WetFeet Insider Guide to the Top 20 Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Firms 9781582074122, 9781582072708

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Insider ider Guide G

The WetFeet Insider Guide to the Top 20 Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Firms 2004 Edition

Helping you make smarter career decisions.

The WetFeet Research Methodology You hold in your hands a copy of the best-quality research available for job seekers. We have designed this Insider Guide to save you time doing your job research and to provide highly accurate information written precisely for the needs of the job-seeking public. (We also hope that you’ll enjoy reading it, because, believe it or not, the job search doesn’t have to be a pain in the neck.) Each WetFeet Insider Guide represents hundreds of hours of careful research and writing. We start with a review of the public information available. (Our writers are also experts in reading between the lines.) We augment this information with dozens of in-depth interviews of people who actually work for each company or industry we cover. And, although we keep the identity of the rank-and-file employees anonymous to encourage candor, we also interview the company’s recruiting staff extensively, to make sure that we give you, the reader, accurate information about recruiting, process, compensation, hiring targets, and so on. (WetFeet retains all editorial control of the product.) We also regularly survey our members and customers to learn about their experiences in the recruiting process. Finally, each Insider Guide goes through an editorial review and fact-checking process to make sure that the information and writing live up to our exacting standards before it goes out the door. Are we perfect? No-but we do believe that you’ll find our content to be the highest-quality content of its type available on the Web or in print. (Please see our guarantee below.) We also are eager to hear about your experiences on the recruiting front and your feedback (both positive and negative) about our products and our process. Thank you for your interest.

The WetFeet Guarantee You’ve got enough to worry about with your job search. So, if you don’t like this Insider Guide, send it back within 30 days of purchase and we’ll refund your money. Call us for details or e-mail us comments at 1-800-926-4JOB or [email protected].

Insider Guide

The WetFeet Insider Guide to the Top 20 Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Firms 2004 Edition

Helping you make smarter career decisions.

WetFeet Inc. 609 Mission Street Suite 400 San Francisco, CA 94105 Phone: (415) 284-7900 or 1-800-926-4JOB Fax: (415) 284-7910 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.wetfeet.com

The WetFeet Insider Guide to the Top 20 Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Firms ISBN: 1-58207-270-1 Photocopying Is Prohibited Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc. All rights reserved. This publication is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. No copying in any form is permitted. It may not be reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, in part or in whole, without the express written permission of WetFeet, Inc.

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Table of Contents The Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 How It Breaks Down. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Bottom Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Interviewing Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

The Firms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Abbott Laboratories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Allergan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Amgen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Bayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Biogen, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Bristol-Myers Squibb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Celera Genomics Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Chiron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Eli Lilly & Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Genentech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Genzyme Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Gilead Sciences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 GlaxoSmithKline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

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Johnson & Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Merck & Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Novartis Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Pfizer, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Roche . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Schering-Plough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Wyeth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

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The Industry

The Industry • Overview • How It Breaks Down • The Bottom Line • Interviewing Tips

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The Industry

Overview Pharmaceutical companies produce and market drugs, from familiar over-thecounter compounds like aspirin to exotic prescriptions that inhibit, activate, or otherwise affect individual molecules involved in specific medical conditions. They also produce livestock feed supplements, vitamins, and a host of other products. The pharmaceutical industry is consistently one of the United States’ most profitable industries. And the drug business is booming: Globally, the industry sells more than $300 billion worth of drugs each year. Biotechnology is a relatively new kid on the block, tracing its roots back to the founding of now-huge Genentech in the 1980s. Simply put, biotechnology, the applied knowledge of biology, seeks to duplicate or change the function of a living cell so it will work in a more predictable and controllable way. The biotechnology industry uses advances in genetics research to develop products for human diseases and conditions. Several biotech companies also use genetic technology to other ends, like the manipulation of crops. Biotech opportunities largely mirror those in the pharmaceutical industry. The key difference is that biotech firms are much more focused on research because they are still developing their initial products. Marketing and sales forces grow when—and if—a viable product nears FDA approval. This means that jobs for nonscientists are scarcer in biotech than in pharmaceuticals. This is an industry with a potent and promising future. Demand for drugs is growing, fueled by an aging global population and blossoming international markets—Europe, Latin America, and especially Asia are the hot regions. And technological advances like the mapping of the human genome have opened

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The Industry

the door to all kinds of exciting new product possibilities. But take note: Anybody with a genuine interest in pharmaceuticals or biotech should get acquainted with the details of the industry mergers that have occurred in the past decade.

How It Breaks Down Big Pharma The handful of multinational giants that dominates the industry, known to insiders as Big Pharma, employs tens of thousands of people and sells drugs in every corner of the world. The majority are headquartered in this country, but several are based in Western Europe—particularly Switzerland, Germany, and France. Those headquartered in the United States are all located east of the Mississippi—the greatest concentration of home offices stretches along the corridor between Philadelphia and northern New Jersey. Given the chance, people tend to work at these companies for decades rather than years, as there are abundant opportunities for dynamic careers in every field. In general, life is stable and lucrative: Big Pharma companies take an average of 30 cents in profit for each dollar they get in revenue—twice the margin in most industries. The fly in the ointment is an ongoing wave of mergers and alliances, a trend that will continue to shape the industry, the number of Big Pharma companies, and employment in years to come.

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The Industry

Diversified Versus Nondiversified Big Pharma Big Pharma companies can be divided into two categories: diversified and nondiversified. In addition to developing and selling prescription drugs, diversified outfits, like Johnson & Johnson, maintain a wide array of other health care-related businesses, such as medical device companies or consumer health product divisions. Nondiversified operations, like Merck, focus solely on the development and sale of drugs. (Not all such drugs are for humans—Pfizer, widely viewed as one of the most shrewdly operated companies in the business, takes in more than $1 billion every year in revenues from its animal health division.) Among diversified companies, the current thinking favors divesting nonpharmaceutical concerns and focusing on the drug business, which tends to be leaner and more profitable. A heads-up to job seekers who go to work for a nonpharmaceutical division in a diversified company with hopes of getting a foot in the pharmaceutical door: You may wake up one morning to find your job spun off from the parent company.

Biotech Despite the success of such biotech giants as Amgen and Genentech, a large majority of biotech shops are still small enough for everyone to know everyone else’s name. Many biotechs are still in the start-up phase, often with single, usually unproven, technologies and no products on (or sometimes even near) the market. But a growing number of companies are joining an elite group of biotech firms—such as Biogen, Genzyme, Gilead Sciences, and Protein Design Labs— that have received FDA product approval and are in various stages of

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The Industry

commercialization. Most jobs in smaller biotech firms are scientific, but these companies also have opportunities in marketing, manufacturing, engineering, and sales. Culturally, even the largest biotechs resemble tiny biotech shops— with leaner, flatter organizations—more than they do Big Pharma. Many biotech firms have partnered up with Big Pharma in an effort to shore up cash reserves through the long drug-development process. These deals can take a variety of forms, but often the larger firm underwrites the smaller one’s research in exchange for distribution rights, some portion of future profits, or another combination of privileges. Check into a company’s list of partnerships to better understand what you’re signing up for.

Troubles in Pharma-and-Biotech Land All the news isn’t rosy in the land of biotech and pharma. Weak new-product pipelines and expiring patents, in addition to the general economic downturn, have depressed stock prices. In addition, the industry is taking a lot of criticism over its profit margins. Protesters are questioning the morality of insisting on huge profit margins for AIDS drugs when hundreds of thousands of people in Third World countries have AIDS but can’t afford treatment. Closer to home, there’s political pressure on pharma companies to lower prescription-drug prices for people in programs like Medicaid.

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The Industry

The Bottom Line It’s always been a tough road for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Today’s big challenges include increasing competition from generic drugs as patents expire, new federal and state regulations aimed at controlling drug costs, delays in product launches, and fewer new drugs in the pipeline. But companies in these industries are, by nature, slow movers—it can take more than a decade to develop a single drug. And if you take the long view, the future looks bright indeed. With an aging U.S. population that’s spending more each year on health costs, this already hugely profitable global industry is sure to grow. So is the job market for skilled professionals in these industries. Particularly in demand are people with scientific backgrounds and those with that rare combination of science and computer skills required for bioinformatics. Folks with BS or MS degrees in chemistry, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, computer science, and physics can find absorbing careers. However, a PhD is required if you want to advance beyond the level of research associate. Nonscience undergrads can get a foot in the door in biotech manufacturing or pharma sales. MBAs who forgo the astronomical salaries of consulting and investment banking will find a more palatable work/life balance along with some of the best benefits packages around. MDs can find well-paying, engaging work that offers regular hours and is free of managed-care administration. Above all, those who choose to work in this industry enjoy the very real satisfaction of knowing that they are laboring to produce drugs that could make a radical difference in the lives of thousands, even millions, of people.

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The Industry

Interviewing Tips The biopharmaceutical industry is so diverse that chances are good for finding your niche. But due to the sheer volume of applicants, filling that niche in a top 20 company is a challenge regardless of your qualifications. Inside contacts will always increase your chances, but most applicants have no choice but to try their luck through the standard channels of on-campus recruiting or direct application—this makes the interview especially important. Based on recruiter responses, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you prepare for that all-important interview. 1. Remember that you are evaluating the company at the same time the company is evaluating you. Most companies start the application process with a panel interview—an informal, relatively unstructured group session with peers. Make the most of this opportunity to ask questions and find out what you’re getting yourself into. Panelists tend to be frank and don’t want to mislead someone who isn’t prepared for the position or won’t fit in. 2. Many companies look beyond credentials and focus on personality as a major factor in hiring. Okay, so scientists aren’t known for their gregariousness. If you’re a bit on the socially phobic side, practice your interviewing skills beforehand, and prepare some questions of your own. During the interview, slow down, and think about what you want to say and how you want to say it, so as not to let your nerves get the better of you. 3. Brush up on your technical knowledge before the interview—tactics vary from company to company, but some hiring managers will grill you. You don’t want to forget the basics if put on the spot.

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The Industry

4. Sales and other corporate divisions often use the situation-action-response behavior model to evaluate how a candidate thinks on his or her feet— that’s right, the dreaded “case” question. Be prepared for this if seeking a sales or marketing position. It’s common for the interviewer to throw the candidate a wild card and ask, for example, that you sell them a stapler. 5. You must do your research. It is imperative that candidates come to the interview well versed in the company’s products, organizational structure, and goals, as well as a general sense of the industry. In addition, candidates should always be able to explain their interest in the company and have a firm grasp of what differentiates it from its competitors.

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The Firms

The Firms

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Abbott Laboratories The Firms

100 Abbott Park Road Abbott Park, IL 60064-6400 Phone: 847-937-6100 www.abbott.com

Overview It all started in 1888, when Dr. Wallace Abbott succeeded in developing the specific formulation by which medicine extracted from plants could be administered in very precise doses—Abbott called the little pills he’d created “dosimetric granules,” and they were so successful he began selling them to other practices. Now, Abbott Labs, with more than 70,000 employees worldwide, markets its drugs and treatments in 130 countries and spends a billion dollars each year on research and development. Chief among its products are the respiratory antibiotic Biaxin, the common antibiotic erythromycin, Depakote for epilepsy, and Flomax for prostate disease. Abbott also makes lung surfactants, intravenous agents to attack blood clots, and vasoactive compounds, which improve circulation. With its purchase in 2001 of Knoll Pharmaceuticals, Abbott acquired the thyroid treatment Synthroid, as well as Humira, a rheumatoid arthritis drug that could go blockbuster now that the FDA has approved it. On the horizon are six new antiviral treatments being developed through Abbott’s alliance with Triangle Pharmaceuticals. Not all of the news is good at Abbott Labs, though. In July 2003, the company announced it was taking a charge against earnings to settle a probe into alleged marketing and insurance misdeeds. Still, its drug sales are strong in 2003, and Humira gives the company a good chance at a strong full-year performance.

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In June 2002, Abbott’s diagnostics division aligned itself with genomics information company Celera, in a strategy to increase its presence in the genetic testing market. The two companies will work on a testing platform for early detection of viral and genetic diseases, especially HIV, hepatitis C, and cystic

The Firms

fibrosis. Though the alliance does not include licensing agreements, Abbott’s large sales and marketing network will help both companies profit from collaborative patents. Abbott Labs insiders claim the company is very teamwork-oriented. Typically, Abbott fills anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 positions each year. This number covers all of Abbott’s divisions and includes new positions and positions open as a result of retirements and turnover. While voluntary turnover does exist, it is among the lowest in the industry—at just 7 percent a year.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

% Change

Revenue ($M)

17,685

16,285

9

Earnings ($M)

2,794

1,550

80

71,819

71,426

1

Number of Employees

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 Receives FDA approval for Humira, a rheumatoid arthritis drug with blockbuster potential. Purchases coronary-stents business from the JOMED group. 2002 Receives FDA approval for Synthroid, a synthetic thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Announces alliance with Celera Genomics to develop and market genetic diagnostic tests. Makes the top ten and is named best in its industry in Working Mother’s list of the 100 best companies for working mothers.

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2001 Receives Governor’s Award for Work/Life Initiatives. Forms alliance with Millennium to study Metabolic Disease. Pays $876 million along with Takeda Chemical Industries to settle criminal and civil disputes after overcharging Medicare and paying kickbacks to doctors to prescribe prostate cancer drug Lupron.

The Firms

1999 Acquires Perclose (leading arterial closure device manufacturer) for $644 million.

Insider Scoop Go team. Cooperation and communication across divisions are a way of life at

Abbott. “The team concept is very strong here,” says one insider. “Overall, people are very goal-oriented and team-oriented—there is very open communication.” Employees share a common dedication to Abbott’s mission that transcends politics and personal rivalry. “People respect that everyone has a certain amount of skills to bring to a project,” an insider adds. Workaholics anonymous. Insiders at Abbott share a strong work ethic that

thrives in the company’s flexible, unstructured atmosphere. The environment is unanimously described as “friendly, open, and casual”—insiders say they don’t have to vie for good projects and people with initiative are rewarded. Let the creative juices flow. Insiders describe a contagious energy and drive to

succeed and grow at Abbott. “I like that it is very fast-paced,” says one insider, who adds, “Creative people really thrive here.”

