Merck says still plans Cubist purchase, despite patent setback
(Reuters) – Merck & Co on Tuesday said it will proceed with its planned $8.4 billion (5.3 billion pounds) purchase of Cubist Pharmaceuticals and still expects the deal to boost its long-term earnings, despite a court ruling that could speed the arrival of generic forms of Cubist's top-selling product. Merck late on Friday had announced plans to buy Cubist, whose flagship product is the widely used antibiotic Cubicin for skin infections. The deal would give the No. 2 U.S. drugmaker entry into the market for drugs that fight so-called superbugs. But U.S. …
