Merck & Co.

Merck & Co. is a leading global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. It discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of health care products, including innovative prescription drugs, vaccines, and biologic therapies for both human and animal health. The company is known for its significant contributions to medicine, including pioneering work in vaccinology, oncology, and infectious diseases, and is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

History

The company's origins trace back to 1891 when George Merck, grandson of the founder of the German Merck Group, established an American subsidiary in New York City. During World War I, the U.S. assets were confiscated under the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917, leading to the establishment of an independent American company incorporated in New Jersey in 1917. A pivotal early achievement was the 1933 commercialization of vitamin B12, developed by Karl August Folkers. Post-World War II, major breakthroughs included the 1944 mass production of penicillin and the 1948 introduction of cortisone. The 1953 merger with Philadelphia-based Sharp & Dohme significantly expanded its research and marketing capabilities, leading to the development of the first measles vaccine in 1963. Landmark products in subsequent decades included the first statins like lovastatin (Mevacor) in 1987 and the protease inhibitor indinavir (Crixivan) for HIV/AIDS in 1996. The 2009 merger with Schering-Plough was a transformative event, greatly expanding its portfolio and pipeline.

Products and research

The company maintains a robust pipeline focused on key therapeutic areas such as oncology, vaccines, infectious diseases, and cardiology. Its Keytruda (pembrolizumab), an immunotherapy for various cancers, has become a foundational treatment in modern oncology and a major revenue driver. In vaccinology, it markets the HPV vaccine Gardasil and a vaccine for Ebola virus disease. Other significant products include the diabetes medications Januvia (sitagliptin) and Janumet, and the hepatitis C treatment Zepatier (elbasvir/grazoprevir). Its research division, Merck Research Laboratories, operates major facilities in Kenilworth, Boston, and the San Francisco Bay Area, and maintains numerous collaborations with academic institutions like the University of Oxford and biotechnology firms. The company is also a leader in animal health through its Merck Animal Health division.

Corporate affairs

The company is organized into two primary segments: Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. It operates manufacturing and research facilities globally, with significant sites in West Point, Elkton, and Durham. Its executive leadership is based at its headquarters in Rahway, New Jersey, within the state's prominent pharmaceutical corridor. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MRK and is consistently ranked among the world's largest pharmaceutical companies by revenue. It engages in extensive philanthropy, notably through the Merck Foundation, and has partnerships with global health organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on initiatives for diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria.

Controversies and litigation

The company has faced significant legal and ethical challenges. It was a major defendant in litigation concerning the painkiller Vioxx (rofecoxib), which was withdrawn in 2004 over cardiovascular risks, resulting in a multi-billion dollar settlement. It has also been involved in disputes over patent protections for key drugs like Fosamax (alendronate) and Keytruda. The company has settled allegations regarding the marketing of several drugs, including Vioxx and Zetia (ezetimibe), with the U.S. Department of Justice under the False Claims Act. Other controversies have involved pricing of HIV/AIDS drugs in developing nations, environmental violations at manufacturing plants, and lawsuits related to injuries allegedly caused by the HPV vaccine Gardasil.

See also

* Pharmaceutical industry in the United States * List of largest pharmaceutical companies * History of pharmacy * Drug development

Category:Pharmaceutical companies of the United States Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Category:Companies based in Middlesex County, New Jersey Category:1891 establishments in New York (state)