{{Short description|American multinational pharmaceutical company}} {{distinguish|text=the Merck Group (Merck KGaA), a distinct but historically related company based in Germany}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox company | name = Merck & Co., Inc. | logo = 200px<br />155px | image = Merck office Upper Gwynedd Township Montgomery County.jpg | image_caption = Merck's branch office campus in Upper Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania | logo_caption = The current Merck & Co. logo, designed by Steff Geissbühler of Chermayeff & Geismar in 1992. "MERCK" trade name is used in U.S. and Canada (top); outside these countries "MSD" is used (bottom). | logo_size = | type = Public | traded_as = {{ubl|{{NYSE|MRK}}|DJIA component|S&P 100 component|S&P 500 component}} | industry = Pharmaceuticals | founders = {{ubl|Theodore Weicker|George Merck}} | founded = {{ubl| {{Start date and age|1891|1}}, as a subsidiary of Merck |{{start date and age|1917}}, as an independent company }} | location = Rahway, New Jersey, U.S. | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = {{plainlist| * Robert M. Davis (chairman, president and CEO) * Caroline Litchfield (CFO) * Dean Y. Li (president, Merck Research Laboratories)}} | products = {{hlist|Pharmaceuticals|generic drugs|over-the-counter drugs|vaccines|diagnostics|Veterinary medicine}} | revenue = {{Increase}} {{US$|65.01 billion|link=yes}} (2025) | operating_income = {{Increase}} US$21.22 billion (2025) | net_income = {{Increase}} US$18.25 billion (2025) | assets = {{Increase}} US$136.9 billion (2025) | equity = {{Increase}} US$52.61 billion (2025) | num_employees = {{circa|75,000}} (2025) | website = {{ubl|{{URL|merck.com}} (US & Canada)|{{URL|msd.com}} (international)}} | footnotes = <ref name=10K>{{cite web | url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000310158/000031015826000063/mrk-20251231.htm | title=Merck & Co., Inc. 2025 Form 10-K Annual Report | publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | date=February 24, 2026}}</ref> }} '''Merck & Co., Inc.''' is an American multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. The company does business as '''Merck Sharp & Dohme''' or '''MSD''' outside the United States and Canada. The company is ranked fifth on the list of largest biomedical companies by revenue.
The company's revenues are primarily from cancer treatments, vaccines, and animal health products. In 2024, 46% of the company's revenue, or $29.5 billion, came from sales of Keytruda (pembrolizumab), a PD-1 inhibitor used to treat various types of cancers, and 13% of the company's revenue, or $8.6 billion, came from sales of Gardasil, an HPV vaccine.<ref name=10K/> In addition, 9% of the company's revenue, or $5.8 billion, came from the sales of animal health products.<ref name=10K/>
The company is ranked 65th on the ''Fortune'' 500<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fortune.com/company/merck/ | title=Fortune 500: Merck & Co. | publisher=Fortune}}</ref> and 76th on the ''Forbes'' Global 2000.<ref>{{cite web | title=Forbes Global 2000: Merck & Co. | url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/merck-co/ | work=Forbes}}</ref>
In 1891, Merck & Co. was established as the American affiliate of the Merck Group, founded by the Merck family, and the companies are still in trademark disputes in several countries over the right to use the name "Merck".
==History== ===Roots and early history=== {{Main|Merck Group}}
[[File:ENGEL APHOTHEKE.png|thumb|The Angel Pharmacy in Darmstadt, the beginning of the Merck Group]] Merck & Co. traces its origins to its former German parent company the Merck Group, which was established by the Merck family in 1668 when Friedrich Jacob Merck purchased a pharmacy in Darmstadt.<ref name="keyfacts" /><ref name="Nonmarket">{{Cite book | last1=Voinea | first1=Cosmina Lelia | last2=Kranenburg | first2=Hans Van |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OggqDwAAQBAJ&q=Merck%20&pg=PA134 | title=Nonmarket Strategic Management | date=July 14, 2017 | publisher=Taylor & Francis | isbn=978-1-317-42173-3}}</ref> In 1827, Merck Group evolved from a pharmacy to a drug manufacturer company with the commercial manufacture of morphine.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://heroin.palmbeachpost.com/history-of-heroin/ | title=The history of heroin: From King Tut to cough remedy | work=The Palm Beach Post | date=June 28, 2018}}</ref> Merck perfected the chemical process of deriving morphine from opium and later introduced cocaine, used to treat sinus problems and to add to beverages to boost energy levels.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.statnews.com/2017/10/29/opioid-epidemic-shares-chilling-similarities-with-past-drug-crises/ | title=Opioid epidemic shares chilling similarities with past drug crises | agency=Associated Press | publisher=Stat | date=October 29, 2017}}</ref>
In 1887 a German-born, long-time Merck employee, Theodore Weicker, went to the United States to represent Merck Group.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lillard |first=Benjamin |title=Practical Druggist and Pharmaceutical Review of Reviews |publisher=Lillard & Company |year=1908 |location=New York |page=375 |language=en}}</ref> In 1891, with $200,000 received from E. Merck, Weicker started Merck & Co., with headquarters in lower Manhattan. That year George Merck, the 23-year-old son of the then head of E. Merck (and grandson of the founder) joined Weicker in New York.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eZkaMjTzBdcC&q=theodore+weicker&pg=PA395 | title=The History of Foreign Investment in the United States to 1914 | isbn=978-0-674-39666-1 | last=Wilkins | first=Mira | year=1989| publisher=Harvard University Press }}</ref><ref name="keyfacts" /><ref name="Nonmarket" /> Merck & Co. operated from 1891 to 1917 as the US subsidiary of the Merck Group.<ref name="Nonmarket" />
===Nationalization=== After the U.S. entered World War I, due to its German connections, Merck & Co. was the subject of expropriation under the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Colditz |first=Graham A. |title=The SAGE Encyclopedia of Cancer and Society |publisher=SAGE Publications |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-4833-4574-1 |edition=2nd |location=Los Angeles, CA |page=758 |language=en}}</ref> The government seized 80 percent of the shares owned by the German parent company and sold it.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hawthorne |first=Fran |title=The Merck Druggernaut: The Inside Story of a Pharmaceutical Giant |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2003 |isbn=0-471-22878-8 |location=Hoboken, NJ |page=23 |language=en}}</ref> In 1919, George F. Merck (head of the American branch of the Merck family), in partnership with Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers, bought the company back at a U.S. government auction for $3.5 million, but Merck & Co. remained a separate company from its former German parent.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/this_month_in_1917_a_tale_of_two_mercks_560187 | title=This month in 1917: A tale of two Mercks | publisher=PM Live | date=April 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.goldmansachs.com/our-firm/history/moments/1919-merck-and-co.html | title=With Merck & Co. Offering, Goldman Sachs Emerges from the Shadow of World War I | publisher=Goldman Sachs}}</ref> Merck & Co. holds the trademark rights to the "Merck" name in the United States and Canada, while its former parent company retains the rights in the rest of the world; the right to use the Merck name was the subject of litigation between the two companies in 2016.<ref name="Wrangle">{{cite news | url=https://www.genengnews.com/news/legal-wrangle-pits-merck-vs-merck/ | title=Legal Wrangle Pits Merck vs. Merck | website=genengnews.com | date=January 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/another-round-merck-vs-merck-german-based-merck-kgaa-notches-a-win-u-k | title=In another round of Merck vs. Merck, Germany-based Merck KGaA notches a win in the U.K. | first=Beth Snyder | last=Bulik | magazine= Fierce Pharma | date=June 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/germanys-merck-kgaa-wins-battle-over-name-in-u-k-1452889524 | title=Germany's Merck KGaA Wins Battle Over Name in U.K. | first=Ulrike | last=Dauer | work=The Wall Street Journal | url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="Fight" />
In 1925, George W. Merck succeeded his father George F. Merck as president. In 1927, the corporation merged with the Powers-Weightman-Rosengarten Company, a Philadelphia quinine manufacturer. George Merck remained president and Frederic Rosengarten became chairman of the board.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.merck.com/company-overview/history/ |title=Our History: 1925 |date=1891 |publisher=Merck & Co., Inc. |location=Rahway, New Jersey |access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1955/10/30/92644412.pdf |title=F. Rosengarten of Merck Co. Dies: Retired Chairman of Makers of Pharmaceuticals Headed Hospital in Philadelphia |date=October 30, 1955 |page=88 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref> In 1929, H. K. Mulford Company merged with Sharp and Dohme, Inc. and brought vaccine technology, including immunization of cavalry horses in World War I and delivery of a diphtheria antitoxin to Merck & Co.