Getting Hired Abbott’s recruiting process is the same for all applicants. Its primary means of recruitment is through the company website, www.abbott.com. Abbott also recruits through job fairs, news ads, employment firms, and industry organizations.

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The company looks for candidates who embody the core values Abbott has been built upon: adaptability, initiative, innovation, integrity, and teamwork. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Abbott has a professional

development program for entry-level information technology hires. Selected

The Firms

candidates work with program managers who assign projects compatible with their abilities, with the goal of giving the candidate experience with a range of different challenges. These positions, which typically lead to project management or analyst positions, usually require bachelor’s or master’s degrees in business or engineering, with an information systems or computer science concentration. The company recruits on campuses across the country. Check out its website to see if Abbott comes to your school. If not, start networking! And be aware that Abbott offers internship programs, often the best way to get in the door at any company. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Abbott hires experienced scientists and

professionals as needed. Interested candidates can search for openings on its career website, www.abbott.com/career/career_center.cfm.

Recruiting Contacts For new grads, the best way to contact Abbott is through its campus recruiting program. Abbott visits 50 colleges and universities every year. Otherwise, the best way to submit your application and resume is online at Abbott’s career website, www.abbott.com/career/career_center.cfm.

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Allergan The Firms

2525 Dupont Drive Irvine, CA 92612 Phone: 714-246-4500 www.allergan.com

Overview The name Allergan is fast becoming synonymous with Botox—the name of the antiwrinkle treatment that has created a sensation among aging celebrities and society-page types. Botox works by temporarily paralyzing the facial muscles. The procedure has to be repeated every few months and costs $400 to $1,000 per treatment. The company spent $50 million marketing Botox and expects to earn more than $600 million from the drug by 2005. Allergan is even running clinical trials to explore other possible uses for Botox, such as pain relief for migraine headaches. In 2002, the drug accounted for 32 percent of Allergan’s total sales. Botox is Allergan’s first-ever blockbuster drug. In general, the company’s strategy differs from that of other pharma companies: Instead of relying on revenue from a few very successful, widely marketed drugs, Allergan does its business mostly in the specialty markets of ophthalmology, neurology, and dermatology. Eye care products alone—such as medications, surgical equipment, contact lenses, and intraocular lenses—make up two-thirds of the company’s sales. Because it’s carved out these unique niches and built brand recognition as the leader in these categories, Allergan doesn’t have to allocate as much money to big marketing campaigns, and it doesn’t have to compete with other pharmaceutical companies jockeying for a piece of the hottest markets.

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Insiders say that Allergan encourages competitiveness among employees; if you want to move up the hierarchical ladder here, you’re going to have to shine.



Key Numbers 2001

% Change

Revenue ($M)

1,425

1,745

-18

Earnings ($M)

75

225

-67

4,900

6,436

-24

Number of Employees

The Firms

2002

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 Is warned by the FDA that its Botox advertisements are misleading, downplay the drug’s risks, and promote the drug for uses for which it has not been approved. Sued by Klein-Becker, maker of StriVectin-SD anti-wrinkle cream, which alleges that Allergan used strong-arm tactics to try to suppress the “Better than Botox?” advertising campaign for StriVectin. 2002 Announces that its eye care and pharmaceuticals divisions will be divided into separately traded companies; spins off its optical medical device unit—now called Advanced Medical Optics—in order to focus its time and money on the pharmaceutical business.

Insider Scoop In-house competition. Management at Allergan is frequently reorganizing to

match the working environment against what’s happening in the market at that particular time, and in biotech, that means rewarding the smartest scientists and engineers with the most lucrative ideas. “There is a regular structure of promotions, and competition between employees is encouraged,” says one insider. “That can make the working environment a little uncomfortable.” Says another insider, “You have to shine above the other people to get the promotion.”

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Inching towards diversity. Allergan is making steps toward developing a

workplace with more diversity, but getting there is not easy. “Although the firm is fairly diverse, due to its location, I definitely would not say it’s progressive,” says one insider. Like other companies in the industry, Allergan has been feeling

The Firms

the pressure to improve its numbers of minorities and women—but insiders say they don’t see major progress. “I think they do what they have to for politics. You don’t see many women in high positions. I can count them on one hand,” an insider says.

Getting Hired Allergan has ongoing needs in the fields of clinical research, regulatory affairs, medical writing, biostatistics, toxicology, and pathology. The company accepts applications for positions in these fields, as well as resumes targeted toward specific openings listed on its website. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Allergan does not offer intern-

ships or a summer program for students or recent graduates. Some entry-level positions are listed on the recruiting website, but you’ll need to make a strong case for yourself if applying. In the meantime, work on building up some supplemental experience and expertise to give yourself a better chance. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Experience is the key to getting hired

by Allergan. Unlike many biotech companies, Allergan does not rely on campus recruiting for new hires, but actively seeks seasoned professionals to fill its ranks. Search for domestic and international openings on the recruiting website or submit a general application for one of the aforementioned fields.

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Recruiting Contacts The best way to submit your application and resume is online at Allergan’s career website, www.allergan.com/site/careers/home.asp. You can also e-mail a

The Firms

cover letter and resume as a Word attachment to [email protected]. Unless you are applying for a position in one of the fields mentioned previously, do not send a resume except in response to a job listing. Make sure to include the position number that you’re applying for.

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Amgen The Firms

1 Amgen Center Drive Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-1799 Phone: 805-447-1000 www.amgen.com

Overview Amgen is the largest of the biotech companies; thanks to Immunex, its latest acquisition, it may be closing in on Big Pharma territory. Amgen specializes in protein therapy for disorders of regulatory cell growth, such as cancer and neurodegenerative disease; Immunex was strong in rheumatoid arthritis and leukemia therapeutics. The company counts several blockbusters in its portfolio, including Epogen, which combats the anemia that frequently accompanies AIDS; the immune system-stimulator Neupogen; and Enbrel, a new arthritis drug, co-marketed with Wyeth, that came to the company with the Immunex acquisition. Other drugs include Neulasta, to treat the side effects of chemotherapy, and the leukemia therapy drug Aranesp, which Amgen hopes will become a $5 billion per year drug. Sales of Neupogen stand to benefit from a recent study by the National Cancer Institute, which found that women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer should receive more frequent doses of chemo than they do currently. Though Amgen has increased its staff by 20 to 40 percent each year for the past few years, it’s now experiencing a hiring slowdown. This means applicants should be prepared to be persistent. According to insiders, it’s worth it to get in the door here—the culture is apparently quite collegial, and the benefits are excellent.

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Key Numbers 2001

Revenue ($M)

5,523

3,763

47

Earnings ($M)

1,392

1,120

-224

10,100

7,700

31

Number of Employees

% Change

The Firms

2002

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 Submits Enbrel to the FDA as a treatment for psoriasis, hoping to expand the markets for which the drug is approved. 2002 FDA approves Neulasta, which decreases fever and infection associated with chemotherapy, and Aranesp, for treatment of leukemia associated with liver failure. U.S. Oncology agrees to subsidize treatment with Aranesp, Neulasta, and Neupogen for its members. 2001 Buys Immunex for $16 billion, gaining rheumatoid arthritis drug Enbrel as part of the deal. 2000 Buys Kinetix Pharmaceuticals for $170 million with the aim of developing more “small molecule” drugs (drugs that can be formulated as pills).

Insider Scoop Collegial camaraderie. Everyone we interviewed at Amgen describes the

company as an easy place to work. “The environment feels like a college campus—really relaxing, self-directed, no time clocks,” according to one insider. Another insider adds that Amgen’s atmosphere is anything but corporate and bureaucratic: “The culture is very open, trusting, and honest. It’s important to have very down-to-earth people skills, to be easy to talk to informally, to be able to communicate effectively in writing and in person.”

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The A-team. Although Amgen has a “pretty kick-back” environment, one

insider says, “I would describe Amgen as ‘casually intense.’ It’s a very highenergy place. Don’t let people’s laid-back attitude and casual dress make you think we’re not working hard.” The good rapport among employees depends

The Firms

on everyone pulling their own weight. “We’re just really team accomplishmentoriented,” says an insider. Girl power. The stereotype that all scientists are men doesn’t hold water at

Amgen. “There are more women than I’ve ever seen [at any other biotech company],” says one scientist. “I think science is going the other way around now—it’s becoming more dominated by women.” According to another insider, “No matter what your background is, Amgen has an easy environment to work in, that’s for sure. It’s a very diverse company.” One big happy family. Insiders are unanimously happy with the benefits and

compensation at Amgen. “Benefits are great,” says one. “Everybody gets stock options, regardless of your position. The company pays for gym membership; there’s a gym, day care, and kindergarten on site, and three restaurants. You can bring your kids to work and take them to lunch.”

Getting Hired It’s not easy to get hired at Amgen with just a bachelor’s degree under your belt. Applicants have a better chance at getting hired if they’ve done an internship or gained other work-related experience first. Insiders say that, ideally, you will have a contact on the inside to help distinguish you from the masses of applicants with similar qualifications. If you get to the interview stage, prepare yourself for a full day of six or seven interviews.

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Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Undergraduates will have to wait

until they’ve built up more education and experience before applying to Amgen. MBAs, on the other hand, can apply for Amgen’s MBA Leadership Program, with internships and full-time positions in finance, human resources, and

The Firms

marketing. Most marketing positions require that the candidate be in the final year of an MBA program and have some experience with a biotech, pharmaceutical, or health care company. Finance positions require a combination of experience and education appropriate to the specific job function. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Amgen hires experienced laterals as

needed. Submit your resume to Amgen’s database and keep an eye on the job listings page.

Recruiting Contacts Submit your resume to Amgen’s online database, where it will be scanned as new positions open. If you prefer good old-fashioned snail mail, mailing addresses for the appropriate location are listed on the recruiting website. The company asks that you apply directly to the international office you’re interested in if you’re applying for a job with Amgen abroad.

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Bayer The Firms

100 Bayer Road Pittsburgh, PA 15205-9741 Phone: 412-777-2000 www.bayer.com

Overview Bayer is the pharmaceutical company next door, the name made familiar by such trusted products as Bayer aspirin, Alka Seltzer, Bactine, Milk of Magnesia, and Flintstones Vitamins. Bayer Corporation is a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of German company Bayer AG and is responsible for a third of the parent company’s total revenue. A bit more than a third of Bayer’s total employee headcount is located in the United States. Bayer’s 23 business divisions aren’t confined to the consumer care and pharmaceutical product market: They also manufacture polymers, chemicals, diagnostics, and agriculture products. Its big guns are Cipro (antibiotic), Avelox (antibiotic), Adalat CC (antihypertensive), Trasylol (prophylactic), and Viadur (the prostate cancer implant). In 2002, Bayer had its share of bad news. At the beginning of the year, the company had to pull its cholesterol-lowering drug, Baycol, from the market after it was implicated in 100 patient deaths. This debacle meant a $1 billion loss in sales, plus an estimated $5 billion in lawsuit settlements. In 2001, Bayer’s profits dropped 51 percent due to a meager product pipeline. Bayer has allied itself with Millennium Pharmaceuticals and CuraGen in order to regain ground. However, the company still expects slow growth over the next few years as it waits for new projects to come to fruition.

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In pharmaceuticals, Bayer is pinning its hopes on Levitra—the erectile dysfunction drug it’s co-promoting with GlaxoSmithKline. The drug secured FDA approval in July 2002. Levitra competes not only with blockbuster Viagra but also Eli Lilly’s new impotence drug, Cialis. Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, is suing the makers of

The Firms

Levitra and Cialis, claiming that these drugs infringe on Viagra’s patent. The combination of a depressed economy and Bayer’s internal woes means that hiring will not be as robust as in past years. Insiders suggest that bureaucracy and recent reorganizations may prove challenging to new hires.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

% Change

Revenue ($M)

30,415

25,792

18

Earnings ($M)

1,113

860

29

n/a

116,900

n/a

Number of Employees

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 Announces results of Levitra study, which shows that 90 percent of Levitra users report positive results. 2002 Receives FDA approval for erectile dysfunction drug Levitra, developed in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline. Announces plan to acquire Visible Genetics for $61.4 million, expanding its position in the nucleic acid diagnostic (NAD) market. Makes Working Mother’s list of the 100 best companies for working mothers. 2000 New pharmaceuticals plant is dedicated in Wuppertal, Germany. 1998 Acquires Cooper Technicon, giving the company a strong presence in the diagnostics systems and reagents markets. 1988 Bayer U.S.A. Inc. is established as a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Insider Scoop Fitting in, not standing out. Bayer’s large size ensures a certain degree of

stability for both the company and its employees. It also means the company is

The Firms

big on bureaucracy—according to one insider, Bayer is a “lumbering giant.” It “likes people who can prove they can fit in with the system,” says one insider. “It doesn’t like people who are shining stars or people who make waves.” Network to get a leg up. Insiders say the way to get ahead is to build close ties

with colleagues. “You must develop a layer of trust, because the key decision makers around you really impact your career,” says one insider. The world’s your oyster. Because Bayer is so highly diversified, a lifelong career

there can encompass many different projects, fields, and locales. “Bayer is involved in so many things, so many challenges,” says an insider. “There are a lot of different things you can do. The global travel is nice, too.”

Getting Hired The hiring process at Bayer usually begins with a phone screening, after which the applicant may be invited in for a full day of interviews, where he or she meets with hiring managers in a series of intense sessions. Only very promising candidates are invited for an interview. Depending on the position, one or more presentation-style interviews are typical, and applicants might have material to learn or prepare, allowing them to demonstrate their level of interest and skill. Bayer looks for individuals who are self-starters, very creative, and able to work in an unstructured environment. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Information technology and

engineering are the primary divisions that frequently hire recent grads, but competition is stiff enough to make additional experience a real asset. Bayer’s Cooperative Education Program offers rotations in corporate engineering, innovative

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technology, corporate health, and environment and safety. Within these divisions, a wide variety of assignments suit many different interests or career goals—interested students can find out more on the company website. Bayer’s internships require a minimum of one year completed at college with a

The Firms

3.0 GPA. There are positions in almost every aspect of the business: engineering, research and development, marketing and sales, IT and procurement, and finance and administration. Bayer’s most prestigious program, which encompasses entry-level and advanced positions, is the Associate Development Program, comprising full-time positions made up of rotations on various projects over a two-and-a-half-year period. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum qualification, though an advanced degree would make you a more attractive candidate. Bayer also looks for graduates in accounting, engineering, finance, human resources, and chemistry. Bayer’s job site has extensive information on all of these programs, including application information and details about upcoming projects and assignments. Though an MBA is valued at Bayer, be aware that the company heavily weights a scientific or biopharmaceutical background even in its business divisions. Check with your career services office to see whether Bayer recruits on your campus. If not, start networking! Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Bayer hires candidates, who have a life

sciences background and industry experience in pharmaceuticals or biotechnology.

