I’m not sure Merck is salvageable. My assumption is that its sales force is worth something, as is Fossamax, and that a shotgun marriage with another pharma with a better pipeline is in the offing. But Don Johnson from The Business Word gives Merck a gazillion dollars worth of consulting on how to make the turnaround, and seems to be doing it for free! An excellent analysis from a savvy business observer. Someone in New Jersey should be reading and getting Don on a plane at a high fee. I’m not sure anything can work to save Merck as it faces post-Vioxx and Zocor going off patent, but many of his ideas are well worth thinking about.