In 1943, streptomycin was discovered during a Merck-funded research program in Selman Waksman's laboratory at Rutgers University. It became the first effective treatment for tuberculosis. At the time of its discovery, sanatoriums for the isolation of tuberculosis-infected people were a ubiquitous feature of cities in developed countries, with 50% dying within 5 years of admission.<ref name="kingston04">{{cite journal | author=Kingston W |title=Streptomycin, Schatz v. Waksman, and the balance of credit for discovery |journal=J Hist Med Allied Sci |volume=59 |issue=3 |pages=441–62 | date=July 2004 |pmid=15270337 |doi= 10.1093/jhmas/jrh091|s2cid=27465970 }}</ref><ref>Antibacterial Agents. Chemistry, Mode of Action, Mechanisms of Resistance, and Clinical Applications. Anderson RJ, Groundwater PJ, Todd A, Worsely AJ. Wiley (2012). {{ISBN|9780470972458}} See Preface material.</ref> Although Merck's agreement with Rutgers gave it exclusive rights to streptomycin, at Waksman's request the company renegotiated the agreement, returning the rights to the university in exchange for a royalty. The university then set up non-exclusive licenses with seven companies to ensure a reliable supply of the antibiotic.<ref name="ppaw">{{cite conference |title=Post-Penicillin Antibiotics: From Acceptance to Resistance? |url=https://archive.org/details/postpenicillinan00witn |conference=A Witness Seminar held at the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, London |editor-last=Tansey |editor-first=E.M. |editor2-last=Reynolds |editor2-first=L.A. |publisher=Wellcome Trust |place=London |year=2000 |isbn=978-184129-012-6 |url-access=registration }}</ref>
===1950–2000=== In the 1950s, thiazide diuretics were developed by Merck scientists Karl H. Beyer, James M. Sprague, John E. Baer, and Frederick C. Novello<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Beyer KH |title=Chlorothiazide. How the thiazides evolved as antihypertensive therapy |journal=Hypertension |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=388–91 |year=1993 |pmid=8349332 |doi= 10.1161/01.hyp.22.3.388|doi-access=free }}</ref> and led to the marketing of the first drug of this class, chlorothiazide, under the trade name Diuril in 1958.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104020628/http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/|archive-date=November 4, 2016|title=Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs|website=www.accessdata.fda.gov|access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref> The research leading to the discovery of chlorothiazide, leading to "the saving of untold thousands of lives and the alleviation of the suffering of millions of victims of hypertension" was recognized by a special Public Health Award from the Lasker Foundation in 1975.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://laskerfoundation.org/all-awards-winners/|title=All Awards & Winners|first=Mark|last=Hofschneider|website=Lasker Foundation|access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref>
In 1953, Merck & Co. merged with Philadelphia-based Sharp & Dohme, Inc., becoming the largest U.S. drugmaker. Sharp and Dohme had acquired H. K. Mulford Company in 1929, adding smallpox vaccines to its portfolio.<ref>{{Cite book | last1=Galambos | first1=Louis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b8WaKnyfRFIC&q=merck%20and%20co%201929%20vaccine&pg=PA28 | title=Networks of Innovation: Vaccine Development at Merck, Sharp and Dohme, and Mulford, 1895–1995 | last2=Sewell | first2=Jane Eliot | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn=978-0-521-62620-0 | date=August 13, 1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1=Esparza | first1=José | last2=Lederman | first2=Seth | last3=Nitsche | first3=Andreas | last4=Damaso | first4=Clarissa R. |title=Early smallpox vaccine manufacturing in the United States: Introduction of the "animal vaccine" in 1870, establishment of "vaccine farms", and the beginnings of the vaccine industry | journal=Vaccine | date=June 2020 | volume=38 | issue=30 | pages=4773–4779 | doi=10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.05.037 |pmid=32473878 | pmc=7294234 | doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1=Schrick | first1=Livia |last2=Tausch |first2=Simon H. | last3=Dabrowski | first3=P. Wojciech |last4=Damaso |first4=Clarissa R. | last5=Esparza | first5=José |last6=Nitsche |first6=Andreas |title=An Early American Smallpox Vaccine Based on Horsepox |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |date=12 October 2017 |volume=377 |issue=15 |pages=1491–1492 |doi=10.1056/NEJMc1707600 |pmid=29020595 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Esparza |first1=José |last2=Lederman |first2=Seth |last3=Nitsche |first3=Andreas |last4=Damaso |first4=Clarissa R. |title=Early smallpox vaccine manufacturing in the United States: Introduction of the "animal vaccine" in 1870, establishment of "vaccine farms", and the beginnings of the vaccine industry |journal=Vaccine |date=19 June 2020 |volume=38 |issue=30 |pages=4773–4779 |doi=10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.05.037 |pmid=32473878 |pmc=7294234 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,935871,00.html | title=CORPORATIONS: Merck's Merger | magazine=Time | date=March 16, 1953}}</ref><ref name="keyfacts">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/03/business/key-facts-about-merck.html | title=Key Facts About Merck | agency=Associated Press | work=The New York Times | date= November 3, 2005 | url-access=limited}}</ref> The combined company kept the trade name Merck in the United States and Canada, and as Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) outside this two countries.<ref name="Fight" />
In 1965, Merck & Co. acquired Charles Frosst Ltd. of Montreal (founded 1899), creating Merck-Frosst Canada, Inc., as its Canadian subsidiary and pharmaceutical research facility. Merck & Co. closed this facility in July 2010 but remerged in 2011 as Merck Canada.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.cheminst.ca/magazine/article/then-and-now-7/ | title=Then and Now | work=Chemical Institute of Canada | date=November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/business/article/833712--montreal-plant-among-17-closed-by-drugmaker-merck | work=Toronto Star | title=Montreal plant among 17 closed by drugmaker Merck | date=July 8, 2010}}</ref>
Maurice Hilleman, a scientist at Merck, developed the first mumps vaccine in 1967,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/mumps |title=Mumps—History of Vaccines | publisher=College of Physicians of Philadelphia}}</ref> the first rubella vaccine in 1969,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/rubella |title=Rubella |publisher=College of Physicians of Philadelphia |access-date=2021-05-09 |archive-date=2021-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501040150/https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/rubella }}</ref> and the first trivalent measles, mumps, rubella (MMR vaccine) in 1971.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.historyofvaccines.org/timeline/measles | title=1971-MMR Combination Vaccine Debuts | publisher=College of Physicians of Philadelphia | access-date=2021-05-09 | archive-date=2016-04-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410063348/http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/timelines/measles }}</ref> The incidence of rubella-associated birth defects fell from up to 10,000 per year in the U.S. to zero in the aftermath of the rubella vaccine's development.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php?title=Abnormal_Development_-_Rubella_Virus |title=Abnormal Development – Rubella Virus}}</ref> Hilleman also developed the first Hepatitis B vaccine and the first varicella vaccine, for chickenpox.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.historyofvaccines.org/timeline#EVT_100763 | title=Chickenpox: Attenuated Strain Licensed in U.S. | access-date=2021-05-09 | archive-date=2017-06-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606213421/https://www.historyofvaccines.org/timeline#EVT_100763 }}</ref>
The company was incorporated in New Jersey in 1970. John J. Horan became CEO and Chairman in 1976, serving until 1985.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Segal |first=David |date=2011-01-28 |title=John Horan, Former Chief of Merck, Dies at 90 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/business/28horan.html |access-date=2022-06-28 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Under his leadership, the company's investment in R&D grew threefold, and Merck became the largest pharmaceutical company in the world.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=20th Century Leaders - Leadership - Harvard Business School |url=https://www.hbs.edu/leadership/20th-century-leaders/Pages/default.aspx?LocalFacet2=Columbia%20University%20-%20Undergraduate&LocalFacet2=Columbia%20College%20-%20Undergraduate&LocalFacet2=Columbia%20University%20-%20Graduate |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=www.hbs.edu}}</ref>
In 1979, Merck scientists developed lovastatin (''Mevacor''), the first drug of the statin class.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.merck.com/company-overview/|title=About us|website=Merck.com|access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref>
Merck scientist William C. Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura developed ivermectin for veterinary use in 1981, and later put it to human use against onchocerciasis in 1987–1988 with the name Mectizan; today the compound is also used against lymphatic filariasis, scabies and other parasitic infections.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2015/press-release/ | title=The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has today decided to award the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | work=Nobel Prize | date=October 5, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/10/05/national/science-health/japanese-microbiologist-satoshi-omura-shares-nobel-prize-medicine/ |title=Japanese microbiologist Satoshi Omura shares Nobel Prize for medicine | work=The Japan Times |date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
In 1982, the company formed a joint venture, KBI Inc., with AstraZeneca.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/310158/000031015815000005/R16.htm | title=Joint Ventures and Other Equity Method Affiliates | publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | date=December 31, 2014}}</ref> During the late 1980s and 1990s, the company also established joint ventures with DuPont to access research and development expertise, and with Johnson & Johnson to sell over-the-counter consumer medications.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}