Recruiting Contacts Submit your resume online at www.bayerjobs.com/submit/index.html.

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Biogen, Inc. The Firms

14 Cambridge Center Cambridge, MA 02142 Phone: 617-679-2000 www.biogen.com

Overview Founded in 1978 by a group of genetic engineering researchers—including two who would later win Nobel prizes—Biogen is the world’s oldest independent biotech company and is today a global operation that researches, develops, manufactures, and markets its own products. In other words, Biogen is big (it’s the number-three U.S. biotech, after Amgen and Genentech)—and, after its recent announcement that it’s merging with IDEC Pharmaceuticals, it looks like it’s getting even bigger. The company, which will be called Biogen IDEC, hopes to revive sales of IDEC’s main drug, Rituxan, which is approved for treating nonHodgkin’s lymphoma but which it hopes will also receive approval for rheumatoid arthritis, and to receive FDA approval for Antegren, a drug for multiple sclerosis. Biogen is looking to beef up its pipeline. Until recently, Biogen has had just one drug on the market, a multiple sclerosis blockbuster called Avonex. In February 2003, though, Amevive, a psoriasis treatment, was approved by the FDA. In response to its weak pipeline, the company plans to invest in small biotechs moving forward and to invest nearly a third of its revenue in R&D. In addition to selling the drugs it developed in-house, Biogen also licenses products like Schering-Plough’s Intron A and hepatitis B vaccines developed by

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Merck and SmithKline Beecham. Meanwhile, it is concentrating its research on treatments for inflammatory/autoimmune diseases, neurologic diseases, cancer, fibrosis, and congestive heart failure. A world-class protein manufacturer, Biogen is among a handful of companies that operate bulk manufacturing facilities—

The Firms

located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park. The firm’s international headquarters are in Paris. Insiders say the culture at Biogen is entrepreneurial, and employees exhibit a work-hard, play-hard attitude.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

Revenue ($M)

1,148

1,043

10

Earnings ($M)

199

273

-27

2,633

1,992

32

Number of Employees

% Change

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 Amevive receives FDA approval. Biogen announces its intent to merge with IDEC Pharmaceuticals. 2002 Announces collaboration with Celltech to develop and market Crohn’s disease product. Avonex is approved for Medicare patients. 2001 Sues Schering-Plough to recover unpaid royalties on Alpha Interferon products. 2000 Announces research and development collaboration with Eos Biotechnology to identify protein therapies for breast cancer. Expands its Research Triangle Park headquarters with a 250,000-square-foot bulk protein manufacturing facility. 1998 Receives U.S. National Medal of Technology for developing the first hepatitis B vaccine using recombinant DNA.

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1991 FDA approves Schering-Plough’s Intron A for treatment of hepatitis C. 1988 Reacquires rights to Recombinant Beta Interferon from Schering-Plough. 1986 Schering-Plough begins selling Intron A for treatment of hairy cell leukemia.

The Firms

Insider Scoop Young bloods. By biotech standards, Biogen is old—it’s been around since 1978.

Even so, the company’s corporate culture remains more like that of a hungry start-up than, say, an old-school chemical company. Insiders say the mood is entrepreneurial, and employees exhibit a work-hard, play-hard attitude. “The average age here at this site is about 35,” one insider says. “I would say Biogen has a very young atmosphere, and with all the social events, it’s kind of like college.” Clear communication. Biogen’s dynamism and open culture are refreshing to

Big Pharma veterans. Insiders say they feel connected and involved in what’s going on at the company—changes take place relatively quickly and aren’t shrouded in bureaucratic doublespeak. “I have a high exposure to the key decision makers of the company,” an insider says. “Biogen isn’t a ruled-bycommittee type place where they go round and round with decision making.” We’re all in this together. Insiders credit the company with avoiding layoffs

during lean times, in part because the firm doesn’t staff up unnecessarily when things are going well. Management tends to ride out market changes without doing a lot of restructuring, instead putting its faith in a core group of employees who are in it for the long haul. In turn, the company’s rank and file is willing to take on extra responsibilities when needed. “They don’t really hire extra people during crunch time,” an insider says. “The people here just have to work extra hard, and put in extra hours, and that provides job security because there aren’t two other people doing the same job you’re doing.”

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Getting Hired Biogen is always looking for talented candidates to fill its ranks. For 2003, the company’s main campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, plans to hire employees in

The Firms

manufacturing, information technology, marketing, and quality assurance. The Cambridge campus is also always on the lookout for post-doc fellows; you can find listings for these jobs at www.biogen.com/site/content/career/post_doc_opps.asp. Its facility in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park will fill openings in customer service, manufacturing, and quality control. Positions in sales are also available in the United States. In seeking new applicants, the company makes leadership abilities a priority since its fluid, matrix-type organization depends on the strength of individuals who are able to operate without much supervision. Leadership ability, as Biogen sees it, is founded on two basic qualities: integrity and courage. The company looks for candidates whose background and accomplishments reflect those qualities. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Biogen’s summer internship

program is open to students at all stages of higher education in the life sciences. Students must have completed at least a basic foundation of science courses and have laboratory experience. A limited number of internship opportunities also exists for students in finance and marketing. Application information can be found on the company’s website. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Biogen regularly offers opportunities in

a wide variety of areas from administrative support to research and development. Job openings at home and abroad are listed on the recruiting website. If you’d just like to give the company or the industry a little spin, Biogen also offers temporary positions. Many temporary employees have joined Biogen’s permanent ranks through this avenue. If interested in applying for a temporary position,

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check the job postings section to see what types of positions are listed, and send your application to [email protected].

The Firms

Recruiting Contacts Search for jobs and submit your resume online at www.biogen.jobcontrolcenter.com.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb The Firms

345 Park Avenue New York, NY 10154-0037 Phone: 212-546-4000 www.bms.com

Overview Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global leader in cancer treatment, and it also develops cardiovascular therapeutics and anti-infective drugs. Its key pharmaceuticals include the cholesterol-reducing drug Pravachol. The company is at the forefront of research to improve the standard of cancer therapy drugs. The company has several cytotoxics—“cell-killing” cancer drugs—in its pipeline. These next-generation drugs are designed to cause fewer side effects and treat a wider range of tumors than traditional therapies. In perhaps its most significant contribution to the field, Bristol has teamed up with Millennium Predictive Medicines to work on a pharmacogenomic classification system for tumors. Traditionally, tumors are grouped according to the organ or tissue they originate in; in the new system, tumors will be classified by genomic makeup. This much more scientific system is more likely to indicate which tumors would respond to similar treatments. Bristol’s consumer health care division makes Boost, Excedrin, baby formulas, and wound treatments. Nevertheless, the company’s recent performance has been weak. It has been unable to bring many new drugs to market in recent years; until February 2003,

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the company had not received FDA approval for a new drug since 2000. (It has acquired DuPont Pharmaceuticals, as well as a 20 percent stake in biotech ImClone, in an effort to beef up its pipeline.) Bristol spent $2 billion marketing ImClone’s cancer drug, Erbitux, which became bogged down in safety concerns. In 2002,

The Firms

another promising drug, the hypertension treatment Vanlev, was denied approval based on unfavorable clinical data in the last stages. To compound the problem, three important Bristol drugs, Taxol (a chemotherapy agent), Glucophage (for type2 diabetes), and BuSpar (for anxiety disorder) have lost patent protection. And the company has been accused of accounting irregularities that inflated its 2001 revenue numbers. In the light of these problems, buzz is circulating about a possible merger with a larger company, or even of Bristol acquiring a promising small biotech. So far, nothing has been announced. The company’s hopes currently focus on Ablify, a schizophrenia drug approved by the FDA in 2003. But even Ablify was developed by Otsuka Pharmaceutical, a Japanese firm, and not by Bristol itself. Insiders report that the company has excellent benefits, but complain of a bureaucratic environment.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

Revenue ($M)

18,119

18,139

0

Earnings ($M)

2,066

4,834

-57

44,000

46,000

-4

Number of Employees

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

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% Change

Recent Milestones 2003 Receives FDA approval for Ablify, a promising schizophrenia drug that is the first new drug Bristol has had since 2000. Receives FDA approval for Reyataz, an HIV treatment.

The Firms

2002 FDA denies approval for hypertension drug Vanlev. Taxol, Glucophage, and BuSpar lose patent protection. Bristol makes the top ten and is named best in class in Working Mother’s list of the 100 best companies for working mothers. 2001 Acquires DuPont Pharmaceuticals, gaining an HIV drug and an anticoagulant. Buys stake in ImClone and enters agreement to market cancer drug Erbitux. Spins off Zimmer orthopedics. Fortune names Bristol “America’s Most Admired Pharmaceutical Company.” 2000 Launches Tequin, an antibiotic for type-2 diabetes, and Glucophage XR, an oral antidiabetic. 1999 Announces HIV/AIDS research and community outreach program in Africa, including a lab for HIV monitoring and research. 1994 Completes acquisition of French company UPSA, a leading maker of pharmaceutical and consumer medicines. Charles A. Heimbold, Jr., elected CEO. 1991 Receives FDA approval in the United States for HIV medication Videx, the second medicine available for treating HIV.

Insider Scoop A foot in the door. As is not uncommon in the biotech industry, entry-level

positions at Bristol have a high turnover rate, with many people using the company as an entree to the industry before moving on to other companies. “Bristol is a good place to get your foot in the door,” says an insider. With Bristol’s future increasingly uncertain, employees complain that the company focuses more on the quick fix than the long-term development of its staff, sometimes paying less than the industry standard, for example. “You can’t expect to get a lot of recognition for your creativity,” another says.

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Baby boom. Bristol’s benefits are legion in the biopharma industry, especially for

family-friendly features. Bristol’s provisions for families include on-site child care, flexible work options such as the compressed workweek, paternity leave, education counseling and referral services, and a pregnancy and prenatal-

The Firms

development program. Follow the leader. Bristol is not known for a culture of individualism. Insiders

complain of micromanaging, especially in the lower levels of the organization. “Fitting in at Bristol is basically learning to conform to procedures and follow directions,” says an insider.

Getting Hired In 2002 and 2003, Bristol is doing most of its hiring in R&D and sales. Some positions will also open up in finance, information management, manufacturing, and marketing, recruiters say. As always, the best way to get in the door is through someone who actually works at the company. Otherwise apply online for any open positions. Like many other big pharmaceutical companies, Bristol is not known for being personable during the hiring process—follow-up on a resume or phone screen might come weeks after you’ve given up on the position. Applicants who are serious about Bristol should be persistent—and patient. Interviews vary among divisions, but Bristol is known to favor a behavioral approach, designed to discover the applicant’s personality and values. Case questions, where the applicant is asked how he or she would respond in a hypothetical scenario, are also common. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. The manufacturing group hires

the most recent grads and is the least selective about background and field of study. Recent graduates with degrees in computer science, engineering, finance, or information management are recruited to Bristol’s information systems

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division. New grads are also welcomed in sales, marketing, and R&D. MBAs are hired throughout human resources, finance, sales, and marketing. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Bristol is always on the lookout for

bright, experienced, and innovative professionals in all areas of the company.

The Firms

The majority of current openings are available in R&D and sales. Apply directly for an open position or submit your resume to the online database through the recruiting website, www.bms.com/career/data/.

Recruiting Contacts Access current job opportunities, and submit your resume online at www.bms.com/career/data/searopp.html.

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Celera Genomics Group The Firms

45 West Gude Drive Rockville, MD 20850 Phone: 240-453-3000 www.celera.com

Overview The Celera Genomics Group traces its roots back to 1995, when researcher Craig Venter of The Institute for Genomic Research sequenced the first complete genome of a living organism, a bacterium called H. influenzae. That initial discovery led Venter to develop a technique for rapidly sequencing genes, which became the basis for Celera, a company that Venter founded in 1998 along with the Applera Corporation. (Celera is a business unit of Applera.) Since that time, Celera has made a business of selling genetic coding information, as well as licensing the software to manage and analyze gene sequences to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. A key client is Geron, which uses the company’s “bioinformatics” chips to develop drugs and diagnostics. Celera is currently restructuring its business. (Indeed, insiders report that restructuring has made the working environment somewhat challenging at the company.) The company originally aspired to become the definitive source for genomic information by patenting gene sequences and licensing its intellectual property. However, now that the Human Genome Project has made this information available for free, the company has shifted its focus toward drug discovery and development.

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In June of 2002, Celera cut 16 percent of its workforce, a total of 132 jobs in DNA sequencing, data management, and analysis support. Its sister firm, Applied Biosystems, took over the marketing of Celera’s genomics databases. The company is now developing a range of in vitro molecular diagnostics, such

The Firms

as a DNA sequencer to detect diseases. During 2003, most hiring will be in the pharmaceutical and therapeutics end of the business, rather than in the genomic information area that made Celera famous. Celera’s new president, Kathy Ordonez, came on board in April 2002, and a new head of research and development arrived in August of that year.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

Revenue ($M)

121

89

35

Earnings ($M)

-211

-186

13

820

866

-5

Number of Employees

% Change

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2002 Craig Venter, the company’s founder, leaves Celera to spend more time in his position as chairman at the Institute for Genomic Research. 2001 Celera enters into an 18-month project with Isis Pharmaceuticals—a company that researches the use of RNA in the treatment of disease— to identify the role of 200 genes identified by Celera. The two companies share revenue created by the licensing of their collaborative discoveries. 2000 Signs an agreement with City of Hope to collaborate in SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) clinical correlations in women with breast cancer. 1999 Makes a three-year gene discovery agreement with Aventis to identify therapeutic treatments for cancer, asthma, and cardiovascular disease. 1998 Applera Corporation and Craig Venter establish Celera Genomics.

