J&J continues opposition to Merck/S-P merger

In arbitration filed with the American Arbitration Association, US health care major Johnson & Johnson has requested a ruling that the  planned merger of Merck & Co and Schering-Plough constitutes a change of  control that would permit the termination of the agreements between S-P  and J&J regarding Remicade (infliximab) and Simponi (golimumab).

The termination of the agreements would return full rights to Johnson &  Johnson for the distribution of these products in markets outside the  USA, where Schering-Plough currently distributes them.

"As its public statements have made clear, Merck is acquiring  Schering-Plough," J&J said. "The acquisition constitutes a change of  control that triggers the right of our Centocor Ortho Biotech subsidiary  to terminate the agreements," it added.