In 1985, Merck received approval for imipenem, the first member of the carbapenem class of antibiotics. Antibiotics of the carbapenem class play an important role in treatment guidelines for certain hospital-acquired and multi-drug resistant infections.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Diagnosis and Management of Complicated Intra-abdominal Infection in Adults and Children: Guidelines by the Surgical Infection Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America |year=2010 |pmid=20034345 |last1=Solomkin |first1=J. S. |last2=Mazuski |first2=J. E. |last3=Bradley |first3=J. S. |last4=Rodvold |first4=K. A. |last5=Goldstein |first5=E. J. |last6=Baron |first6=E. J. |last7=O'Neill |first7=P. J. |last8=Chow |first8=A. W. |last9=Dellinger |first9=E. P. |last10=Eachempati |first10=S. R. |last11=Gorbach |first11=S. |last12=Hilfiker |first12=M. |last13=May |first13=A. K. |last14=Nathens |first14=A. B. |last15=Sawyer |first15=R. G. |last16=Bartlett |first16=J. G. |journal=Clinical Infectious Diseases |volume=50 |issue=2 |pages=133–164 |doi=10.1086/649554 |doi-access=free }}</ref> P. Roy Vagelos became CEO and Chairman that year, succeeding Horan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nichols |first=Nancy A. |date=1994-11-01 |title=Medicine, Management, and Mergers: An Interview with Merck's P. Roy Vagelos |work=Harvard Business Review |url=https://hbr.org/1994/11/medicine-management-and-mergers-an-interview-with-mercks-p-roy-vagelos |access-date=2022-06-28 |issn=0017-8012}}</ref> Vagelos served until reaching the company's mandatory retirement age in 1994, succeeded by Raymond Gilmartin.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Abramson |first=John |title=Sickening: How Big Pharma Broke American Health Care and How We Can Repair It |date=2022 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-1-328-95781-8 |pages=96–97}}</ref>
In 1991, Merck's Kelco subsidiary was responsible for volatile organic compound (VOC) emission pollution in the San Diego area. In 1996 Merck paid $1.8 million for polluting the air. New machines were installed to reduce smog emissions by {{convert|680000|lb|abbr=on}} a year.<ref name="epaa">{{cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/archive/epapages/newsroom_archive/newsreleases/e96f05f182d3254b852570d8005e1207.html |title=U.S. SETTLES $1.8 MILLION POLLUTION CASE WITH MERCK AND MONSANTO | publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency | date=September 5, 1996}}</ref>
In November 1993, Merck & Co. acquired Medco Containment Services for $6 billion.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1993-11-19-1993323090-story.html | title=Merck & Co. completes Medco purchase | work=The Baltimore Sun | date=November 19, 1993 | url-access=limited | archive-date=May 29, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529002425/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1993-11-19-1993323090-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://apnews.com/article/4c927c19d591bcb785f2bbc53336e44d | title=Merck Completes $6 Billion Merger With Medco | first=LINDA A. | last=JOHNSON | work=Associated Press | date=November 18, 1993}}</ref> Merck & Co. spun Medco off ten years later.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/drugs/2003-08-20-merck-medco_x.htm | title=Merck finally spins off Medco Health to shareholders | agency=Associated Press | work=USA Today | date=August 20, 2003}}</ref>
Merck's supply chain reduction programme has been referred to as an example of successful change. Merck reduced its number of global suppliers from 40,000 to less than 10,000 during the period from 1992 to 1997.<ref>Genna, Albert, "How Merck Leverages Supply for Profit" in ''Purchasing'', 4 September 1997, referred to in Moore, N. Y. ''et al.'' (2002), [https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/documented_briefings/2005/DB334.pdf Implementing Best Purchasing and Supply Management Practices: Lessons from Innovative Commercial Firms], prepared for the US Air Force, Rand, p. 156, accessed on 1 October 2024</ref>
=== 2001–2019 === [[File:Merck Research Laboratories.jpg|thumb|right|Merck Research Laboratories in South San Francisco, California]] In May 2002, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation purchased stock in Merck.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Bank |first1=David |last2=Buckman |first2=Rebecca |date=2002-05-17 |title=Gates Foundation Buys Stakes in Drug Makers |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1021577629748680000 |access-date=2022-06-14 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
From 2002 through 2005, the Australian affiliate of Merck paid publishing house Elsevier an undisclosed amount to produce eight issues of a medical journal, the ''Australasian Journal of Bone and Joint Medicine''. Although it gave the appearance of being an independent peer-reviewed journal, without any indication that Merck had paid for it, the journal actually reprinted articles that originally appeared in other publications and that were favorable to Merck. The misleading publication came to light in 2009 during a personal injury lawsuit filed over Vioxx; 9 of 29 articles in the journal's second issue referred positively to Vioxx.<ref name="nytns">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/business/14vioxxside.html | title=Merck paid for medical 'journal' without disclosure | first=Natasha | last=Singer | work=The New York Times | date=May 13, 2009 | url-access=limited}}</ref><ref name="fakery">{{Cite news | url=https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2009/05/11/merck_elsevier_and_fakery | title=Merck, Elsevier, and Fakery | first=Derek | last=Lowe | work=Science | date=May 11, 2009}}</ref> The CEO of Elsevier's Health Sciences Division, Michael Hansen, admitted that the practice was "unacceptable".<ref name="hansen">{{cite press release | url=https://www.elsevier.com/about/press-releases/clinical-solutions/statement-from-michael-hansen,-ceo-of-elseviers-health-sciences-division,-regarding-australia-based-sponsored-journal-practices-between-2000-and-2005 | title=Statement from Michael Hansen, CEO of Elsevier's Health Sciences Division, Regarding Australia Based Sponsored Journal Practices Between 2000 and 2005 | publisher=Elsevier | date=May 7, 2009}}</ref>
In 2005, Gilmartin retired as CEO following Merck's voluntary worldwide withdrawal of Vioxx. Gilmartin's tenure was criticized as abandoning Vagelos' commitment to corporate social responsibility.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bowe |first=Christopher |date=17 November 2004 |title=Merck's Fall From Grace |url=https://www.ft.com/content/581cdc6e-38d2-11d9-bc76-00000e2511c8 |access-date=29 July 2025 |work=Financial Times}}</ref> Former president of manufacturing Richard Clark was named CEO and company president.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4632943 | title=Merck CEO Gilmartin Steps Down | first=JOANNE | last=SILBERNER | work=NPR | date=May 6, 2005}}</ref>
In November 2009, Merck & Co. completed a merger with Schering-Plough in a US$41 billion deal.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/business/10drug.html| title=Merck to Buy Schering-Plough for $41.1 Billion | last=Singer | first=Natasha | work=The New York Times | date=March 10, 2009 | url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-merck-scheringplough/merck-schering-plough-set-to-complete-merger-idUSTRE5A23YZ20091103 | title=Merck, Schering-Plough set to complete merger | first1=Bill | last1=Berkrot | first2=Ransdell | last2=Pierson | work=Reuters | date=November 3, 2009}}</ref> Although Merck & Co. was in reality acquiring Schering-Plough, the purchase was declared a "reverse merger", in which "Old" Merck & Co. was renamed Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Schering-Plough renamed as "Merck & Co., Inc.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/merck-legally-changed-its-name-3-times-to-achieve-reverse-merger-with-schering/ | title=Merck Legally Changed Its Name 3 Times to Achieve Reverse Merger With Schering | last=Edwards | first=Jim | work=CBS News| date=November 10, 2009}}</ref> The maneuver was an attempt to avoid a "change-of-control" in order to preserve Schering-Plough's rights to market Remicade. A settlement with Johnson & Johnson was reached in 2011, in which Merck agreed to pay $500 million.<ref name="RemicadeJNJ">{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110415005341/en/Merck-and-Johnson-Johnson-Reach-Agreement-on-Distribution-Rights-for-REMICADE%C2%AE-and-SIMPONI%C2%AE |title=Merck and Johnson & Johnson Reach Agreement on Distribution Rights for Remicade and Simponi | publisher=Business Wire |date=April 15, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708195540/http://www.merck.com/newsroom/news-release-archive/corporate/2011_0415.html |archive-date=2012-07-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2011/04/15/merck-johnson-johnson-reach.html | title=Merck, Johnson & Johnson reach Remicade, Simponi deal | work=American City Business Journals | date=April 15, 2011}}</ref> Merck Sharp & Dohme remains a subsidiary of the Merck & Co. parent.<ref name="10K" />
Richard Clark retired as CEO and company president in October 2011 and Kenneth Frazier became CEO.<ref name="frazier">{{Cite news |last1=Rubin |first1=Ben Fox | title=Merck Chairman Clark To Retire; CEO Frazier to Take Over | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203476804576614994135927176 | work=The Wall Street Journal |date=October 6, 2011 | url-access=subscription}}</ref>
In October 2013, Merck announced it would cut 8,500 jobs in an attempt to cut $2.5 billion from its costs by 2015. Combined with 7,500 job cuts announced in 2011 and 2012, the layoffs amounted to 20% of its workforce.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://money.cnn.com/2013/10/01/news/companies/merck-job-cuts/index.html | title=Merck to cut 8,500 more jobs | first=Aaron | last=Smith | work=CNN | date=October 1, 2013}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24356801 | work=BBC News | title=Merck cuts another 8,500 jobs | date=October 1, 2013}}</ref>
By 2014, research performed at Merck has led to U.S. FDA approval of 63 new molecular entities.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors=Kinch MS, Haynesworth A, Kinch SL, Hoyer D | title=An overview of FDA-approved new molecular entities: 1827–2013 | journal=Drug Discovery Today | volume=19 | issue=8 | pages=1033–9 | date=August 2014 | pmid=24680947 | doi=10.1016/j.drudis.2014.03.018 }}</ref>