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Insider Scoop Best and brightest. Celera prides itself on the credentials and accomplishments

of its employees, which include a Nobel laureate and several individuals who

The Firms

hold patents for the world’s best bioinformatic software. Here, “the best and the brightest” is not just a catchphrase. The cutting edge. The biggest draw for Celera employees is the opportunity to

work on genomics problems, the cutting edge of biotech. This ambitious new field aims to revolutionize the way diseases are treated, and with the possible applications just beginning to come to light, there is no limit to the creativity demanded for this work. An insider says, “From my point of view, companies that let you have a little say in what you research, that at least let you feel like you’re researching what you want, are more attractive to scientists.” Growing pains. After the initial excitement wore off regarding the H. influenzae

genome, Celera found itself in the same ambiguous situation so many of its biotech peers face. It had to find another way to make money, since its principal product—genetic information—is now being given away for free. As Celera shifts its emphasis toward bioinformatics tools and restructures toward a goal of developing pharmaceuticals, it’s experiencing some growing pains. Insiders describe the working environment as occasionally tense and uncomfortable.

Getting Hired Celera recruits via a multi-pronged recruiting strategy, using college fairs, industry journals, trade publications, and mainstream media. The company hires in areas including toxicology, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, genomics, bioinformatics, and information technology. The company’s employee referral program has been very successful—some 40 percent of hires have originated through that channel, according to recruiters.

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After an initial phone interview, promising applicants are invited to interview on the company campus. For research positions, candidates make a presentation in their area of expertise, meet the research team, and take a lab tour. Expect to spend a full day going through this process. For corporate

The Firms

positions, a more traditional half-day interview is typical. In general, Celera’s strategy is to find candidates who appear to be good long-term bets. The company characterizes ideal candidates as self-starters who can take input from other team members but also perform on their own. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Celera hires quite a few recent

college graduates, especially those with backgrounds in medicinal chemistry, biology, and information technology. Recent college graduates are eligible to apply for research associate positions. The company hires very few MBAs. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. PhDs without a lot of industry

experience can get a postdoctoral research position at Celera, while PhDs who do have biotech or pharmaceutical experience are invited to apply for “scientist” positions. Celera hires bioinformatics professionals as well as general information technology engineers with a biotech background.

Recruiting Contacts Access a list of job openings and apply online at www.celerajobs.com.

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Chiron The Firms

4560 Horton Street Emeryville, CA 94608-2916 Phone: 510-655-8730 www.chiron.com

Overview Since its inception in 1981, Chiron has evolved dramatically from a respected research institute to a highly successful commercial venture—it has more drugs in clinical trials than any other biotech company. Focusing its research on cancer and infectious disease, Chiron markets its products through three business divisions: vaccines, blood testing, and biopharmaceuticals. Chiron’s vaccines division markets Menjugate, a drug for meningococcal disease, and makes and markets Fluad, a flu vaccine; it also earns revenue from several pharma companies that use Chiron technologies in their drugs. Its blood-testing segment comprises mostly immunodiagnostic tests for the detection of hepatitis viruses and retroviruses, and instruments systems to automate testing and data collection. Among the company’s biopharmaceutical products, Tobromycin, used to treat cystic fibrosis, is its most important. Proleukin, a treatment for renal cancer and melanoma, and the Betaseron and Betaferon multiple sclerosis drugs are also big earners. Chiron established its research and development reputation early in its history, creating the first engineered vaccines (for hepatitis B and pertussis, a.k.a. whooping cough) and mapping the HIV genome. Alliances have become key to Chiron’s success—Novartis and Chiron share technologies, and among Chiron’s acquisitions are Proleukin’s manufacturer,

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Cetus; PathoGenesis, a developer of antibiotics; and Matrix Pharmaceuticals, a developer of cancer drugs. In order to focus on the commercial side of the business, Chiron has sold off its quality control, electrophoresis, and vision divisions. Chiron expects moderate growth in employment over the next few

The Firms

years, as it establishes a regular pattern of consistent product launching. In each of the past two years, the company hired between 400 and 500 people, and it plans to hire at least 500 in 2003. Chiron received bad news in July 2003 when a study of its experimental drug tifacogin showed that the drug did not reduce sepsis deaths among users, and in fact could result in an increased likelihood of bleeding among people taking the drug. Insiders report that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well at Chiron—and that instead of a feeling of competition between scientists, there is a contagious, team-oriented drive to discover.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

% Change

Revenue ($M)

973

1,141

-15

Earnings ($M)

181

180

0

4,044

3,736

8

Number of Employees

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

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Recent Milestones 2003 Acquires British vaccine maker PowderJect Pharmaceuticals.

The Firms

2002 Acquires Matrix Pharmaceutical, Inc., increasing its presence in the cancer therapeutics market. 2001 Appoints Craig A. Wheeler as president of its biopharmaceuticals division. Licenses its HIV and hepatitis C blood-screening technique to Roche. Cell Genesys buys Chiron’s Gene Therapy Manufacturing Facility. 2000 Acquires PathoGenesis Corporation, gaining therapeutics to fight chronic infectious diseases, especially the lung infections that often occur as a result of cystic fibrosis. Files patent infringement action against Genentech for its use of anti-HER2 antibodies. 1991 Buys Cetus, the maker of Proleukin and oncology drug IL-2. 1984 Maps the HIV genome, advancing AIDS treatment research. 1981 Chiron founded by three university professors. Distinguishes itself early on by developing the first genetically engineered vaccines (for hepatitis B and pertussis). Also develops both the vaccine and the bloodscreening technique for hepatitis C.

Insider Scoop It’s alive! The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well at Chiron—employees are

very caught up in the excitement of the company’s research. Insiders describe the environment as high energy. As one insider says, “People here work really hard and believe in what they’re doing.” Instead of a competitive environment, there is a contagious, team-oriented drive to discover. Working within the matrix. Management at Chiron is fairly dispersed, creating

microenvironments throughout the company with different group heads calling the shots. “Where you work in the company makes a difference in how much freedom you have as a researcher—what kind of projects you get to work on,” an insider says. This segmented structure is not necessarily easy to

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navigate, but it does give individuals the autonomy to find their way to rewarding, important work. Giving it the old college try. As with many of the biotechs, Chiron retains a

collegial and collaborative feel. “We’re definitely pretty casual and comfortable,”

The Firms

an insider says. “You know people for their individual expertise—there’s a lot of respect for that, personally and professionally,” says another. As the company has evolved into a more commercially driven organization, the teamwork emphasis so prevalent in Big Pharma has come increasingly into play.

Getting Hired Though it sometimes uses employment agencies, Chiron does most of its recruiting directly, with hiring managers for each division. The interviewing process usually moves at a rapid pace, with applicants going through a series of interviews in one day. The actual shape of the interviews varies greatly depending on the specialty or job function of the applicant. Researchers, for example, will most likely explain their products or conduct a lecture. It’s typically the case that a team of coworkers and peers will interview the applicant. Because much of the interviewing is behavioral, the atmosphere is often casual, with coworkers mostly looking to see if you’ll fit in with the team. Insiders say that, at Chiron, the interview strategy is not to trick the applicant or trip him or her up—if you have what it takes to do the job, and you are excited about being a part of Chiron, then you’re the perfect candidate. On the Chiron website, you can apply directly for open positions. You can also submit your resume to a database; you’ll be contacted if you look like a good candidate for positions that open down the road. Chiron hires for corporate positions (read: finance, marketing, etc.), manufacturing and operations positions, and science and research positions.

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Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Chiron does not have a robust

college-relations program, because industry experience in biotech or science is necessary for most positions, with the exception of manufacturing. Chiron

The Firms

hires only a small number of MBAs for its corporate division. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Chiron looks for people who have

industry experience in biotech or pharmaceuticals, as well as a background in and passion for science.

Recruiting Contacts Access a list of job openings, and apply online at www.chiron.com/careers/index.htm.

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Eli Lilly & Co. .

The Firms

Lilly Corporate Center Indianapolis, IN 46285 Phone: 317-276-2000 www.lilly.com

Overview Eli Lilly & Co. is a pioneer in pharmaceutical research and the treatment of disease. Among its many coups, Lilly lays claim to developing the first commercial insulin product in 1923; creating the first human health care product—insulin Humulin— using recombinant DNA technology; and introducing Prozac, the first major drug in the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) class of antidepressants. Lilly has more than 100 manufacturing alliances and 140 research and development alliances worldwide. About half of Lilly’s 40,000-plus employees work in the United States. Its thousands of employees in R&D focus primarily on the areas of neuroscience, endocrinology, infectious disease, oncology, and cardiovascular disease. Lilly has a very strong drug pipeline. This is good news when considering some of the company’s recent challenges. One big challege: the loss of patent protection for Lilly’s blockbuster drug, Prozac, which has caused a loss of $2 billion in annual revenue. Xigris, a treatment for sepsis, has performed poorly in the marketplace. Osteoporosis treatment Evista came under fire when Britishowned AstraZeneca (maker of breast-cancer prevention drug Nolvadex) sued Lilly for marketing the drug as having possible breast-cancer prevention benefits, even though it had not been FDA-approved for that indication. On the upside, Lilly (in tandem with ICOS) is developing Cialis, the “weekend pill,”

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which fights erectile dysfunction for up to 36 hours per dose, to compete with Pfizer’s blockbuster Viagra. Pfizer has sued, claiming that Cialis violates Viagra’s patent, but hopes remain high for Cialis. An FDA decision on whether to

The Firms

approve Cialis is expected in the second half of 2003. Despite its problems, Lilly’s future seems more secure than that of many of its competitors, thanks to its stable of big-market products. Zyprexa, a new treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, is a blockbuster. Its insulin drugs (Humulin, Humalog, Actos) and Gemzar, a therapy for pancreatic cancer, are also big breadwinners. Such achievements have, among other things, made possible the development of a new research and development facility and insulin manufacturing plant in Indianapolis, where Lilly is headquartered.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

Revenue ($M)

11,076

11,543

-4

Earnings ($M)

2,708

2,780

-3

43,700

41,100

6

Number of Employees

% Change

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 Makes Fortune’s lists of the 50 most desirable employers among MBAs and the 100 best companies to work for. Ranks first among pharma companies in providing discount-priced drugs to patients who cannot afford to use them at full price. 2002 Receives FDA approval for Strattera, a drug for treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Receives FDA approval for Forteo, for osteoporosis. Construction begins on a new manufacturing plant in Puerto Rico. Lilly researchers receive “Inventor of the Year” award for Xigris. Again makes Working Mother’s list of the 100 best companies for working mothers.

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2001 Recognized by Working Mother magazine as one of the best companies for working mothers for the seventh consecutive year. 1999 Dedicates a new $40 million research facility in North Carolina.

The Firms

1998 Announces marketing collaboration with Takeda to promote its insulin sensitivity enhancer, Pioglitazone. Evista (for osteoporosis) is introduced. 1982 Uses recombinant DNA technology to create Humulin, which is identical to insulin produced in the human body.

Insider Scoop Lily-white reputation. Among pharmaceutical companies, Lilly’s “ethics and

integrity are very high. They set a standard in the industry.” This is a key reason for why people want to work here, say insiders. Set against the backdrop of an industry fraught with controversy, Lilly’s straight-arrow reputation—its vow to respect human life above all—is that much more distinct and remarkable. Midwest values, modern thinking. “Originally Lilly was probably a little

conservative since it’s a company from Indianapolis,” one insider says. “But I think [management is] very cognizant of the need to evolve, to stay with technology.” These and other comments paint Lilly as a company that is at once traditional in values and yet advanced in scientific thinking. Certainly, the proof is in the pudding—in the form of Prozac and other blockbuster drugs on the market and in the pipeline. Investing in human capital. Insiders say that Lilly has made aggressive efforts to

increase diversity. Indeed, Working Mother and Fortune are among the publications that have bestowed high honors on the company for its flexible family options and increasingly progressive attitude. Lilly works with a number of minority associations and organizations to recruit minorities.

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Getting Hired Lilly says it is currently hiring in research, engineering, information technology, and manufacturing. Over the next year, scientist positions will be opening up

The Firms

for chemists, biologists, and statisticians. Most candidates complete an initial screening interview of 15 to 20 minutes. Typically this step is followed by a sequence of interviews with management—the most strenuous part of the process. In the final round, case questions are commonly employed. For instance, according to one insider, the interviewer might ask you about a time when you had to drop everything in your life and learn a new subject or when you had to convince a group of people to come over to your point of view. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt and think on your feet are highly valued. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Lilly’s summer internship program

is a common entry point for new graduates to get into the company. The program welcomes graduates and undergraduates from these fields of study: chemistry, biology, pharmacy, engineering/manufacturing operations, occupational health and safety, finance, marketing, human resources, information technology, and computer science. Lilly also runs courses to help students and graduates learn industry-related skills. Recruiting teams from Lilly actively recruit for internship positions at a number of college campuses. This is by far the best way to get your foot in the door at Lilly. Lilly recruits on campuses across the country; check the list of schools at http://campuszone.lilly.com/student_select_univ.cfm. If your school’s not on the list, start networking! Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Periodic opportunities for a variety of

professions and educational levels are available at Lilly for people committed to working in the biotech industry. Submit your resume and profile to the online database and keep an eye on the job postings page.

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Recruiting Contacts You can register your information and resume on Lilly’s website at www.lilly.com/careers/index.html. Once you’re registered, you can apply for

The Firms

jobs listed on the site.

