That's still a paltry sum, especially since it's split with Schering-Plough, which invented the drug and is co-marketing it.

FORBES: Magazine Article

That won't stop many analysts from speculating that the real purpose of the Medco divestment is to create a massive war chest that Merck will use to buy new drugs--or perhaps to merge with another drug firm like Schering-Plough (nyse: SGP - news - people), with which it co-promotes several drugs, or Eli Lilly (nyse: LLY - news - people).

FORBES: Magazine Article

Moreover, insurance companies have raised the co-pays on prescription antihistamines since Schering-Plough (nyse: SGP - news - people ) began selling its Claritin over the counter.

FORBES: Merck's Allergy Bet Paying Off