 percent and 33 percent, respectively, this year, with the decline partly offset by price increases. Sales of the two popular drugs have been hurt by questions about their effectiveness and a possible cancer risk still under investigation. . . . [Citi expects stabilization beyond 2009 -- echoing Credit Suisse's meme -- we'll see about that.]

. . . .Merck's conference call next Thursday, in which Merck's chief executive and chief financial officer are to provide an overview of expectations for next year and long-term financial guidance. . . .

This will be a key-window into Vytorin's actual future prospects -- I'll likely live-blog it.