Merck, Sanofi ending European vaccines JV

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) and the Sanofi Pasteur S.A. vaccines unit of Sanofi (Euronext:SAN; NYSE:SNY) mutually agreed to end their European vaccines joint venture, Sanofi Pasteur MSD. The 50/50 JV was created in 1994.

In a joint statement, Merck and Sanofi Pasteur said the companies decided it was "in our best interests to manage our vaccine product portfolios independently" based on each company's priorities and the economic and regulatory environments for vaccines in the EU. Each company intends to integrate its European vaccine business into its own operations. ...