HEALTH CARE

Merck to Sell Managed Care Unit: The nation’s biggest pharmaceutical manufacturer said it agreed to sell Medco Behavioral Care Corp., a managed care specialist, to the company’s management and the investment group Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts & Co. for $340 million. Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based Merck & Co. acquired the Medco Behavioral unit in its $6.6-billion 1993 acquisition of Medco Containment Inc., which manages employee drug benefits for large employers. Merck said the decision to divest Medco Behavioral reflects its intention to concentrate resources on its core human and animal health business. Under the agreement, Merck said, Medco Behavior will become an independent, privately held firm in which Merck will retain a small minority ownership interest.