In August 2014, Merck acquired Idenix Pharmaceuticals for $3.85 billion.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140805005350/en/Merck-Completes-Tender-Offer-to-Acquire-Idenix | title=Merck Completes Tender Offer to Acquire Idenix | publisher=Business Wire | date=August 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.genengnews.com/news/merck-co-acquires-idenix-for-3-85b-adding-to-hcv-portfolio/ | title=Merck acquires Idenix | website=genengnews.com | date=June 9, 2014}}</ref>
In September 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) as a breakthrough therapy for melanoma treatment.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.genengnews.com/topics/translational-medicine/merck-melanoma-drug-is-first-pd-1-inhibitor-okd-by-fda/ |title=Merck Melanoma Drug Is First PD-1 Inhibitor OK'd by FDA |website=genengnews.com | date=September 5, 2014}}</ref> In clinical trials, pembrolizumab provided partial tumor regression in about one quarter of patients, many of whom have not seen further progression of their disease in over 6 months of follow-up.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/125514lbl.pdf | title=HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION: Keytruda | publisher=Food and Drug Administration}}</ref>
In December 2014, the company acquired Swiss biotechnology company OncoEthix for up to $375 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.genengnews.com/topics/translational-medicine/merck-buys-oncoethix-for-up-to-375m/ |title=Merck Buys OncoEthix for up to $375M |website=genengnews.com |date=December 18, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20141218005052/en/Merck-Acquires-OncoEthix-a-Privately-Held-Oncology-Company-Developing-Novel-BET-Inhibitors-for-Hematological-and-Solid-Cancers | title=Merck Acquires OncoEthix, a Privately Held Oncology Company Developing Novel BET Inhibitors for Hematological and Solid Cancers | publisher=Business Wire | date=December 18, 2014}}</ref>
Between 2010 and 2015, the company cut around 36,450 jobs.<ref name="Fierce2015">{{cite magazine |last1=Staton|first1=Tracy|title=Merck tallies 36,000 job cuts in 5 years of restructuring |url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/corporate/merck-tallies-36-000-job-cuts-5-years-of-restructuring |magazine=Fierce Pharma |date=August 13, 2015}}</ref> During that time, the company sold its consumer health business to Bayer and narrowed the company's focus to immunology, vaccines, diabetes, emerging markets and medicines used in hospitals, like certain antibiotics.<ref name="Fierce2015" />
In January 2015, Merck acquired Cubist Pharmaceuticals for $102 per share in cash or about $9.5 billion in total.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150121005472/en/Merck-Completes-Tender-Offer-to-Acquire-Cubist | title=Merck Completes Tender Offer to Acquire Cubist | publisher=Business Wire | date=January 21, 2015}}</ref>
In July 2015, Merck and Ablynx expanded their 18-month-old immuno-oncology collaboration by four years, generating a potential $4.4 billion in milestone payments for the Abylnx.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.genengnews.com/topics/drug-discovery/ablynx-merck-co-ink-4b-expansion-of-immuno-oncology-collaboration/ |title=Ablynx, Merck & Co. Ink $4B+ Expansion of Immuno-Oncology Collaboration |work=genengnews.com}}</ref> The company also announced it would spend $95 million up front collaborating with cCAM Biotherapeutics and its early-stage treatment similar to Keytruda. Merck & Co. will bring in CM-24, an antibody designed to block the immune checkpoint CEACAM1.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/merck-signs-605m-deal-bulk-cancer-immunotherapy/2015-07-28 |title=Merck signs a $605M deal to bulk up in cancer immunotherapy |work=FierceBiotech | date=July 28, 2015}}</ref>
In January 2016, Merck announced two new partnerships; the first with Quartet Medicine and its small molecule pain treatments,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.genengnews.com/topics/drug-discovery/quartet-merck-partner-on-pain-treatments-in-up-to-595m-alliance/ |title=Quartet, Merck Partner on Pain Treatments in Up-to-$595M Alliance |website=genengnews.com | date=January 6, 2016}}</ref> the second with Complix investigating intracellular cancer targets,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.genengnews.com/topics/drug-discovery/merck-co-launches-up-to-280m-cancer-collaboration-with-complix/ |title=Merck & Co. Launches Up-to-$280M Cancer Collaboration with Complix |website=genengnews.com | date=January 6, 2016}}</ref> with both collaborations potentially generating up to $595 million and $280 million respectively. Days later the company announced it would acquire IOmet Pharma, with IOmet becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck & Co. The acquisition includes IOmets indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO), tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO), and dual-acting inhibitors.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.genengnews.com/topics/drug-discovery/merck-co-acquires-cancer-immunotherapy-developer-iomet/ |title=Merck & Co. Acquires Cancer Immunotherapy Developer IOmet |website=genengnews.com | date=January 11, 2016}}</ref>
In July 2016, the company acquired Afferent Pharmaceuticals, developer of a candidate used to block P2RX3 receptors, for approximately $1 billion, plus up to $750 million in milestone payments.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/310158/000031015817000010/R12.htm | title=Acquisitions, Divestitures, Research Collaborations and License Agreements | publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.genengnews.com/news/merck-co-to-acquire-afferent-pharmaceuticals-for-up-to-1-25b/ | title=Merck & Co. to Acquire Afferent Pharmaceuticals for Up to $1.25B | website=genengnews.com |date=June 10, 2016}}</ref>
In 2017, Merck bought the PARP inhibitor Lynparza from AstraZeneca.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.evaluate.com/vantage/articles/news/trial-results/merck-looks-return-its-lynparza-investment|title=Merck looks for a return on its Lynparza investment | date=March 17, 2022 }}</ref>
In April 2017, Merck Animal Health acquired Vallée S.A., a Brazilian animal health product manufacturer.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170322005156/en/Merck-Animal-Health-Completes-Acquisition-of-Vall%C3%A9e-S.A. |title=Merck Animal Health Completes Acquisition of Vallée S.A. | publisher=Business Wire | date=March 22, 2017 }}</ref>
In September 2017, the company announced it would acquire Rigontec, developer of a candidate to target the retinoic acid-inducible gene I pathway, for $554 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.genengnews.com/topics/drug-discovery/merck-to-acquire-rigontec-expanding-cancer-immunotherapy-franchise/ | title=Merck to Acquire Rigontec, Expanding Cancer Immunotherapy Franchise | website=genengnews.com | date=September 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170906005092/en/Merck-to-Acquire-Rigontec-RIG-I-Therapeutics-Pioneer-Advancing-Leadership-in-Immuno-Oncology | title=Merck to Acquire Rigontec, RIG-I Therapeutics Pioneer, Advancing Leadership in Immuno-Oncology | publisher=Business Wire | date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>
In October 2017, the company granted the inaugural Merck-AGITG Clinical Research Fellowship in Gastro-Intestinal (GI) Cancer to David Lau, a professional in Melbourne, Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLean |date=2017-10-05 |title=Dr David Lau receives Merck-AGITG Clinical Research Fellowship |url=https://gicancer.org.au/news/dr-david-lau-receives-inaugural-merck-agitg-clinical-research-fellowship-gi-cancer-2018/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=GI Cancer |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Institute |first=GI Cancer |date=2020-09-09 |title=Doctor David Lau reflects on the Merck-AGITG Clinical Research Fellowship |url=https://gicancer.org.au/news/doctor-david-lau-reflects-on-the-merck-agitg-clinical-research-fellowship/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=GI Cancer |language=en-AU}}</ref>
In June 2018, Merck acquired Viralytics, an Australian viral cancer drug company, for AUD$502 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/_iYWma11M8V6cnXsf9E1fQ2 | title=Merck & Co. completes Viralytics acquisition | first=Ephraim | last=Bie | work=S&P Global | date=June 20, 2018}}</ref>
In 2018, Merck began the submission process for a Biologics License Application to the Food and Drug Administration under the Breakthrough Therapy Designation for an investigational vaccine, called V920, to fight the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190917005341/en/FDA-Accepts-Merck%E2%80%99s-Biologics-License-Application-BLA-and-Grants-Priority-Review-for-V920-the-Company%E2%80%99s-Investigational-Vaccine-for-Ebola-Zaire-Virus | title=FDA Accepts Merck's Biologics License Application (BLA) and Grants Priority Review for V920, the Company's Investigational Vaccine for Ebola Zaire Virus | publisher=Business Wire | date=September 17, 2019}}</ref>
In April 2019, the company acquired Immune Design for approximately $300 million, gaining access to its immunotherapy programs.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-immune-design-merck-co-m-a/merck-to-buy-immunotherapy-developer-immune-design-for-300-million-idUKKCN1QA1HP/ | title=Merck to buy immunotherapy developer Immune Design for $300 million | first=Aakash Jagadeesh | last=Babu | work=Reuters | date=February 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190402005521/en/Merck-Completes-Tender-Offer-to-Acquire-Immune-Design | title=Merck Completes Tender Offer to Acquire Immune Design | publisher=Business Wire | date=April 2, 2019}}</ref> It also acquired Antelliq Group for $2.4 billion, or $3.7 billion including debt.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005106/en/Merck-Completes-Acquisition-of-Antelliq-Corporation-to-Become-Leader-in-Emerging-Digital-Technology-for-Livestock-and-Companion-Animals | title=Merck Completes Acquisition of Antelliq Corporation to Become Leader in Emerging Digital Technology for Livestock and Companion Animals | publisher=Business Wire | date=April 1, 2019}}</ref>
In May 2019, Merck announced it would acquire Peloton Therapeutics, developer of a HIF-2alpha inhibitor for Von Hippel–Lindau disease-associated renal cell carcinoma, for up to $2.2 billion.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/2019/09/20/peloton-therapeutics-2-2-billion-deal-with-merck-took-root-with-an-idea-for-clinical-trials/ | title=Peloton Therapeutics' $2.2 billion deal with Merck took root with an idea for clinical trials | first=Melissa | last=Repko | work=The Dallas Morning News | date=September 20, 2019}}</ref>