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Genentech The Firms

1 DNA Way South San Francisco, CA 94080-4990 Phone: 650-225-1000 www.gene.com

Overview Genentech, the oldest of all the biotech companies, founded in 1976, puts its money where its mouth is: Because it outstrips all others in spending for research and development, it has achieved top honors in this category— Genentech’s scientists are in the top 1 percent for total worldwide citations received in scientific journals. Its research focuses on oncology, cardiovascular disease, and immunologic disease. The company is majority owned by the Big Pharma giant Roche. Genentech’s dedication to research and development has resulted in a healthy product portfolio. The company has ten protein-based products on the market and 20 more lined up in the pipeline. (Among its credits, Genentech was the first biotech company to successfully scale up protein manufacturing from small research quantities to the amounts needed for clinical trials and marketing.) In 2001, Genentech’s revenues topped $2 billion for the first time in its history, putting it right behind Amgen, the number-one biotech in terms of size. Recent revenues have been driven by the cancer treatment Herceptin and the human growth hormone duo Nutropin and Protropin. Currently, the company has high hopes for Xolair, an asthma treatment developed in partnership with Novartis and Tanox; Genentech is pushing to get the drug FDA-approved in

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2003. The company’s Avastin drug, in development for colorectal cancer, also recently received fast-track development approval from the FDA. In an effort to increase the velocity with which it creates new revenue streams, Genentech has taken to testing drug combinations before the individual drugs

The Firms

in the combinations have been approved for the public by the FDA. The potential upside of this tactic is rapidly rising revenues, but the risk is that Genentech ends up wasting money on drug-combination tests if any of the component drugs in the combination get rejected by the FDA. Despite its success, a couple of minor aggravations have cropped up at Genentech. The company was ordered to pay $300 million in back royalties to City of Hope, a Los Angeles-based hospital and research center whose scientists Arthur Riggs and Keiichi Itakura were instrumental in the development of insulin product Humulin. The company has also been stuck with paying off $200 million in punitive damages as part of the same settlement—not a big deal for the company, which says it can easily absorb the loss, since it had budgeted more than $500 million in case the ruling went against the company. That said, Genentech expects to see steady growth in employment in all its divisions moving forward. Insiders claim that Genentech is very team-oriented and frowns on office politics.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

Revenue ($M)

2,252

2,082

8

Earnings ($M)

64

150

-58

5,252

4,950

6

Number of Employees

% Change

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

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Recent Milestones 2003 Makes Fortune’s list of the 100 best companies to work for. Avastin, for colorectal cancer, receives fast-track development approval from the FDA.

The Firms

2002 Genentech ordered to give $300 million in unpaid royalties to City of Hope for two of its scientists’ work in the development of Humulin. 2001 Revenues surpass $2 billion for the first time ever, placing Genentech in second place, behind Amgen. 2001 Named one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work for in America” for the third consecutive year. 1998 Completes construction of a second manufacturing facility, in Vacaville, California. 1992 Opens Founders Research Center, an $85 million research facility in South San Francisco. 1985 Launches Protropin for treatment of growth hormone deficiency, the first drug manufactured and marketed by a biotech company.

Insider Scoop Back to school. Genentech’s values promoting continuous learning and personal

enrichment come through as soon as you set foot on the company grounds. Says one insider, “Genentech is a very open community—it’s actually run like a college campus. You walk from building to building for meetings, and there are senior engineers you can go to for advice and guidance, just like [you would with] professors.” Such openness and accessibility have no doubt played a part in fostering the creative thinking that has enabled Genentech to develop breakthrough—and yes, blockbuster—drugs. Understanding the big picture. Insiders say a key attribute of Genentech

employees is their ability to view the process in a holistic manner: “To succeed here, you have to see the bigger picture—you have to know how your work fits into the final outcome.” Another insider adds: “Philosophically, we really focus

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on medical needs—on patients; that’s part of our strong emphasis on quality.” Knowing how your part affects other parts of the process, and keeping the end goal in mind, has allowed for more seamless—and therefore more successful— development cycles.

The Firms

Politicking is passé. An “all for one” attitude reigns supreme at Genentech.

Infighting is frowned on, say insiders. “People at Genentech are good team players. There was a lot of politics at the other companies I worked for, but here everyone has a say. I’ve been really impressed that politics hasn’t reared its ugly head.” Adds another insider, “The philosophy is ‘Nobody fails.’ We only succeed as a team.” Room to grow. Insiders agree that if you’re motivated and industrious, the sky’s

the limit in terms of professional development at Genentech. Says one, “Genentech has a very stimulating environment, and there is probably an infinite amount of room for growth as long as you have the drive.” Adds another, “Genentech is a very progressive and open-minded company; it’s very easy to move up or change divisions. [Management] really encourages personal growth.”

Getting Hired Genentech recruits through many avenues—conferences, career fairs, advertising, and its employee referral program. After a phone screen, applicants meet with the hiring managers under whom they’d be working, along with the manager’s peers, in various follow-up interviews. The number and style of these interviews vary depending on the division and position to which they’re applying. In quality control and manufacturing, applicants are typically brought in for a “rush day,” in which they are interviewed in groups, answering questions in round-robin style. For post-docs, interviewing is a full-day affair: Applicants meet with various people throughout the research group and conduct seminars

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to present their research and findings on specific topics, which are assigned in advance. For most of the other positions, interviews are structured in multiple rounds, which the applicant works through until the team decides on the best candidate for the job. Genentech puts a strong emphasis on performance-based

The Firms

skills and technical ability—personality rates low on its requirement list. Each candidate is evaluated in the areas of communication, customer focus, decision making, problem solving and planning, prioritization and goal setting, and teamwork. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Genentech has a strong college

recruitment program, targeting specific universities. It attends career fairs, furnishes company information at career centers, and recruits with the help of various professors. Undergraduates typically get hired into the quality and manufacturing groups, but the company is currently expanding the range of departments that do entry-level hiring. MBAs are usually hired in the supply chain and commercial divisions. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Genentech usually sources midcareer

applicants through Biospace or other biology-related career fairs.

Recruiting Contacts If you’re a recent graduate, check with your career center to see if your school is involved in Genentech’s campus recruitment program. Or you can go to the company website at www.genentech.com/gene/careers to apply.

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Genzyme Corporation The Firms

1 Kendall Square Cambridge, MA 02139-1562 Phone: 617-252-7500 www.genzyme.com

Overview Genzyme’s scientists put the company on the map when they realized its first important success in 1992: Through collaborative gene research with the University of Iowa, the company rolled out breakthrough treatments for cystic fibrosis. Building on this research, in 2000, the company produced a cystic fibrosis test, the most comprehensive one to hit the market. Of course, some would say that 1998 marked the turning point for Genzyme, when it streamlined its therapeutics development by closing its chemicals business and spinning off its research products division. By doing so, it was able to focus its business and specialize in its strong suits: the areas of genetic and renal disease. That year was a big one for Genzyme; it won FDA approval for Renagel, a phosphate binder for kidney disease, and for cancer-screening agent Thyrogen, created in partnership with Knoll Pharmaceuticals. A year later, Genzyme Transgenics, of which Genzyme owns a 25 percent stake, began experimenting with goat cloning in an effort to introduce a human gene responsible for making anticoagulants. This ambitious research is aimed at developing such breakthrough treatments as a new malaria vaccine, therapies for HIV, and a diabetes vaccine.

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Genzyme is made up of three distinct divisions: Genzyme General (GG), Genzyme Biosurgery (GB), and Genzyme Molecular Oncology (GMO). GG’s primary product is Cerezyme, the therapeutic drug used by 86 percent of patients with Gaucher’s disease, a rare enzyme-deficiency condition. GB designs

The Firms

and manufactures orthopedic medical products. And GMO makes genetically engineered cancer diagnosis and treatment products; it partnered with Silico Insights in June 2002 to market a breakthrough gene expression system called SAGE and an informatics platform called I-Sight Discovery. The two systems will be used in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment to identify tags and genes. Other partnerships include one with GelTex, with which it developed the aforementioned Renagel. Insiders say the company does a good job of emphasizing teamwork and collaboration.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

Revenue ($M)

1,330

1,224

9

Earnings ($M)

-13

-112

88

5,600

5,200

8

Number of Employees

% Change

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 Sells its cardiothoracic-devices business to Teleflex Inc. 2002 Acquires Peptimmune, which develops immunology therapies for autoimmune and allergic disease. 2002 Genzyme Molecular Oncology (GMO) enters into marketing alliance with Silico Insights to market SAGE gene expression system and I-Sight Discovery informatics platform.

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2001 Buys Wyntek Diagnostics as well as Novazyme’s glycoprotein technology. 2000 Introduces cystic fibrosis test (the most comprehensive on the market). Reaches agreement with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to license its cancer cell fusion technology.

The Firms

1998 FDA approves Renagel for treatment of kidney disease and cancerscreening agent Thyrogen, created in partnership with Knoll Pharmaceuticals. 1997 Receives patent for MASDA mutation detection technology, which is used to develop a test for cystic fibrosis. Introduces Afp4, a biochemical screening test for Down syndrome.

Insider Scoop Power of one. Genzyme’s success has made it more corporate than most

biotechs, which means there are many opportunities for advancement. “People who get things done are rewarded,” says an insider. As a company that relies on its employees’ innovation and creativity to distinguish itself, Genzyme is a place where “independent workers with a lot of initiative” are the most successful. Let’s work together. Teamwork and collaboration are very much a part of

Genzyme’s culture rather than just a couple of buzzwords in the corporate policy guidelines. “You have to interact very heavily just to get things done,” says one insider. “No matter how hard you work, you can’t get very far if you don’t communicate.” The company is still small enough such that cooperation is more a natural outgrowth of the academic environment. As such, Genzyme makes a point of carefully evaluating candidates for their interpersonal skills. The going’s still good. At a time when many companies in the industry are

battening down the hatches and simply trying to hold steady, Genzyme continues to grow. “There are lots of new products [in the pipeline]—we’ve got a lot to do right now and not enough people, which means we’re very busy. People get to travel to different Genzyme facilities all the time,” says an insider.

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Among exciting projects in the works are ones arising from its recent acquisition of Peptimmune’s enzyme inhibitor treatment for multiple sclerosis.

The Firms

Getting Hired Genzyme is hiring throughout the organization, especially in the areas of information technology, quality assurance/quality control, manufacturing, R&D, and finance. Though the interview process varies among hiring managers, it usually stretches across a full day, including meetings with human resources, the hiring manager, and a panel of peers. Depending on the position, Genzyme tends to conduct rigorous Q&A sessions during the technical part of the interview, so be prepared. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Genzyme has an internship

program for students in life science, finance, marketing, and information technology. Most programs begin in May or June and continue through August. Graduate school and MBA students are also eligible for internships. Interested students can submit their resume and apply online at Genzyme’s website. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Genzyme offers temporary and temp-

to-hire positions in administrative, research, and accounting among other areas. This is a great side-door into the company if you don’t have any internal contacts. Browse temporary opportunities at www.genzyme.com/corp/careers/temp_positions_available.asp. Candidates interested only in permanent positions are also welcome to apply. Search and apply for openings on Genzyme’s recruiting website.

Recruiting Contacts Apply online for jobs listed on Genzyme’s career website, www.genzyme.com/corp/careers/car_home.asp.

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Gilead Sciences The Firms

333 Lakeside Drive Foster City, CA 94404 Phone: 650-574-3000 www.gilead.com

Overview Gilead Sciences researches and develops treatments for cancer and infectious diseases such as the flu, HIV, and HIV-related infections. The company is on a roll, as it has had three drugs approved in the past two years. AmBisome, which the company gained when it acquired NexStar Pharmaceuticals in 1999, is Gilead’s biggest seller, treating HIV-related systemic fungal infections, including aspergillosis, candidiasis, and cryptococcis. It earned $47.7 million in the second quarter of 2002. Other products include the flu treatment Tamiflu, which sold $20 million in its first year on the market; DaunoXome, a treatment for Kaposi’s sarcoma; and Vistide, which treats an eye infection called cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMV). However, incidences of Kaposi’s sarcoma and CMV are not very common anymore because of advances in HIV/AIDS treatment. As a result, Gilead is looking to expand the applications for those drugs to other uses. DaunoXome, for example, is currently being tested as a treatment for lymphomas and leukemias. Although Gilead recently sold several cancer therapy products it was developing to OSI Pharmaceuticals, the company has other promising drugs in its pipeline, particularly treatments for hepatitis B and HIV. Emtriva, an HIV drug, received

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FDA approval in 2003. Hepsera, a drug that treats hepatitis B, could be a breakthrough drug for the company if it’s successful; the drug received European Union marketing approval in 2003. With these and other drugs in development, Gilead anticipates continued hiring throughout 2003, particularly

The Firms

in its R&D and commercial operations divisions. The former will be seeking research associates and research scientists, while the latter will be recruiting for marketing and sales positions. Company executives have stated that Gilead likes to hire established pros from competitors. Insiders report that Gilead, perhaps due to its small size, is a friendly place.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

% Change

Revenue ($M)

467

234

100

Earnings ($M)

72

52

38

1,250

1,000

25

Number of Employees

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 Hepsera, for hepatitis B, receives marketing approval in the European Union. Emtriva, for HIV, receives FDA marketing approval. Acquires Triangle Pharmaceuticals, which focuses on developing antiviral medications. 2002 Signs licensing agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to market Adefovir, a drug for treating hepatitis B, in Asia and Latin America. Hespera is approved by the FDA. Turns an annual profit for the first time. Viread is approved for marketing in Europe. 2001 Signs exclusive European commercialization agreement with Cubist Pharmaceuticals.

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1999 Buys NexStar Pharmaceuticals in order to expand its drug pipeline and gain an international sales force. 1998 Adefovir receives priority review designation from FDA.

The Firms

Insider Scoop Family ties. Insiders describe Gilead as a comfortable place to work that’s

relatively free of politics. “Everybody knows each other,” an employee says. “You can walk around and say hi to everyone.” A host of company gatherings keep employees up to date on company news and policies while giving staffers a chance to get to know each other. Recent advances are discussed, new employees are introduced, and personal and professional landmarks are brought to attention. Peace and quiet. Gilead’s Foster City offices offer employees a calm, quiet, and

safe environment in which to do their work—what you might expect for the group of serious scientists who make up its ranks. Safety concerns are a priority. Each quarter, the company sets goals for safety achievements. Lunches and other events are offered as incentives to those who exceed their targets. Everyone wins. No one gets lost in the shuffle at Gilead—the company’s small

size makes individual contributions stand out, and managers are quick to acknowledge employees’ input. “Everybody is recognized for their work, on an individual basis,” an insider says. “When you succeed, your success is visible to upper level management.” Employees feel a personal commitment to the company and are willing to work hard. Another says, “To succeed and make the most of your career here, you have to be innovative in your job.”

