The ceo is struggling with more than a few challenges - a less-than-stellar pipeline, criticism over the $15.6 billion price tag for MedImmune and this week’s resignation by cfo Jon Symonds. Brennan, of course, displays a stiff upper lip to Bloomberg News. Here are his thoughts on a few pertinent matters….

· On being called an overeager spendthrift:

“We haven’t put a dollar limit on what else we think we can do. We’re interested in late-stage opportunities in a number of areas.”

· On missing Symonds, who he edged out for the ceo spot in 2005:

“Jon and I have a good relationship and I recognize he had potential to take on other good opportunities. It’s a change of our CFO, but we changed strategy last year and now we’re in execution mode. It’s business as usual. We’ve got a lot to get done.”

· On looking on the bright side:

“Our strong point is our credit rating. Our credit rating needs to remain good, and we’ve met with agencies to ensure that.”

· On calling the glass half full:

“We need to be a company that is viewed as being able to deliver on the promise of the pipeline, the promise of the science. Our future success will be driven by our research and development productivity, it will be driven by science and innovation.”