UPDATING: Dr. Perlmutter Is Talking Almost EXCLUSIVELY About Anti-PD-1 Oncology Prospects

He is all about MK-3475, or pem-lam-brolizumab, at the moment. No slides to show, but maybe later he will begin outlining at least one of the second dip collaborations Merck has signed, this morning in Manhattan. He is likely also to discuss the FDA acceptance (regular review) of an BLA (the biologics equivalent of an NDA) for the next gen HPV vaccine candidate, called V-503, at MRL, at some point.

To be clear: he has repeatedly said that it is "too early to say" which company is in the lead -- in the Anti-PD-1 candidates' race, at the FDA's filing window.

I don't imagine that he'll discuss Merck's nascent Zen approach to IP problems, in India -- as that is not technically within his portfolio of responsibilities at Whitehouse Station. But one can hope. Here are the details; You are welcome to listen in to the web-cast.

. . . .Dr. Roger M. Perlmutter, president, Merck Research Laboratories, is scheduled to speak at the Citi 2014 Healthcare Conference in New York City on February 24, 2014 at 8:50 a.m. EST. Investors, analysts, members of the media and the general public are invited to join a live webcast of the presentation. . . .

In general, I expected -- and he is saying -- nothing Earth-shattering. And I do not expect a Consumer Health announcement of any kind -- or size, just yet. Not $6 billion; and certainly not $12 billion -- not just yet. Maybe toward the end of March 2014. In the meantime, be excellent to one another. [BTW, this is post No. 2,001 -- just since the merger was first announced. It is post No. 2,875 overall.]