Merck, Du Pont Will Join to Develop Blood Pressure Drugs

Merck & Co., the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, said Thursday that it would team up with the nation’s largest chemical company, Du Pont Co., to develop the next generation of major blood pressure drugs and to share marketing rights to certain drugs.

The agreement marks the second time in four months that Merck has signed cooperative pacts with other major companies. In June, it signed an agreement with consumer products giant Johnson & Johnson to co-market certain over-the-counter drugs.

The agreements come amid an unprecedented period of mergers in the worldwide pharmaceutical industry, and appear to at least partly provide a cushion for Merck to remain the industry leader while avoiding its own merger.

“Of course there is a lot of consolidation going on and of course we are looking at that,” said Donald Burkat, a spokesman for Merck.

“But we are trying to create as many medicines as we can for as many major diseases, and these arrangements extend our reach,” he said.

Fresh Commitment

Du Pont, known for its mammoth chemical business, has been slowly building its health-care operations and has a long-stated interest in acquiring a major drug company.

In 1988, Du Pont’s health-care product sales totaled $1.3 billion out of a total of $32.9 billion. Du Pont’s prescription drug product sales were about $350 million last year.

Rahway, N.J.-based Merck’s 1988 sales were $5.9 billion.

Analysts said the agreement appears to signal a fresh commitment by Du Pont to the pharmaceutical business.

“The tying up with Merck must signal that Du Pont is serious about its pharmaceutical business. There have been questions,” said Samuel Isaly of Mehta & Isaly.

The agreement centers on an experimental Du Pont blood-pressure treatment called DUP 753, which may be the next major drug for heart disease. The companies would share profits if DUP 753 or similar compounds are brought to market.