Company: Merck & Co Inc

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Another showdown between Republicans in Congress and President Barack Obama over debt could be in the making, and some investors are already taking steps to prepare for it.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pharmaceutical companies, which were spared some of the more sweeping regulations in President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul, could come under more pressure if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down part or all of the 2010 law.

Merck & Co. CEO Kenneth Frazier told company shareholders on Tuesday that 2012 and 2013 will be difficult years, but he's confident the company can weather them.

(Reuters) - All baby boomers should be tested at least once for the liver-destroying hepatitis C virus, according to proposed guidelines from U.S. health officials released on Friday.

(Reuters) - All baby boomers should be tested at least once for the liver-destroying hepatitis C virus, according to proposed guidelines from U.S. health officials released on Friday.

Shares of Amag Pharmaceuticals Inc. sank Thursday, a day after the anemia drug maker said it is no longer considering selling itself.

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's Merck KGaA said on Wednesday that Erbitux, one of its most important drugs, failed to help colon cancer patients after surgery in a late stage trial.

A second experimental cholesterol medicine in a once-promising class of drugs meant to replace blockbusters such as Lipitor has failed in testing, casting doubt on whether any of the drugs will ever make it to pharmacies.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 100 years after researchers first explored the potential to harness the body's immune system to fight cancer, the field's leading doctors see the concept finally proving itself on a large scale in the next year or two.

ACCRA (Reuters) - In Emanuel Adu's language, Twi, people call the skin cancer that is invading his cheek and nose "sasabro". It means a disease that eats away at you.

ACCRA (Reuters) - In Emanuel Adu's language, Twi, people call the skin cancer that is invading his cheek and nose "sasabro". It means a disease that eats away at you.

ACCRA (Reuters) - In Emanuel Adu's language, Twi, people call the skin cancer that is invading his cheek and nose "sasabro". It means a disease that eats away at you.

Stocks ended lower in thin trading Monday, with the S&P and the Nasdaq posting a loss for the month of April, following a handful of mixed economic reports in addition to news that Spain slipped into a recession.

(Reuters) - A U.S. court on Friday ruled that the patent on Merck & Co's <MRK.N> cholesterol fighter Zetia and a related drug Vytorin was valid and issued an injunction blocking approval of a generic version by Mylan Inc <MYL.O> until the patent expires.

(Reuters) - A U.S. court on Friday ruled that the patent on Merck & Co's <MRK.N> cholesterol fighter Zetia and a related drug Vytorin was valid and issued an injunction blocking approval of a generic version by Mylan Inc <MYL.O> until the patent expires.