In June 2019, Merck announced it would acquire Tilos Therapeutics for up to $773 million.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tilos-therapeutics-m-a-merck-idUKKCN1TB19J |title=Merck to buy Tilos Therapeutics for up to $773 million | first=Tamara | last=Mathias | work=Reuters | date=June 10, 2019}}</ref>
In November 2019, the company acquired Calporta, which focused on Parkinsons and Alzheimers treatments.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=COI Pharmaceuticals Announces Acquisition of Calporta by Merck |date=November 13, 2019 |publisher=Business Wire |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191112005846/en/COI-Pharmaceuticals-Announces-Acquisition-of-Calporta-by-Merck}}</ref>
In December 2019, Merck Animal Health acquired Vaki, an aquaculture company, from Pentair.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191217005828/en/Merck-Animal-Health-Completes-Acquisition-of-Vaki-to-Further-Broaden-Its-Leadership-Position-in-Aquaculture-to-Advance-Fish-Health-and-Welfare | title=Merck Animal Health Completes Acquisition of Vaki to Further Broaden Its Leadership Position in Aquaculture to Advance Fish Health and Welfare | publisher=Business Wire | date=December 17, 2019}}</ref>
===2020–present=== In January 2020, Merck acquired ArQule, developer of ARQ 531, an oral Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, for $2.7 billion.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200116005463/en/Merck-Completes-Acquisition-of-ArQule | title=Merck Completes Acquisition of ArQule | publisher=Business Wire | date=January 16, 2020}}</ref>
In March 2020, Merck was one of ten companies recognised at the inaugural Manufacturing Awards by New Jersey Business magazine and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://njbmagazine.com/monthly-articles/inaugural-manufacturing-awards/ | title=Inaugural Manufacturing Awards | work=New Jersey Business magazine | date=March 11, 2020}}</ref>
In June 2020, Merck acquired Themis Bioscience, a company focused on vaccines and immune-modulation therapies for infectious diseases including COVID-19 and cancer.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200619005217/en/Merck-Completes-Acquisition-of-Themis | title=Merck Completes Acquisition of Themis | publisher=Business Wire | date=June 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biospace.com/article/merck-to-acquire-themis-/|title=Merck to Acquire Themis|website=BioSpace|access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-merck/merck-to-buy-austrian-vaccine-maker-as-it-jumps-into-covid-19-race-idUKKBN2321CU | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905101017/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-merck/merck-to-buy-austrian-vaccine-maker-as-it-jumps-into-covid-19-race-idUKKBN2321CU | archive-date=September 5, 2020 |title=Merck to buy Austrian vaccine maker as it jumps into COVID-19 race| work=Reuters | date=May 26, 2020 |last=Erman |first=Julie Steenhuysen}}</ref>
Also in June 2020, Merck Animal Health acquired Quantified Ag, a data and analytics company that monitors cattle body temperature and movement in order to detect illness early.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200617005636/en/Merck-Animal-Health-Completes-Acquisition-of-Quantified-Ag%C2%AE | title=Merck Animal Health Completes Acquisition of Quantified Ag® | publisher=Business Wire | date=June 17, 2020}}</ref>
In August 2020, Merck Animal Health acquired IdentiGEN, engaged in DNA-based animal traceability.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200805005060/en/Merck-Animal-Health-Completes-Acquisition-of-IdentiGEN | title=Merck Animal Health Completes Acquisition of IdentiGEN | publisher=Business Wire | date=August 5, 2020}}</ref>
In September 2020, Merck acquired $1 billion of Seattle Genetics common stock, and agreed to co-develop ladiratuzumab vedotin.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-seattle-genetics-stake-merck-co/merck-to-buy-1-bln-stake-in-seattle-genetics-co-develop-cancer-therapy-idUKKBN2651Q7 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914130511/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-seattle-genetics-stake-merck-co/merck-to-buy-1-bln-stake-in-seattle-genetics-co-develop-cancer-therapy-idUKKBN2651Q7 | archive-date=September 14, 2020 | title=Merck to buy $1 billion stake in Seattle Genetics, co-develop cancer therapy | work=Reuters | date=14 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-seattle-genetics-stake-merck-co-idUSKBN2651Q7 | title=Merck to buy $1 bln stake in Seattle Genetics, co-develop cancer therapy | first=Trisha | last=Roy | work=Reuters | date=September 14, 2020}}</ref>
In November 2020, Merck announced it would acquire VelosBio for $2.75 billion, developer of VLS-101, an antibody-drug conjugate designed to target Tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) in both hematological and solid tumors. VLS-101 is currently Phase I and Phase II clinical trials.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.biospace.com/article/merck-acquires-velosbio-and-promising-cancer-treatment-for-2-75-billion/?s=79 |title=Merck Snaps up VelosBio and its ROR1 Inhibitor in $2.75 Billion Deal}}</ref> The company also announced it would acquire OncoImmune for $425 million and its phase 3 candidate, CD24Fc, used in the treatment of patients with severe and critical COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-merck/merck-adds-experimental-covid-19-therapy-with-oncoimmune-deal-idUKKBN2831BZ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123215435/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-merck/merck-adds-experimental-covid-19-therapy-with-oncoimmune-deal-idUKKBN2831BZ | archive-date=November 23, 2020 | title=Merck adds experimental COVID-19 therapy with OncoImmune deal | last=O'Donnell | first=Carl | work=Reuters |date=November 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biospace.com/article/merck-acquires-oncoimmune-and-its-covid-19-asset-for-425-million-in-upfront-cash/|title=Merck Bolsters COVID-19 Pipeline with OncoImmune Acquisition|website=BioSpace|date=23 November 2020 |access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref>
In February 2021, Merck Animal Health acquired PrognostiX Poultry.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210225005888/en/Merck-Animal-Health-Completes-Acquisition-of-Poultry-Sense-Limited | title=Merck Animal Health Completes Acquisition of Poultry Sense Limited | publisher=Business Wire | date=February 25, 2021}}</ref>
In April 2021, Merck acquired Pandion Therapeutics for $1.85 billion, expanding its offering in treating autoimmune diseases.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210401005471/en/Merck-Completes-Acquisition-of-Pandion-Therapeutics | title=Merck Completes Acquisition of Pandion Therapeutics | publisher=Business Wire | date=April 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pandion-m-a-merck-co/merck-to-buy-drug-developer-pandion-therapeutics-for-1-85-billion-idUSKBN2AP1K0 | title=Merck to buy drug developer Pandion Therapeutics for $1.85 billion | work=Reuters |date=25 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biospace.com/article/merck-acquires-autoimmune-focused-pandion-therapeutics-for-1-85-billion/|title=Merck Snaps Up Autoimmune-Focused Pandion in Massive $1.85 Billion Deal|website=BioSpace|date=25 February 2021 |access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref>
In June 2021, the U.S. government agreed to spend $1.2 billion to purchase 1.7 million doses of Molnupiravir, a Merck product, if it were to be approved by regulators to treat COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Merck signs $1.2 billion deal with US government for experimental COVID treatment |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/merck-signs-12-billion-deal-us-government-experimental/story?id=78171591 | first=Erin | last=Schumaker | website=ABC News | date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> In October 2021, the company said that the drug reduces the risk of hospitalization or death by around 50% for patients with mild or moderate cases of COVID-19 and that it would seek Emergency Use Authorization for the drug.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/01/merck-to-seek-emergency-authorization-for-oral-covid-19-treatment.html | title=Merck says its new Covid pill reduces the risk of hospitalization, death by half for some patients | first=Chloe | last=Taylor | work=CNBC | date=October 1, 2021}}</ref>
In July 2021, Robert M. Davis became CEO, succeeding Kenneth Frazier, who became executive chairman.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/merck-new-ceo-davis-begins-frazier-retires | title=Merck's new CEO Robert Davis begins, after Ken Frazier's retirement | first=Ann | last=Schmidt | work=FOXBusiness | date=July 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | title=Kenneth Frazier stepping down as Merck CEO, becomes executive chairman | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/02/04/merck-ceo-kenneth-frazier-donald-trump-robert-davis/4385894001/ | last=Bomey | first=Nathan | work=USA TODAY | date=February 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last=Williams | first=Jordan | title=Merck CEO stepping down at end of June | url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/537319-merck-ceo-who-quit-trumps-manufacturing-council-stepping-down | work=The Hill | date=February 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last=Brown | first=Courtenay | title=Merck's Ken Frazier, one of just 4 Black CEOs in the Fortune 500, is stepping down | url=https://www.axios.com/merck-ceo-ken-frazier-stepping-down-32065051-87c2-4e2c-a15d-9d29a5e93fcc.html | work=Axios | date=February 4, 2021}}</ref>
In July 2021, Merck completed the corporate spin-off of Organon & Co.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210603005156/en/Merck-Announces-Completion-of-Organon-Co.-Spinoff | title=Merck Announces Completion of Organon & Co. Spinoff | publisher=Business Wire | date=June 3, 2021}}</ref>
In September 2021, Merck announced it would acquire Acceleron Pharma for $11.5 billion, gaining control over Sotatercept, used in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, and luspatercept-aamt.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210930005314/en/Merck-to-Acquire-Acceleron-Pharma-Inc. | title=Merck to Acquire Acceleron Pharma Inc. | publisher=Business Wire | date=September 30, 2021}}</ref>
In September 2022, the company announced it would acquire Vence, a livestock management company for an undisclosed sum, incorporating it within Merck Animal Health.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/merck-animal-health-to-acquire-vence/?s=79 | title=Merck Animal Health to Acquire Vence | date=22 September 2022 }}</ref>
