Other stocks in the drug group rose in response to this offer.

"Our thinking is, well, that's one less drug group out there," he said.

"Schering-Plough has always sold at a premium to the market and to the drug group," he said.

Merck rose 1, to 68 5/8, in an otherwise restrained drug group.

The drug group is now up 18 percent since Oct. 8.

Were case-fatality rates as expected and similar across drug groups?

Pain declined 26% in the drug group over the study.

Headache was the most common side effect reported in the drug group.

The market in general was much less vibrant yesterday than the drug group.

Now there are designer drugs for several alternative drug groups.