As reported by Gary Haber in The News Journal, Merck plans to cut 7,000 jobs (11% of its global work force) and improve manufacturing efficiencies to maintain its profit margin despite loses from the Vioxx withdrawal, Vioxx lawsuits, and soon-to-be-off-patent Zocor.

Here are two questions that can be answered by reading this post to Pharma Marketing Blog (in order of importance):

1. Does Richard Clark, CEO of Merck, look like me without the beard and mustache?

2. What other ways can Merck achieve efficiencies other than in manufacturing?

For the answers to these important questions and to read comments of an industry expert quoted in Haber's article, read today's post to Wall Street Journal's favorite pharmaceutical industry blog.