In December 2022, the company announced a licensing deal with Kelun-Biotech of China whereby it would expand its early cancer pipeline with a set of antibody-drug conjugates; this follows an earlier agreement between the two companies to co-develop such drugs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pagliarulo |first=Ned |date=22 December 2022 |title=Merck builds out cancer drug pipeline with Kelun-Biotech deal |work=BiopharmaDive |url=https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/merck-kelun-adc-antibody-drug-conjugate-cancer/639402/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222160446/https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/merck-kelun-adc-antibody-drug-conjugate-cancer/639402/ |archive-date=22 December 2022}}</ref>
In April 2023, Merck announced it would acquire [https://www.prometheusbiosciences.com/ Prometheus Biosciences] Inc for $10.8 billion.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/merck-late-stage-talks-acquire-prometheus-biosciences-wsj-2023-04-16/ | title=Merck to buy Prometheus Biosciences for about $11 billion | newspaper=Reuters | date=17 April 2023 | last1=Erman | first1=Michael }}</ref>
In December 2023, Merck announced it had partnered with Owkin to develop artificial intelligence-powered digital pathology diagnostics that could be used to identify patients suitable for immunotherapies. The aim is to come up with tools that can pre-screen patients with four tumour types for the MSI-H biomarker, namely endometrial, gastric, small intestinal, and biliary cancers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Owkin and MSD join forces on AI-powered digital pathology |url=https://pharmaphorum.com/news/owkin-and-msd-join-forces-ai-powered-digital-pathology |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=pharmaphorum |date=19 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
In January 2024, the company announced it would acquire Harpoon Therapeutics for $680 million.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.biospace.com/article/merck-to-buy-cancer-immunotherapy-biotech-harpoon-for-680-million/?s=79 | title=Merck to Buy Cancer Immunotherapy Biotech Harpoon for $680 Million | date=8 January 2024 }}</ref> With this purchase, Merck expands its portfolio of oncological drugs. The main positions are HPN328, an activator of T-cells that is being researched to treat advanced cancer patients associated with DLL3 expression (delta-like ligand 3), an inherent small cell lung cancer (SCLC), neuroendocrine tumors, and several other species. Merck's portfolio will also be complemented by T-cell attractions using the patented Harpoon Tri-specific design for T cell activation (TriTAC). According to engineering protein technology, tumor cells are destroyed by the patient's own immune cells, and the ProTriTAC platform works with the TriTAC platform to develop a therapeutic agent that attracts T-cells, but is inactive until it reaches the tumor.<ref>{{Cite web|lang=en|url=https://www.pharmexec.com/view/merck-johnson-johnson-announce-acquisitions-to-bolster-respective-oncology-pipelines|title=Merck, Johnson & Johnson Announce Acquisitions to Bolster Respective Oncology Pipelines|website=PharmExec|date=9 January 2024 |access-date=2024-02-27|archive-date=2024-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228024837/https://www.pharmexec.com/view/merck-johnson-johnson-announce-acquisitions-to-bolster-respective-oncology-pipelines}}</ref>
In April 2024, Merck completed the acquisition of Abceutics for $208 million.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 April 2024 |title=Merck Snaps up Small Startup in $208M Deal, Seeks to Improve Safety of ADCs |url=https://www.biospace.com/article/merck-snaps-up-small-startup-in-208m-deal-seeks-to-improve-safety-of-adcs/?s=79}}</ref>
In July 2024, Merck completed the acquisition of EyeBio for $3 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-31 |title=Merck to expand ophthalmology pipeline with acquisition of EyeBio in deal worth up to $3bn - PMLiVE |url=https://pmlive.com/pharma_news/merck-to-expand-ophthalmology-pipeline-with-acquisition-of-eyebio-in-deal-worth-up-to-3bn/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=pmlive.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In October 2024, Merck announced the acquisition of Modifi Biosciences for $1.3 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-29 |title=Merck acquires oncology spinout Modifi Biosciences in deal worth $1.3bn - PMLiVE |url=https://pmlive.com/pharma_news/merck-acquires-oncology-spinout-modifi-biosciences-in-deal-worth-1-3bn/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=pmlive.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In January 2026, the ''Wall Street Journal'' reported that Merck was in talks to acquire Revolution Medicines for ~$30 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rockoff |first=Lauren Thomas and Jonathan D. |date=2026-01-09 |title=Merck in Talks to Buy Revolution Medicines for Around $30 Billion |url=https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/merck-in-talks-to-buy-revolution-medicines-for-around-30-billion-13f798a1 |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Acquisition history === {{hidden begin|border=1px #aaa solid|title=Merck & Co Acquisitions|ta1=center}} {{Tree list}} *'''Merck & Co''' {{small|(Founded in 1891 as the US subsidiary of Merck of Darmstadt, later Nationalised by the US government in 1917 during the First World War)}} **Merck & Co ***Merck & Co ****H. K. Mulford Company {{small|(Acq 1929)}} ****Sharp & Dohme, Inc {{small|(Acq 1953)}} ****Charles E. Frosst Ltd {{small|(Acq 1965, restructured into Merck-Frosst Canada, Inc, restructured into Merck Canada in 2011)}} ****Medco Containment Services Inc {{small|(Acq 1993, Spun off 2003)}} ***Schering‑Plough ****Schering-Plough {{small|(Merged 1971)}} *****Schering Corporation {{small|(Founded 1851)}} *****Plough, Inc {{small|(Founded 1908)}} ****Organon International *****Alydia Health {{small|(Acq 2021)}} ****Intervet ****Diosynth ****Nobilon **Imperial Blue Corporation<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://d1lge852tjjqow.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000310158/8f20baa9-c05b-416f-b083-927819a975f0.pdf | title=SCHEDULE TO TENDER OFFER STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(D)(1) OR 13(E)(1) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Amendment No. 8) IDENIX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. IMPERIAL BLUE CORPORATION | publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}</ref> ***Idenix Pharmaceuticals {{small|(Acq 2014)}} **Maven Corporation<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://investors.merck.com/financials/sec-filings/sec-filings-details/default.aspx?FilingId=10420422 |title = Merck & Co., Inc. – Financials – SEC Filings – SEC Filings Details}}</ref> ***Cubist Pharmaceuticals ****Trius Therapeutics {{small|(Acq 2013)}} ****Optimer Pharmaceuticals {{small|(Acq 2013)}} **OncoEthix {{small|(Acq 2015)}} **IOmet Pharma {{small|(Acq 2016)}} **Afferent Pharmaceuticals {{small|(Acq 2016)}} **Merck Animal Health ***Vallée S.A. {{small|(Acq 2017)}} ***Vaki {{small|(Acq 2019)}} ***Quantified Ag {{small|(Acq 2020)}} ***IdentiGEN {{small|(Acq 2020)}} ***PrognostiX Poultry Ltd {{small|(Acq 2021)}} ***Vence {{small|(Acq 2022)}} **Rigontec {{small|(Acq 2017)}} **Viralytics {{small|(Acq 2018)}} **Antelliq Group {{small|(Acq 2018)}} **Cascade Merger Sub, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000064978/eda8fca7-7bcd-43dc-8ab5-2705488c9ba4.pdf | title=SCHEDULE TO TENDER OFFER STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(D)(1) OR 13(E)(1) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Amendment No. 3) Immune Design Corp. | publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}</ref> ***Immune Design Corp {{small|(Acq 2019)}} **Peloton Therapeutics {{small|(Acq 2019)}} **Tilos Therapeutics {{small|(Acq 2019)}} **Calporta {{small|(Acq 2019)}} **Argon Merger Sub, Inc. ***ArQule, Inc. {{small|(Acq 2019)}} **Themis Bioscience {{small|(Acq 2020)}} **VelosBio {{small|(Acq 2020)}} **OncoImmune {{small|(Acq 2020)}} **Astros Merger Sub, Inc. ***Acceleron Pharma {{small|(Acq 2021)}} **Prometheus Biosciences {{small|(Acq 2023)}} **Caraway Therapeutics {{small|(Acq 2023)}} **Harpoon Therapeutics {{small|(Acq 2024)}} **Abceutics {{small|(Acq 2024)}} **EyeBio {{small|(Acq 2024)}} **Modifi Biosciences {{small|(Acq 2024)}} **Verona Pharma plc {{small|(Acq 2025)}}<ref name="q825">{{cite web |last=Sabrina Valle |first=Christy Santhosh |title=Merck shells out $10 billion for Verona in bid to diversify beyond Keytruda |website=Reuters |date=2025-07-09 |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/merck-nears-10-billion-deal-respiratory-drugmaker-verona-ft-reports-2025-07-09/ |access-date=2025-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250715061108/https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/merck-nears-10-billion-deal-respiratory-drugmaker-verona-ft-reports-2025-07-09/|archive-date=2025-07-15}}</ref><!--acquisition announced, as of july 2025 not finalized--> {{Tree list/end}} {{hidden end}} ==Products== thumb|Gardasil 9 in French packaging (showing the MSD branding)
Details of Merck's major products are as follows:<ref name="10K" /> ===Oncology=== * Keytruda (pembrolizumab) ($29.5 billion in 2024 revenues) is an immune modulator for the treatment of cancer. * Lynparza (olaparib) ($1.3 billion in 2024 revenues) is a PARP inhibitor used to treat BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer. * Lenvima (lenvatinib) ($1.0 billion in 2024 revenues) is used for the treatment of thyroid cancer. * Welireg (Belzutifan) ($0.5 billion in 2024 revenues) is used for the treatment of von Hippel–Lindau disease-associated renal cell carcinoma. * Reblozyl (Luspatercept) ($0.4 billion in 2024 revenues) is used for the treatment of anemia in beta thalassemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
===Vaccines=== * Gardasil (HPV vaccine) ($8.5 billion in 2024 revenues) is a vaccine against multiple serotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is responsible for most cases of cervical cancer worldwide.<ref name="10K" /> * ProQuad/M-M-R II/Varivax ($2.5 billion in 2024 revenues) is a combination MMRV vaccine against measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), and varicella (chickenpox).<ref name="10K" /> * Vaxneuvance ($0.8 billion in 2024 revenues) is a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. * RotaTeq ($0.7 billion in 2024 revenues) is a rotavirus vaccine. * Pneumovax 23 ($0.3 billion in 2024 revenues) is a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.
