Merck faces challenges with growth and is expected to pursue cost efficiencies, mergers and acquisitions with other large pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, midsize pharmaceutical players, and generics manufacturers. Any new products must be carefully launched and marketed to avoid controversial safety issues like those with Vioxx. Regulatory bodies should be provided drug samples for testing after the drug's effects have been thoroughly evaluated in-house to avoid approval delays for future drugs. Merck may also seek to extend product patent durations where possible.