Merck extends deadline for talks on Dutch Organon closures

AMSTERDAM Dec 17 (Reuters) - U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co Inc (MRK.N) said on Friday it has further postponed the closure of some of its Dutch operations pending discussions about possible alternatives, including a sale of the R&D site.

The initial deadline of December 31 has now been extended to mid-February, Merck said in a statement, giving the various parties involved extra time to consider alternatives for two facilities which were previously part of Organon BioSciences in the Netherlands.

Merck agreed in September to postpone the closure of some of its Dutch operations, averting a court hearing in which Organon employees planned to block the closures. [ID:nLDE6810AB] (Reporting by Sara Webb; Editing by Mike Nesbit)