===Hospital acute care=== * Bridion (sugammadex) ($1.7 billion in 2024 revenues) is a medication for the reversal of neuromuscular blockade induced by rocuronium and vecuronium in general anaesthesia.<ref name="10K" /> * Prevymis (letermovir) ($0.8 billion in 2024 revenues) is used for the prevention of cytomegalovirus infections. * Dificid (fidaxomicin) ($0.3 billion in 2024 revenues) is a tiacumicin. * Zerbaxa (ceftolozane/tazobactam ($0.3 billion in 2024 revenues) is an antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infections. * Noxafil (posaconazole) ($0.2 billion in 2024 revenues) is a triazole antifungal.
===Cardiology=== * Winrevair (sotatercept) ($0.4 billion in 2024 revenues) is used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. * Adempas/Verquvo (riociguat / vericiguat) ($0.7 billion in 2024 revenues) is used for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization in certain patients with heart failure after a recent acute decompensation event.
===Neuroscience=== * Belsomra (suvorexant) ($0.2 billion in 2024 revenues) is an orexin antagonist medication used in the treatment of insomnia.
===Virology=== * Lagevrio (molnupiravir) ($0.9 billion in 2024 revenues) is an antiviral pill to treat COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zimmer |first=Carl |date=2021-06-17 |title=A Pill to Treat Covid-19? The U.S. Is Betting on It. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/17/health/covid-pill-antiviral.html |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * Isentress (raltegravir) ($0.4 billion in 2024 revenues) is a human immunodeficiency virus integrase inhibitor for the treatment of HIV infection. It is the first anti-HIV compound having this mechanism of action.<ref>{{cite web |title=HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION: ISENTRESS |url=https://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/i/isentress/isentress_pi.pdf |publisher=Merck}}</ref> It is part of one of several first line treatment regimens recommended by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.<ref>{{cite web |title=Drug Database: Raltegravir |url=https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/drugs/raltegravir/patient |publisher=HIV.gov}}</ref> * Delstrigo (doravirine/lamivudine/tenofovir) ($0.3 billion in 2024 revenues) is used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
===Immunology=== * Simponi (golimumab) ($0.5 billion in 2024 revenues) is an immunosuppressive drug. * Remicade (infliximab) ($0.1 billion in 2024 revenues) is a monoclonal antibody directed toward the cytokine TNF-alpha and used for the treatment of a wide range of autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, plaque psoriasis, and others. Remicade and other TNF-alpha inhibitors exhibit additive therapeutic effects with methotrexate and improve quality of life. Adverse effects include increased risk of infection and certain cancers.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Aaltonen KJ, Virkki LM, Malmivaara A, Konttinen YT, Nordström DC, Blom M |year=2012 |title=Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of existing TNF blocking agents in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis |journal=PLOS One |volume=7 |issue=1 |article-number=e30275 |bibcode=2012PLoSO...730275A |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0030275 |pmc=3260264 |pmid=22272322 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Merck had rights to the drug in certain areas, while Janssen Biotech had rights in other areas;<ref name="RemicadeJNJ" /> in 2017, Merck announced a biosimilar to Remicade, Renflexis.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2017 |title=Merck, Samsung Bioepis Launch Remicade Biosimilar in U.S. |url=https://www.genengnews.com/topics/drug-discovery/merck-samsung-bioepis-launch-remicade-biosimilar-in-u-s/ |website=genengnews.com}}</ref>
===Diabetes=== * Januvia (sitagliptin) ($1.3 billion in 2024 revenues) is a dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In 2013, Januvia was the second largest selling diabetes drug worldwide.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Palmer |first=Eric |date=June 17, 2014 |title=The top 10 best-selling diabetes drugs of 2013 |url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/top-10-best-selling-diabetes-drugs-of-2013 |magazine=Fierce Pharma}}</ref> It has been popular due in part because unlike many other diabetes drugs, it causes little or no weight gain and is not associated with hypoglycemic episodes.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Zhan M, Xu T, Wu F, Tang Y |date=August 2012 |title=Sitagliptin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis |journal=Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=154–65 |doi=10.1111/j.1756-5391.2012.01189.x |pmid=23672222 |s2cid=205981406}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Deacon CF, Mannucci E, Ahrén B |date=August 2012 |title=Glycaemic efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors as add-on therapy to metformin in subjects with type 2 diabetes-a review and meta analysis |journal=Diabetes Obes Metab |volume=14 |issue=8 |pages=762–7 |doi=10.1111/j.1463-1326.2012.01603.x |pmid=22471248 |s2cid=21833823}}</ref> There has been some concern that treatment with Januvia and other DPP-IV inhibitors may be associated with a modestly increased risk of pancreatitis.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Li L, Shen J, Bala MM, etal |year=2014 |title=Incretin treatment and risk of pancreatitis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised and non-randomised studies |journal=The BMJ |volume=348 |article-number=g2366 |doi=10.1136/bmj.g2366 |pmc=3987051 |pmid=24736555}}</ref> * Janumet ($1.0 billion in 2024 revenues) is a single pill combination drug containing both Januvia and metformin.
===Animal health=== * Livestock products ($3.4 billion in 2024 revenues) include various medications and vaccines for cattle and poultry. * Companion animal products ($2.4 billion in 2024 revenues) include various medications and vaccines for cats, dogs, and horses.
==Philanthropy== Philanthropic initiatives by Merck include: * Merck Foundation - founded in 1957, the foundation has donated over $1 billion to charitable causes to promote health equity. In 2012, the foundation ended its donations to the Boy Scouts of America citing its discrimination against gay people.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/10/boy-scouts-america-merck-pulls-funding | title=Boy Scouts of America: Merck pulls funding in protest at gay ban | first=Dominic | last=Rushe | work=The Guardian | date=December 10, 2012}}</ref> * Patient assistance programs to offer access to pharmaceuticals to those unable to afford its medications. * Provides funding to Hilleman Laboratories, an India-based non-profit research organization dedicated to the development of low-cost vaccines for use in developing countries.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/deals/merck-jv-plans-to-show-up-j-j-sanofi-low-cost-cholera-vaccine |title=Merck JV plans to show up J&J, Sanofi with low-cost cholera vaccine | first=Carly | last=Helfand | magazine=Fierce Pharma | date=June 20, 2014 | archive-date=2015-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207161508/http://www.fiercevaccines.com/story/merck-jv-plans-show-jj-sanofi-low-cost-cholera-vax/2014-06-19 |url-status=live }}</ref> * Merck for Mothers prevents maternal mortality. * Merck produces Mectizan (ivermectin), an anti-parasitic medicine traditionally used to treat onchocerciasis, solely for donation to people in Africa, Latin America, and Yemen. The donation program has significantly reduced the incidence of the disease.