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Getting Hired Gilead does most of its own hiring, but it uses recruiting agencies for some positions. Learn about job openings by visiting the company website, where

The Firms

you can also apply for openings. Recruiters look for certain personal traits among applicants, traits that they feel contribute to the company’s consistent overall performance. These include a sense of integrity and the ability to work in a team. In general, Gilead seeks energetic self-starters who like to have fun and reward themselves for hard work while maintaining respect for the different kinds of expertise all team members bring to the table. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Gilead hires recent grads as

research associates in its chemistry departments, specifically in medicinal and analytical chemistry. MBAs who come to work for Gilead typically have a biology background in addition to their business training. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Gilead is always looking for experi-

enced laterals. More than half of new hires come from other biotech and pharmaceutical companies. A common practice is to hire a pharmacist or medical doctor who wants to change careers.

Recruiting Contacts You can search for jobs and apply online at http://sh.webhire.com/public/273/. Applicants can also e-mail their resumes to HR, at [email protected].

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GlaxoSmithKline The Firms

5 Moore Drive Durham, NC 27709 Phone: 888-825-5249 www.gsk.com

Overview GlaxoSmithKline’s reign as the world’s biggest drug maker ends with the PfizerPharmacia merger. Still, the European pharmaceutical behemoth has an array of key drugs in some of the most profitable markets: anti-infectives, central nervous system and respiratory therapeutics, and medicines for gastrointestinal and metabolic conditions. But Glaxo’s high-profile success has made its drugs a target for generic copycatting. Its over-the-counter ulcer treatment, Zantac, was the world’s best-selling prescription drug before the patent expired in 1997 and Novopharm began producing it. A few years later, Glaxo Wellcome’s merger with SmithKline Beecham helped diversify the company’s product lines with products like Paxil, the antidepressant that became the company’s new bestseller. Of course, Paxil’s patent is now ending, and the company is trying to defend its control over the drug in the courts. The antibiotic Augmentin has also found itself under attack from three generic drug makers who sued to get the patent overturned. Glaxo has sought to get the Augmentin ruling overturned, vowing to seek damages from any generic drug maker that dares to copy it; in July 2003 it reached a settlement under which it will receive royalties on sales of the generic version of the drug by Novartis over the next several years. With Bayer, the company developed Levitra, an erectile dysfunction drug, to compete with Pfizer’s Viagra. Pfizer is suing, claiming that Levitra violates Viagra patents.

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With these disputes taking their toll on the company, many have speculated whether it might jump on the merger bandwagon once again. Bristol-Myers Squibb has been tossed out as a possible takeover target, mostly because Bristol is also in a precarious position. However, a Glaxo takeover of Lilly could rival the

The Firms

Pfizer-Pharmacia pairing. But so far Glaxo says it plans to focus on developing its own drug pipeline rather than pursuing such mergers. Avandia, for diabetes, Levitra, and asthma treatment Advair all recently earned FDA approval. On the hiring front, Glaxo remains cautious. Most new positions will be in R&D (this is a company that spends $4 billion a year on R&D), sales, and marketing.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

Revenue ($M)

34,183

29,836

15

Earnings ($M)

6,341

4,504

41

100,000

100,000

0

Number of Employees

% Change

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 FDA extends review period for Bexxar, a drug for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 2002 Receives FDA approval for Levitra, developed in partnership with Bayer. AIDS Healthcare Foundation bans Glaxo’s products from its facilities, accusing Glaxo of overcharging for life-saving treatments; company announces its research collaboration with DNA Sciences to study adverse cardiovascular effects of common medications. Makes Working Mother’s list of the 100 best companies for working mothers. 2001 FDA approves Paxil for treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder; Glaxo announces agreement with government of Burundi to increase access to HIV/AIDS medications.

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2000 British company Glaxo Wellcome and American SmithKline Beecham merge to form GlaxoSmithKline. 1997 Glaxo Wellcome loses Zantac patent, and Novopharm offers generic version.

The Firms

Insider Scoop In it for the long haul. As turbulent as the biopharmaceutical industry is, it’s hard

to rock Glaxo’s boat. With so many successful products on the market and many other promising drugs in its pipeline, this is one drug company that’s truly stable and consistent. So if you’re looking for a place to make a career in this industry, Glaxo might be a good choice. If you do join up, you can expect top-tier benefits across the board in health care, stock options, and family-flexible working arrangements. “The health care plan is fantastic,” raves an insider. A tale of two companies. Like many companies with a history of major mergers

and takeovers, Glaxo’s culture is a bit fragmented. “There’s bitterness among the old SKB employees, a little bit of ‘back before the merger’ kind of talk,” an insider says. “This is such a big company that people tend to stick with their department, their immediate coworkers.” Be all that you can be. Because Glaxo is involved in so many ventures, employ-

ees are able to explore several different career paths without leaving the company. One insider who entered Glaxo as a sales rep and is now a specialist in quality assurance praises the company’s advancement structure as well as its programs for employee development. “If you stay at the company, you’re likely to find the stimulation and challenge you need,” he says. “You’re not committing yourself to a set career path.”

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Getting Hired If you want to find out about openings at Glaxo, keep your eye on the company website. Glaxo only advertises for a few of its most critical positions.

The Firms

The rest are simply listed online. To apply, use the automated application system on the career website, www.gsk.com/careers/joinus.htm. Recruiters comb through the submissions and conduct phone screens with promising applicants. The next step is another phone screen, this time with HR, after which candidates may be invited in for a series of interviews. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. The three divisions with the most

job openings in the near term are R&D, sales, and marketing. Unfortunately for undergraduates, these divisions don’t usually hire candidates just out of school. However, Glaxo does run several internship programs for undergrads and recent graduates, with ongoing opportunities in all divisions. The co-op program is open to undergrads who have completed their sophomore year. Placement occurs in sales, R&D, biopharmaceuticals, global manufacturing services, IT, finance, and human resources. MBAs have two possible tracks at Glaxo. First-year MBAs can apply for a summer internship. Students in their final year, or those who have graduated, can join the MBA Management Development Program. Details and application information for these and other programs can be found at www.gsk.com/careers/university_us.htm. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Glaxo is always on the lookout for

extremely talented and qualified individuals to add to its ranks. Think you’re one of these? Browse jobs and apply online for opportunities in the United States and abroad.

Recruiting Contacts Apply for jobs online at www.gsk.com/careers/joinus.htm.

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Johnson & Johnson The Firms

1 Johnson & Johnson Plaza New Brunswick, NJ 08933 Phone: 732-524-0400 www.jnj.com

Overview Johnson & Johnson is the world’s largest manufacturer of health care products and one of the most diversified product makers. In addition to making and marketing prescription drugs, the company does business in consumer pharmaceuticals (including familiar brands like Tylenol, Motrin, Reach, and Band-Aid) and medical devices and diagnostics (Acuvue contact lenses, surgical instruments, joint replacements, orthopedic products, and sutures). Johnson & Johnson’s broad product base is a result of its unique organizational structure, which consists of affiliates and operating arms around the world. Its strategy is to acquire and ally itself with companies that develop new technologies— J&J developed only two of its six current blockbusters, while the rest came from outside firms. Among these acquired products are Procrit for cancer patients who develop anemia as a result of chemotherapy and the antipsychotic drug Risperdal. However, both of these drugs are facing stiff new competition: Procrit from Amgen’s Aranesp, and Risperdal from BristolMyers Squibb’s Ablify. The company has gotten into a bit of hot water recently. The FDA is investigating an ex-employee’s claim that he was pressured to falsify data to hide

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lapses in quality control while working as a boiler operator at J&J’s Puerto Rico manufacturing facility. The incident might not have attracted much attention had it not coincided with J&J’s recent problems with Procrit, a cancer drug also manufactured at the Puerto Rico plant; a potentially fatal rare blood disorder

The Firms

occurred in 141 patients using Eprex. The company is also facing FDA scrutiny over ads for Procrit that the regulatory agency says are misleading. In terms of patents, J&J is in good shape, with no blockbusters expiring before 2005. One exciting project in the pipeline is ET-743, a substance made by a marine invertebrate called the sea squirt. ET-743 has been shown to slow growth in some cancer tumors resistant to other drugs. Using this substance, J&J hopes to develop a line of therapies for different types of cancer. Insiders report that J&J does a good job of giving employees real responsibility and helping employees design their career paths. With nearly a third of its staff comprising minorities, the company also has a good diversity record.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

Revenue ($M)

36,298

33,004

10

Earnings ($M)

6,597

5,668

16

108,300

101,800

6

Number of Employees

% Change

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 Acquires Scios, a biopharma firm focused on cardiovascular and antiinflammatory drug development. Receives FDA approval for Cypher stent, for clogged arteries; Cypher is immediately popular, but in July J&J informs doctors that some patients using the stent have developed blood clots.

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2002 Makes Working Mother’s list of the 100 best companies for working mothers. 2001 Buys Alza, which specializes in drug delivery systems, for $12.3 billion. Purchases Inverness Medical Technology’s diabetes unit, which makes blood glucose-monitoring systems for home and hospital use.

The Firms

1999 Acquires Centocor, a company that produces the rheumatoid arthritis drug Remicade. 1998 Acquires DePuy, a manufacturer of orthopedic products, for $3.7 million. 1994 Forms managed care division called Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems, Inc. 1989 Consolidates its consumer businesses to form Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc.

Insider Scoop The credo. J&J has a strong corporate identity that employees seem proud to

embrace. The company’s 60-year-old credo asserts J&J’s responsibility to its customers, employees, community, and stockholders. This commitment is “a high standard that everyone at the company sort of absorbs,” an insider says. Free rein. Employees don’t get micromanaged at Johnson & Johnson. “They

give you a lot of responsibility, really let you make decisions,” an insider says. “If I make a mistake, I don’t feel nervous, because they trust me, know my expertise.” The company shows its commitment to employee development through such enterprises as I-Lead, a leadership program designed to help staffers plot the career path that’s right for them. Diversity is a priority. Companies in the biotech and pharmaceutical fields have

recently been under pressure to diversify their workplaces. Many, including J&J, now have programs in place to promote the recruitment of minorities and women. But J&J seems to be having more than its share of success in this area.

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A recent article on DiversityInc.com reported that the company’s good reputation and familiar name have given it an advantage in attracting a more diverse group of employees.

The Firms

Getting Hired Johnson & Johnson hires scientists, engineers, and manufacturing technicians in many of its operating companies. On the corporate side, positions exist in finance, sales, marketing, and human resources. Except for corporate positions, J&J’s hiring is decentralized, so that each operating company conducts its own recruiting. Be sure you’ve explored all of the possibilities available before submitting your profile and resume. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Johnson & Johnson looks for

graduates in the following areas of study: engineering, finance and accounting, information management, human resources, marketing, operations, quality assurance, research and development, and sales. Recruiting for most positions in the United States is done through on-campus interviews at various universities. Because recruiting is decentralized inside the company, campus events and opportunities may not be listed on the website. Contact the division or company you are interested in directly to find out about openings. Johnson & Johnson’s co-op and internship positions have spring, fall, and summer terms and include full- and part-time opportunities. Candidates are selected based on academic background and work experience. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Johnson & Johnson is always interested

in experienced professionals in all divisions. Register with J&J’s Career Finder on the company recruiting website, https://opportunities.jnj.com/register.html, to search for new or soon-to-be-open positions that match your qualifications. J&J recruiters also attend career fairs nationwide, looking for excellent

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candidates. Check to see whether a fair is coming to your area at www.jnj.com/careers/epfair.html. Those interested in working for J&J abroad should contact the location they’re interested in working at directly.

The Firms

Recruiting Contacts Find out about opportunities for university students and upcoming Johnson & Johnson career fairs in your area at www.jnj.com/careers/epfair.html. Experienced professionals can register to apply for jobs online at https://opportunities.jnj.com/index.html.

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Merck & Co. The Firms

1 Merck Drive Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-0100 Phone: 908-423-1000 www.merck.com

Overview Among the world’s oldest pharmaceutical companies, Merck is known for doing things its own way. Unlike its larger competitors, who mostly license drugs from other companies, Merck tries to develop products at its own laboratories. Similarly, it likes to do its own research. Merck spends just 5 percent of its research budget outside the company, whereas other pharmaceutical firms outsource up to 80 percent of their research. One of Merck’s more dramatic recent successes is Crixivan, an HIV drug introduced in 1996. After 18 months on the market, the protease inhibitor cut AIDS-related deaths by 60 percent; and when used with two other HIV drugs, Crixivan significantly reduces the spread of the infection. Another blockbuster, an arthritis treatment called Vioxx, was released in 1999. Merck subsequently gained approval for the use of Vioxx to treat other kinds of pain, such as menstrual cramps. The release of two competing treatments—Pfizer’s Celebrex and Pharmacia’s Bextra—and reports of Vioxx’s possible cardiovascular risks have dampened sales. Currently, Merck’s biggest seller is Zocor, the cholesterol treatment. However, Zocor faces stiff competition from Pfizer’s Lipitor, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s

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Pravachol, and a new drug called Crestor from AstraZeneca. Meanwhile, a 2006 patent expiration date for Zocor could be bad news for Merck, which was already hit hard by the loss of patents for Vasotec and Pepcid in 2000 and Prinivil and Prilosec in 2002.

The Firms

Although Merck has some promising products in the pipeline, such as Zetia for cholesterol reduction, it does not have any near-term new blockbusters in development, and analysts say that Merck’s reluctance to rely on the licensing agreements so prevalent in the industry may be hurting the company, since the drug development process is so long and risky. The company has taken to using DNA chips to weed out drugs that are bound to fail when they reach human trials; it’s hoping to increase the efficiency of its R&D process in developing saleable drugs as a result. Insiders report that the bureaucracy at Merck can sometimes be challenging.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

Revenue ($M)

51,790

47,716

9

Earnings ($M)

7,150

7,282

-2

62,000

78,100

-21

Number of Employees

% Change

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 Makes Fortune’s lists of the 50 most desirable employers among MBAs and the 100 best companies to work for. Acquires Banyu Pharmaceutical of Japan. 2002 Signs technology license agreement with Celera Genomics to access its human and mouse genome databases. FDA approves new use of Vioxx for rheumatoid arthritis. Announces plans to spin off Medco Containment

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Services, a pharmacy benefits manager acquired in 1993, as a publicly traded company. 2000 Purchases Rosetta Inpharmatics, a genomic technology and research firm, for $634 million. Arthritis treatment Vioxx is released.

The Firms

1997 Merges animal-health division with the French company Rhone-Pulenc, securing Merck’s dominance over the veterinary market. 1996 HIV drug Crixivan is introduced.

Insider Scoop By the book. Given its long history, it’s no surprise that Merck’s a very

traditional place, with an entrenched culture that basically you either take to or you don’t. Merck has a reputation for snobbishness, so if the atmosphere of an exclusive club doesn’t appeal, you may fit in better elsewhere. Burnout. For entry-level employees, especially in the sales force, turnover is very

high. These energy-intensive positions seem to burn through new grads very quickly, insiders say. What’s more, compensation tends to be below the industry standard, with bonuses and other incentives varying among departments. Still, with heated competition for jobs in this industry, the company has a steady flow of new recruits vying for the jobs left behind by departing associates. Hit the wall. Insiders say it’s hard to move up the ladder at Merck, where heavy

bureaucracy means the individual successes of employees may not get noticed by the powers that be. One employee says, “Doing your job well can mean getting stuck in it indefinitely.”

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Getting Hired Merck expects that its recruiting in 2003 will focus on sales and R&D. The company places a lot of emphasis on person-organization fit—behavioral

The Firms

factors are extremely important in its evaluation of candidates. The hiring process is notoriously slow and intimidating—many weeks may pass between interview rounds, and the hiring decision usually takes at least two weeks after the final stage. Applicants who are serious about Merck should not get discouraged if they don’t hear back from the company right away. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Merck hires many recent college

and university graduates for jobs in sales, manufacturing, and research. Sales reps come from all disciplines, while science, engineering, or business degrees are typical among those hired in manufacturing. For jobs in research, candidates must have either a life-science or engineering degree. The company offers internships to undergraduates. The six-month program provides participants with a comprehensive introduction to the company, including the opportunity to work on projects in various divisions. MBAs are hired at Merck for positions in marketing and finance. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Merck encourages all experienced

candidates to apply. You can access hundreds of full-time job listings on the recruiting website. Also submit your profile to the online database; this will allow it to be searched by recruiters.

Recruiting Contacts Search and apply for jobs online at www.merck.com/careers/index.html.

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Novartis Corporation The Firms

608 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10020 Phone: 212-307-1122 www.novartis.com

Overview Novartis, which means “new arts,” is the sizable offspring of a 1996 merger that combined two Swiss pharmaceutical giants, Sandoz and Ciba. Since then, CEO Daniel Vasella has taken the company to new heights by incorporating ideas about drug development that he pioneered while running Sandoz. Drug development used to be thought of as a linear process that went from research to development to marketing. Vasella realized that better integration between these three phases would drastically increase efficiency. With that in mind, Novartis develops drugs in about two-thirds the time it takes the average company. During the past two years, the company has introduced nine new blockbusters—more than any other drug company. Its drugs focus on the following areas: cardiovascular/metabolism/endocrinology, oncology/hematology, central nervous system, transplantation/immunology, dermatology, respiratory, rheumatology/bone/hormone replacement therapy, and ophthalmics. In May 2002, Novartis announced plans to establish new research operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company hopes this new facility will help it gain greater access to the American drug market. The state-of-the-art center will conduct R&D related to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and infectious diseases.

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In June 2003, the FDA approved Xolair, an asthma drug developed by Novartis along with Genentech and Tanox, Inc. The drug has also been approved for sale in Australia. That same year, the company also received record-fast FDA approval for the blood cancer drug Gleevec, based on early stage data. And

The Firms

again in 2003 the company received good news (and good publicity) when the American College of Rheumatology released a study showing that Novartis’s Prexige outperforms Pfizer’s Celebrex on knee pain. Insiders report that the rapid organizational changes Novartis has undergone in recent years have resulted in a lack of a strong corporate culture and that teamwork isn’t as much a focus here as it is at some other pharmaceutical companies. On the other hand, insiders rave about the benefits they receive.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

Revenue ($M)

23,151

19,335

20

Earnings ($M)

5,224

4,239

23

n/a

71,116

n/a

Number of Employees

% Change

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 Acquires Idenix Pharmaceuticals, a biopharma company focused on drugs for viral and other infectious diseases. Acquires Enablex, an incontinence drug, from Pfizer. Settles legal battle with GlaxoSmithKline, agreeing to pay a royalty on any revenue it makes by selling generic versions of Glaxo’s patented antibiotic Augmentin. 2002 Files patent infringement suit against Abbott for its introduction of a generic version of the transplantation drug, Cyclosporine. Makes Working Mother’s list of the 100 best companies for working mothers. 2001 Gains FDA approval for Gleevec, a leukemia drug, after a three-month fast-track review. Buys 20 percent of Roche for $2.76 billion.

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2000 Makes an $800 million drug discovery and development deal with Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Acquires antiviral drugs Famvir and Denavir from SmithKline Beecham. Signs marketing agreement with Orion to develop triple combination therapy for Parkinson’s disease.

The Firms

1999 FDA approves Comtan to treat Parkinson’s disease. 1998 Transplantation therapy to prevent kidney rejection, Neoral, is cleared for marketing. 1996 Two Swiss companies, Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy, merge to form Novartis in a 21 billion euro deal.

Insider Scoop Seeking a cohesive culture. Novartis’s business has evolved so dramatically

within a short time that it seems to lack a strong corporate culture—something that takes time to cultivate. “It’s basically a typical big company that’s really quiet,” says an insider. “People are enclosed in their little offices and don’t go to each other unless they need help.” Another says, “Like most big companies, it isn’t really personal.” Membership has its rewards. Insiders rave about Novartis’s comprehensive

benefits plan, which is flexible enough to accommodate individual needs. The plan includes many perks intended to develop employee potential and create a closer community. As an insider says, “They arrange lectures, seminars, walking groups— really a lot of options. There are lots of social get-togethers to take advantage of.” Diversity still needs a boost. Insiders say the company could do more to

encourage diversity among its workers. Some departments are a little more mixed than others in terms of ethnic background—research and development is more integrated, while sales and marketing still lag behind. Women, in particular, are not well represented in many departments, particularly technical areas. An insider says, “On the [company] website, they make a big deal about diversity, but I definitely don’t see results around me yet.”

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Getting Hired Novartis is poised to conduct a major hiring blitz in 2003 in sales, with many positions also opening in other corporate divisions, such as information

The Firms

technology and R&D. Novartis plans to bring 400 researchers in to work at the Cambridge site beginning in the first quarter of 2003—most of these positions will be new hires. Around 60 to 100 people will be needed in informatics, and the other positions will be for biologists, array specialists, and chemists. At this extremely academic site, roles will be very specialized—opportunities for business folks will be limited. Depending on the position, the interview process might be spread out over several days. Human resources conducts initial interviews, and final rounds are usually with a panel of peers. Insiders say peer interviews are a good way to learn about the culture and expectations about the company—to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Novartis has few if any

internship programs for undergraduates. Submit your resume online and keep an eye on job postings listed on the website, but you may have to wait until later in your education or career before joining this company. On the other hand, Novartis actively seeks MBAs in all levels of marketing, finance, and human resources. Some positions require a scientific background. Its MBA development program is designed to expose participants to all aspects of the business, in preparation for management positions. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Experienced professionals with scientific

and nonscientific backgrounds can submit their resumes on the recruiting website.

Recruiting Contacts Find a list of job openings at http://www.novartis-recruiting.com:8080/index.asp. Apply online at http://www.novartis-recruiting.com:8080/formular1.asp?apptype=2.

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Pfizer, Inc. The Firms

235 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017-5755 Phone: 212-573-2323 www.pfizer.com

Overview With its recent merger with Pharmacia, Pfizer is now the largest Big Pharma company in the world. The merger adds a number of big drugs to Pfizer’s portfolio, including Celebrex (an arthritis drug it had co-promoted with Pharmacia), Genotropin (a human growth hormone replacement therapy), and Zyvox (an antibiotic). But Pfizer also knows how to develop drugs in-house. Indeed, the company spends more money every year on research and development (more than $5 billion a year) than any of its Big Pharma peers. And it plans to file some 20 new drugs for regulatory approval over the next five years. Probably its best-known drug is the impotency treatment Viagra, launched in 1998, which earned a recordbreaking $100 million in its first month and sold faster than any other new drug to hit the market. (Viagra revenue was $1.7 billion in 2002.) Pfizer’s R&D department, which is 12,000 people strong, specializes in infectious diseases, central nervous system disorders, diabetes, and allergies. (Drugs in its stable include Norvase, Cardura, Accupril, Zithromax, Zoloft, Neurontin, and Zyrtec.) In addition to pharmaceuticals, which make up about 90 percent of the company’s revenues, Pfizer also develops over-the-counter brands, including Visine, BenGay, Dentyne, Efferdent, and Zantac. It also boasts an animal-health division, which makes antiparasitic medicines and vaccines for livestock, and a

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capsule-manufacturing business. In order to concentrate on pharmaceuticals, Pfizer recently sold its Tetra fish care products business, its Adams confectionary products business, and its Schick-Wilkinson shaving products business, as well as several of its women’s health care product lines. It is also divesting

The Firms

the Pharmacia Diagnostics business. Pfizer has a fairly solid track record with its alliances and acquisitions. Its bestselling product, Lipitor, was licensed from Warner-Lambert in 1997. (Pfizer acquired Warner in 2000.) In terms of recent developments, Pfizer agreed in 2002 to collaborate with Eisai, Inc., to promote an anticonvulsant, Cerebyx. The two companies had already teamed up successfully in 1998 to promote Alzheimer’s treatment Aricept. With the merger with Pharmacia, Pfizer’s pipeline has some 120 chemical entities in development. The new company boasts 12 products on the market with annual revenues of more than $1 billion. The merger will necessitate restructuring at both companies. As the newly merged company evolves, Pfizer says it will hire steadily throughout R&D, as well as manufacturing and operations, finance, marketing, and informatics.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

Revenue ($M)

32,373

32,259

0

Earnings ($M)

9,126

7,788

17

98,000

90,000

9

Number of Employees

% Change

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

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Recent Milestones 2003 Makes Fortune’s lists of the 50 most desirable employers among MBAs and the 100 best companies to work for.

The Firms

2002 Agrees to collaborate with Eisai, Inc., to promote anticonvulsant drug Cerebyx. Makes Working Mother’s list of the 100 best companies for working mothers. Arthritis medication Celebrex reaches $3 billion in sales. Potential blockbuster Inspra, a blood pressure medication, is approved by the FDA. 2001 William Steere, Jr., retires as CEO and is succeeded by Henry McKinnell, PhD. Pfizer ends up in court when Warner-Lambert’s diabetes drug, Rezulin, is recalled from the market after being linked to liver damage in hundreds of patients, resulting in at least 63 deaths; the companies pay $43 million in settlements to an injured patient. 2000 Merges with Warner-Lambert, gaining cholesterol drug Lipitor and becoming one of the top-five drug makers in the world. 1999 Enters alliance with Pharmacia to market Celebrex, an arthritis treatment. 1998 Launches impotency drug, Viagra. 1997 Enters a marketing agreement with Warner-Lambert to promote Lipitor for cholesterol.

Insider Scoop Fast and furious. With the Warner-Lambert merger in the not-so-distant past,

and the Pharmacia acquisition a current event, most Pfizer insiders say they have seen the company become more business-driven and results-oriented. Depending on which division of the business they work in, insiders say the workload is hefty and timelines aggressive. Says one insider, “The work pace can be really grueling.” Power and prestige. Despite the high pressure some insiders toil under, they say

they respect the business strategy that has afforded Pfizer so much success. Insiders cite stability, name recognition, and corporate polish among the

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reasons they take pride in their company. Pfizer’s image is very professional, and the work its employees do is recognized and respected throughout the industry. Says one insider, “Pfizer tries to get the best bang for its buck—they don’t like wasting time.”

The Firms

Trust in R&D. Unlike other divisions, R&D’s work environment is reputed to be

a little bit less of a pressure cooker. “Management doesn’t put a lot of pressure on its [R&D] employees to get the product out the door or enforce a lot of showy productivity. The company puts a lot of trust in employees, gives them a lot of responsibility, allowing them to get a lot of exposure to different aspects of the industry,” says an insider.

Getting Hired As with all of the Big Pharma companies, it’s difficult to get Pfizer’s attention without knowing an inside contact. Insiders say that contract work is a common avenue through which to attain permanent employment. After initial screenings and possibly an interview with human resources, candidates meet regional and district managers. Across the divisions, the emphasis in the interview is on behavioral characteristics, because communication between departments is key to most positions. An insider says, “People need to be outgoing and not closed up in their shell.” Other qualities the company looks for, according to insiders, are open-mindedness and flexibility. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Pfizer has a strong campus

recruiting program, hiring students at colleges and universities across the United States for internships and full-time positions. Check the recruiting schedule at www.pfizer.com/are/careers/mn_campus_schedule.html to see if your school is involved. Pfizer has internships in R&D, marketing, finance, human resources, production, sales, and legal. To be considered for an

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internship, submit a resume online. Pfizer also has co-op positions in global research and development; they typically last six months and are chemistry- or biology-related. Paid chemistry and biology internships within global R&D are

The Firms

available to students with some experience within these fields. Pfizer hires many MBAs throughout its corporate organization. MBA graduates can apply for one of 12 to 15 summer associate positions, in which they complete assignments in shared financial services, operating divisions, investor relations, strategic planning, tax, and treasurers. Internships are also available with Pfizer Global Manufacturing. Most undergraduates who successfully apply to these positions have an academic background in chemical engineering, chemistry, environmental engineering, or industry pharmacy. There are also internships in pharmaceuticals group marketing; summer associates become part of a marketing team and complete assignments in an array of marketresearch or business-planning specialties. Additional information about the internships and the application process are available on the Pfizer website. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Pfizer periodically hires professionals

experienced in the sciences, marketing, business, technology, and other areas of expertise. Domestic and international opportunities are listed on the career website.

Recruiting Contacts Create your Pfizer profile and submit your resume online at www.pfizer.com/are/careers/index.html.

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Roche The Firms

340 Kingsland Street Nutley, NJ 07110 Phone: 973-235-5000 www.roche.com

Overview Roche began in 1896 as a medical supply company in Basel, Switzerland. In the 1950s and ’60s, Roche attained its leadership position in chemotherapy with Fluoro-uracil Roche. In 1963, it launched the still-popular benzodiazepine tranquilizer Valium. Roche’s most successful product, the antibiotic Rocephin, was introduced in 1982, outselling all other Roche products by 1987. In recent years, Roche has continued to focus on the development of cancer therapeutics as well as treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, AIDS, and other infectious diseases. Hepatitis C treatment Pegasys is approved in the United States. Roche is also licensing Fuzeon, the most clinically advanced in a new class of AIDS treatments, from Trimeris. Hoffman-LaRoche, Roche’s U.S. pharmaceuticals arm, is located in Nutley, New Jersey. Hoffman-LaRoche employs some 3,100 people in New Jersey and some 5,600 nationwide. Roche’s pipeline is brimming with various developments. It currently has more than 70 pharmaceutical projects in the development stage and more than 130 in various research stages. These numbers are due in part to its 2001 acquisition of Japanese pharmaceutical company Chugai, which specialized in the development

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of therapeutics for central nervous system, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and metabolic disorders. In addition, Roche’s fat pipeline can be attributed to its expansion into the diagnostics market, focusing primarily on genomics, blood screening, and virology. Roche is one of several biopharmaceutical companies trying

The Firms

to gain a stake in this growing field. Roche’s new source for genomics information— genetic factors linked to diseases—is Icelandic genetic firm DeCode, with which it made an R&D alliance. On the down side, Roche is facing legal battles due to side effects of its Accutane acne drug, which include birth defects and suicidal behavior. Insiders report that the company has a real team environment, and they rave about the compensation and benefits packages.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

% Change

Revenue ($M)

15,638

17,791

-12

Earnings ($M)

2,210

5,366

-59

63,717

64,758

-2

Number of Employees

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2002 Enters into three-year alliance with DeCode, an Icelandic genetic firm, to research and develop therapeutics for four undisclosed diseases. Hoffman-La Roche makes Working Mother’s list of the 100 best companies for working mothers. 2001 Enters collaborative agreement with Millennium USA to develop diagnostics products for rheumatoid arthritis. Acquires Japanese pharmaceutical company Chugai. 1999 Introduces breast cancer treatment Herceptin and flu treatment Tamiflu.

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1997 Acquires Boehringer Mannheim, increasing its presence in the diagnostic testing market. 1994 Buys Syntex Corporation, strengthening its position in international and U.S. pharmaceutical markets.

The Firms

1992 Introduces Hivid, the company’s first antiviral HIV drug. 1991 Roche buys Nicholas, a producer of nonprescription medications, and acquires PCR (polymerase chain reaction) from Cetus Corporation USA. PCR is used to detect minute amounts of genetic material and is instrumental in the development of better, more sensitive diagnostic tests.

Insider Scoop Team players. Insiders unanimously praise the people at Roche, describing peers

as “pleasant, humorous, and energetic.” Roche folks are team players, and teamwork is encouraged through management’s organization of work groups that bring together employees with complementary interests and skills. Keeping its people in style. Roche prides itself on offering a generous

compensation and benefits package to keep its people happy and motivated. Says one insider, “Not only is the salary generous, there’s also a bonus program.” Add to the cushy cash flow a benefits program that boasts fitness reimbursement, concierge service, and tuition reimbursement on top of a full set of health benefits. Building brainpower. Lots of companies tout their employee-development

programs to prospective hires, but insiders at Roche say that the programs are actually very helpful. The company frequently offers seminars and courses to help individuals determine their career goals and reach their full potential. Roche also makes aggressive efforts to promote from within, say insiders.

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Getting Hired Hiring at Roche is decentralized—U.S. sites include Boulder, Colorado; Florence, South Carolina; Indianapolis, Indiana; Nutley, New Jersey; and Palo Alto and

The Firms

Pleasanton, California. Roche employs a full spectrum of pharmaceutical research and production personnel, ranging from laboratory technicians and research scientists to chemical operators and engineers. Currently, its greatest needs are in the pharmaceutical production arena, specifically for chemical operators. Regardless of the position, Roche looks for employees who are self-motivated while demonstrating a capacity to work cooperatively in a team environment. Roche employees who have participated on peer interview teams advise candidates to hone their interpersonal skills before interviewing. No matter how smart and qualified a candidate may be, say insiders, if he or she isn’t open and personable, it’s a real obstacle, because the rapport between the other team members is so strong. A sense of humor is greatly valued, insiders add. Candidates who are passive during the interview and lack the easygoing manner favored by the company aren’t likely to get a position. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Roche offers an internship

program for juniors and seniors in the Palo Alto offices. Interns can work in biochemistry, cell biology, analytical chemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, bioinformatics, finance, human resources, IT, and administration. To apply for the internship program, send your application to [email protected]. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Experienced candidates should search

for openings by location. The recruiting website links to individual recruiting sections for each regional location, which lists job opportunities specific to that branch.

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Recruiting Contacts For a list of job openings and instructions on how to apply, go to www.rocheusa.com/career/index.asp.

The Firms

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Schering-Plough The Firms

2000 Galloping Hill Road Kenilworth, NJ 07033-0530 Phone: 908-298-4000 www.sch-plough.com

Overview Schering-Plough has ridden a wave of double-digit growth through the ’80s and ’90s with breakthrough developments covering a range of products—from antihistamines and corticosteroids to antibiotics, anti-infectives, and antiviral products. The company is highly diversified: Among the products it develops and markets are prescription drugs, animal health care treatments, over-thecounter (OTC) drugs (Afrin and Nasonex), foot care products (Dr. Scholls), and skin care products (Coppertone and Bain de Soleil). It has made the most money from its treatment of respiratory ailments including allergies and the development of anti-infective and anticancer medications—Claritin (an antihistamine) and Intron A (a genetically engineered treatment for hepatitis C) currently drive most of the company’s sales. Indeed, U.S. prescription Claritin sales accounted for 14 percent of the company’s revenue in 2002. But the news isn’t all good for Schering-Plough. The company is hoping to hold onto the market for Claritin by switching the drug to OTC status, but revenues from Claritin are down now that the drug is no longer sold by prescription. Simultaneously, Intron A’s performance has weakened due to strong competition from other drugs for hepatitis C. And the company is facing legal scrutiny due to alleged marketing misdeeds. Finally, the company

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has little in the way of promising new drugs about to reach the market. Indeed, the company’s projected earnings for 2003 are predicted to be half of 2002 earnings. Schering-Plough has enjoyed a string of acquisitions, alliances, and licensing agreements that have given it increasing stature and revenue streams. In 1997, it

The Firms

bought Mallinckrodt Inc.’s international veterinary health business for $405 million in order to gain a presence in the Pacific Rim and Latin America. In 1998, the company entered into a five-year research venture with Pharmacopoeia and then signed a $75 million deal with Immune Response Corporation to develop gene therapies for hepatitis C. In 1999, in partnership with ICN, a pharmaceutical company, it introduced a new combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C—called Rebetron, a formulation of antiviral agent Ribavirin, for which Schering-Plough holds exclusive licensing rights. And the list goes on. The company got into a bit of hot water in May 2002, when the FDA opened a criminal investigation on at least one of the company’s animal health care products manufactured in Puerto Rico. It ultimately agreed to pay a $500 million settlement (the highest monetary settlement in FDA history). As an added measure to resolve quality control issues, the company said it would suspend manufacturing of some animal-health products at its Puerto Rico plant. Schering-Plough was the subject of merger rumors in 2003—with Merck as the potential acquirer of the company—but Merck decided against the transaction.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

% Change

Revenue ($M)

10,180

9,802

4

Earnings ($M)

1,974

1,943

2

30,500

29,800

2

Number of Employees

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

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Recent Milestones 2003 Merck decides against acquiring Schering-Plough.

The Firms

2002 Makes Working Mother’s list of the 100 best companies for working mothers. 2001 Enters into collaboration with COR and Genentech to market Integrilin Injection, TNKase, and Activase, for treatment of stroke and myocardial infarction. FDA approves Clarinex for treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis, Rebetol for use with Intron A against chronic hepatitis C, and PEG-Intron for chronic hepatitis C. 2000 Enters agreement with Merck to develop new cholesterol-management and respiratory therapies. Enters marketing agreement with BristolMyers Squibb to promote Tequin for respiratory infections. 1999 Acquires Bain de Soleil Sun Care Line from Pfizer. FDA approves Temodar for refractory anaplastic astrocytoma.

Getting Hired Schering-Plough is continually on the lookout for candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting, business administration, communications, finance, human resources, information technology, law, marketing, natural or physical science, pharmacy, technical operations, and veterinary science. The company conducts campus recruiting at a number of colleges and universities; interested students can check with their career center to find out whether their school participates. Among Schering-Plough’s community outreach programs are six summer programs affiliated with various divisions, including pharmaceutical sales, scientific research, and computer operations. Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Schering-Plough has an MBA

summer intern program, which lasts ten to 12 weeks. Interns are assigned projects with specific deliverables, receive mentor guidance, and attend seminars and meetings. At the end of the program, interns who have done extremely

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well may be eligible for management associate positions. The management associate position, which usually spans one year, prepares the candidate for senior-level management positions at Schering-Plough. These one-year stints are found in marketing, finance, human resources, and manufacturing and

The Firms

technical operations. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Professionals from a variety of

backgrounds are encouraged to look for openings that match their skills on Schering-Plough’s recruiting website.

Recruiting Contacts Interested in applying at Schering-Plough? You can read up on how to apply as well as submit your resume at www.whatdrivesyou.com/index.html.

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Wyeth The Firms

5 Giralda Farms Madison, NJ 07940-0874 Phone: 973-660-5000 www.wyeth.com

Overview Wyeth has been around since the 1860s, but the former drugstore has since morphed into a research laboratory and finally a pharmaceutical and household products giant that swallows up or joins forces with a diverse range of developers and manufacturers as a means to diversify and broaden its product range, a strategy that’s been in place since the 1940s. In 1943, Wyeth—known as American Home Products until March 2002—acquired six companies, which turned out, among other things, household goods, food, and medical supplies. It’s only been in the last ten years that the company has begun to really focus on three major divisions: the prescription pharmaceuticals and vaccines division, which now earns Wyeth some 80 percent of its revenues; over-thecounter products (Advil, Centrum, Dimetapp, Preparation H); and animal health and veterinary medicine. Immunex, for example, was acquired in 1993 to bolster the pharma division. Wyeth’s two bestsellers have been its hormone replacement therapy drugs, Premarin (estrogen) and Prempro (estrogen and progesterone), which earned a combined $2.1 billion in 2001 alone. But a study conducted by the Women’s Health Initiative in August 2002 raised a red flag for Premarin, the most widely prescribed drug in America, with three million women taking it daily; it was

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found to be associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and blood clots. The company has also taken heat for having paid Robert Wilson, the doctor who wrote the hormone replacement therapy bible Feminine Forever, to plug the drug.

The Firms

Part of what’s keeping Wyeth strong is that it has patents in place for another seven or eight years, thus providing insulation against competition from generic drugs. In 2003, Wyeth won FDA approval for Effexor, an anxiety medication. As for what it’s like to work at Wyeth, insiders report that the company follows a strong code of ethics and provides a generous range of benefits to its employees.



Key Numbers 2002

2001

Revenue ($M)

14,584

14,129

3

Earnings ($M)

4,447

2,285

95

52,762

52,289

1

Number of Employees

% Change

Source: Hoovers.com; WetFeet analysis.

Recent Milestones 2003 Wyeth and Amgen submit Enbrel, a psoriasis drug, to the FDA for approval. Receives FDA approval for Effexor, an anxiety medication. 2002 Changes name to Wyeth, after its ancestor, the Philadelphia drug store John Wyeth and Brother, which opened in 1860. 2001 Agrees to sell its 41 percent share in Immunex to Amgen and take an 8 percent share in Amgen in exchange. 2000 Sells Cyanamid Agricultural Products to BASF in order to focus on pharmaceuticals, biotech, and consumer health. FDA approves diphtheria vaccine Prevnar. 1998 FDA approves Immunex drug Enbrel for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

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1993 Launches Effexor, the first serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant. Acquires a 41 percent share in Immunex.

The Firms

1991 Introduces the first diphtheria/tetanus/acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine available in the United States.

Insider Scoop Enron we’re not. Insiders say one of the company’s strongest values has to do

with ethical conduct and “respecting each other.” This, in turn, has a strong positive effect on the personal direction and demeanor of each employee. Says one insider, “The mission of Wyeth really encompasses the whole makeup and feel of the company. It makes me feel like I’m a part of something bigger, something that’s great. And it feels like we’re all working together.” Insiders describe themselves and their coworkers as enthusiastic, team-oriented, and aggressive. The kind of people who fit in at Wyeth are “self-motivated gogetters,” adds one insider. All in the family. Wyeth’s generous benefits policy is especially attractive to

families. “The benefits are some of the greatest around,” says one insider. “Wyeth takes care of not only me, but of my spouse and my kids as well.” Employee retention is high at Wyeth because it makes every effort to take care of its people—not just with a large array of benefits, but with compensation and training as well.

Getting Hired Wyeth is currently hiring chemists, biologists, and engineers for its R&D division. In manufacturing, a number of openings will be available for technicians and quality assurance scientists. Information technology and sales will also be recruiting. Wyeth’s divisions conduct hiring independently from its corporate headquarters.

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Opportunities for undergraduates and MBAs. Wyeth has a summer internship

program for continuing undergraduate students. Interns must have completed their freshman year of college to be eligible. The company also has a cooperative education program in logistics and information technology,

The Firms

available to those who have completed undergraduate requirements in these fields. There is also a 12-week summer internship program for MBAs in areas such as marketing, strategic product development, marketing analysis and research, and e-business and business development. This program is designed to feed into Wyeth’s MBA rotational program, which accepts MBA graduates from top universities for a 36-month introduction to a leadership role at the company. This program was put into place to groom standout hires for future senior management positions. Opportunities for midcareer candidates. Wyeth hires experienced professionals

as needed. Interested candidates can conduct a job search online for each of Wyeth’s respective divisions: corporate, pharmaceutical and research, and consumer health care.

Recruiting Contacts For more information on job opportunities and to apply online, go to http://jobsearch.wyethpharma.newjobs.com.

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