==Lawsuits and controversies== ===Heart attacks after use of Vioxx=== In 1999, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Vioxx (known generically as rofecoxib), a Merck product for treating arthritis. Vioxx was designed as a selective inhibitor of the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2. Such compounds were expected to cause less gastrointestinal bleeding than older anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen, which were associated with 20,000 hospitalizations and 2000 deaths each year.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Fries JF, Miller SR, Spitz PW, Williams CA, Hubert HB, Bloch DA |title=Toward an epidemiology of gastropathy associated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use |journal=Gastroenterology |volume=96 |issue=2 Pt 2 Suppl |pages=647–55 | date=February 1989 |pmid=2909442 |doi= 10.1016/S0016-5085(89)80061-7|doi-access=free }}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=November 2015}} Vioxx became one of the most prescribed drugs in history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shocker! Is Vioxx Coming Back... as an Orphan Drug?|url=https://www.medpagetoday.com/blogs/revolutionandrevelation/72647|date=2018-05-02 |website=www.medpagetoday.com|language=en}}</ref>
Thereafter, studies by Merck and by others found an increased risk of heart attack associated with Vioxx use when compared with naproxen. Merck adjusted the labeling of Vioxx to reflect possible cardiovascular risks in 2002.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Despite Warnings, Drug Giant Took Long Path to Vioxx Recall |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/business/despite-warnings-drug-giant-took-long-path-to-vioxx-recall.html |work=The New York Times | first1=Alex | last1=Berenson | author-link1=Alex Berenson |last2=Harris |first2=Gardiner |last3=Meier |first3=Barry |last4=Pollack |first4=Andrew |date=November 14, 2004 | url-access=subscription |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
On September 23, 2004, Merck received information about results from a clinical trial it was conducting that included findings of increased risk of heart attacks among Vioxx users who had been using the medication for over eighteen months.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/the-vioxx-fallout/ | title=The Vioxx Fallout | work=American Enterprise Institute - AEI | publisher=American Enterprise Institute | date=September 30, 2005}}</ref> On September 28, 2004, Merck notified the FDA that it was voluntarily withdrawing Vioxx from the market, and it publicly announced the withdrawal on September 30. An analysis for the period 1999–2004, based on U.S. Medical Expenditure Survey data, reported that Vioxx was associated with 46,783 heart attacks in the US, and along with the other popular COX-2 inhibitor Celebrex, an estimated 26,603 deaths from both.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Vaithianathan R, Hockey PM, Moore TJ, Bates DW |title=Iatrogenic effects of COX-2 inhibitors in the US population: findings from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey |journal=Drug Saf |volume=32 |issue=4 |pages=335–43 |year=2009 |pmid=19388724 |doi= 10.2165/00002018-200932040-00007|s2cid=41806262 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-10-06 |title=Report: Vioxx linked to thousands of deaths |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/report-vioxx-linked-thousands-deaths-flna1c9445945#:~:text=The%20Journal's%20report,%20citing%20a,been%20used%20instead%20of%20Vioxx. |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>
About 50,000 people sued Merck, claiming they or their family members had suffered medical problems such as heart attacks or strokes after taking Vioxx.<ref name=Reject>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/business/30drug.html | title= Courts Reject Two Major Vioxx Verdicts | first=Alex | last=Berenson | author-link=Alex Berenson | work=The New York Times | date=May 30, 2008 | url-access=limited}}</ref> In November 2007, Merck agreed to pay $4.85 billion to settle most of the pending Vioxx lawsuits.<ref name=Agrees>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/09/business/09cnd-merck.html | work=The New York Times | title=Merck Agrees to Pay $4.85 Billion in Vioxx Claims | date=November 9, 2007}}</ref> The settlement required that claimants provide medical and pharmacy records confirming the occurrence of a heart attack, ischemic stroke, or sudden cardiac death; the receipt of at least 30 Vioxx pills within 60 days prior to the injury or death; and confirmation of Vioxx being used within 14 days of the Vioxx-related event.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.officialvioxxsettlement.com/documents/Description%20of%20Settlement.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719164551/http://www.officialvioxxsettlement.com/documents/Description%20of%20Settlement.pdf | url-status=usurped | archive-date=July 19, 2008 | work=Vioxx MDL Plaintiffs' Steering Committee Official Vioxx Settlement | title=Description of Settlement Agreement | date=November 9, 2007}}</ref> The settlement was generally viewed by industry analysts and investors as a victory for Merck, considering that original estimates of Merck's liability reached between $10 billion and $25 billion.<ref name=Agrees/> As of mid-2008, when the plaintiff class had reached the threshold percentage required by Merck to go through with the settlement, plaintiffs had prevailed in only three of the twenty cases that had reached juries, all with relatively small awards.<ref name=Reject/>
Merck has refused to consider compensation for Vioxx victims and their families outside the US. This is particularly true in the UK where there are at least 400 victims and the legal protection afforded to the victims and their families is particularly weak.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10425|title=How Merck Made a Killing |last=Giles |first=J. |date=November 2008 |website=Healthy Scepticism| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081027220130/http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10425 |archive-date=October 27, 2008}} [http://www.healthyskepticism.org/global/library/item/14482 Alt URL]</ref>
According to internal e-mail traffic released at a later lawsuit, Merck had a list of doctors critical of Vioxx to be "neutralized" or "discredited". "We may need to seek them out and destroy them where they live," wrote an employee. A Stanford Medical School professor said that Merck was engaged in intimidation of researchers and infringement upon academic freedom.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.news.com.au/news/drug-company-drew-up-doctor-hit-list/news-story/eb55ca36e081d497730629e6c8559abf |title=Vioxx maker Merck and Co drew up doctor hit list |last=Rout |first=Milanda |work=The Australian |date=April 1, 2009}}</ref>
On May 20, 2008, Merck settled for $58 million with 30 states alleging that Merck engaged in deceptive marketing tactics to promote Vioxx.<ref>[http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=842595&r=1 Arizona gets $2.3 Million from Vioxx Settlement] 92.3 KTAR Retrieved May 19, 2008</ref> All its new television pain-advertisements must be vetted by the Food and Drug Administration and changed or delayed upon request until 2018.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/business/21vioxx.html | title= Merck Agrees to Settlement Over Vioxx Ads | agency=Associated Press | work=The New York Times | date=May 20, 2008 | url-access=subscription}}</ref>
===Osteonecrosis of the jaw after use of Fosamax=== Fosamax (alendronate) is a bisphosphonate used for the treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis and for the prevention of skeletal problems in certain cancers. The American College of Clinical Endocrinology, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the North American Menopause Society and the UK National Osteoporosis Guideline Group recommend alendronate and certain other bisphosphonates as first line treatments for post-menopausal osteopotosis.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: 2010 position statement of The North American Menopause Society |journal=Menopause |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=25–54; quiz 55–6 |year=2010 |pmid=20061894 |doi=10.1097/gme.0b013e3181c617e6 |s2cid=7980731 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Hauk | first=Lisa |title=ACOG releases practice bulletin on osteoporosis |journal=American Family Physician |volume=88 |issue=4 |pages=269–75 | date=August 2013 |pmid=23944732 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Compston J, Bowring C, Cooper A, etal |title=Diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and older men in the UK: National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) update 2013 |journal=Maturitas |volume=75 |issue=4 |pages=392–6 | date=August 2013 |pmid=23810490 |doi=10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.05.013 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Long-term treatment with bisphosponates produces anti-fracture and bone mineral density effects that persist for 3–5 years after an initial 3–5 years of treatment.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Eriksen EF, Díez-Pérez A, Boonen S |title=Update on long-term treatment with bisphosphonates for postmenopausal osteoporosis: a systematic review |journal=Bone |volume=58 |pages=126–35 | date=January 2014 |pmid=24120384 |doi=10.1016/j.bone.2013.09.023 }}</ref> Alendronate reduces the risk of hip, vertebral, and wrist fractures by 35-39%.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Serrano AJ, Begoña L, Anitua E, Cobos R, Orive G |title=Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of alendronate and zoledronate for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis |journal=Gynecol. Endocrinol. |volume=29 |issue=12 |pages=1005–14 | date=December 2013 |pmid=24063695 |doi=10.3109/09513590.2013.813468 |s2cid=20163452 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Gauthier K, Bai A, Perras C, etal |title=Denosumab, Raloxifene, and Zoledronic Acid for the Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: Clinical Effectiveness and Harms [Internet]. | journal=Canada's Drug Agency |pmid=24278999 |year=2012 }}</ref>
In December 2013, Merck agreed to pay a total of $27.7 million to 1,200 plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit alleging that the company's osteoporosis drug had caused them to develop osteonecrosis of the jaw. Prior to the settlement, Merck had prevailed in 3 of 5 so-called bellwether trials. Approximately 4,000 cases still await adjudication or settlement as of August 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-merck-fosamax-idUSBRE9B811S20131209 |title=Merck agrees to proposed $27.7 million settlement over Fosamax lawsuits | work=Reuters |date=December 9, 2013}}</ref>
There have also been thousands of lawsuits alleging that Fosamax increased the risk of thigh-bone fractures.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Pierson |first=Brendan |date=September 20, 2024 |title=Court revives more than 500 lawsuits over Fosamax femur fracture risk |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/court-revives-more-than-500-lawsuits-over-fosamax-femur-fracture-risk-2024-09-20/ |access-date=September 23, 2024 |work=Reuters}}</ref> In March 2022, Merck defeated approximately 500 lawsuits over Fosamax in New Jersey when U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson ruled that the plaintiffs' lawsuit was preempted by federal law.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Raymond |first=Nate |date=March 24, 2022 |title=Merck defeats 500 lawsuits over Fosamax bone-fracture risk warnings |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/merck-defeats-500-lawsuits-over-fosamax-bone-fracture-risk-warnings-2022-03-24/ |access-date=September 23, 2024 |work=Reuters}}</ref> On September 20, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit overturned that decision, holding that federal law did not block plaintiffs' state law claims against Merck over Fosamax.<ref name=":2" /> As of June 30, 2024, about 3,115 lawsuits over Fosamax were still pending against Merck in both federal and state courts in the United States.<ref name=":2" />
===Medicaid overbilling=== A fraud investigation by the United States Department of Justice began in 2000 when allegations were brought in two separate lawsuits filed by whistleblowers under the False Claims Act.<ref name="wapo"/> They alleged that Merck failed to pay proper rebates to Medicaid and other health care programs and paid illegal remuneration to health care providers.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/February/08_civ_094.html |title=Merck to Pay More than $650 Million to Resolve Claims of Fraudulent Price Reporting and Kickbacks |publisher=United States Department of Justice |date=February 7, 2008}}</ref> On February 7, 2008, Merck agreed to pay more than $650 million to settle charges that it routinely overbilled Medicaid for its most popular medicines. The settlement was one of the largest pharmaceutical settlements in history. The federal government received more than $360 million, plus 49 states and Washington, DC, received over $290 million. One whistleblower received a $68 million reward. Merck made the settlement without an admission of liability or wrongdoing.<ref name="wapo">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/07/AR2008020701336.html |title=Merck to Pay $650 Million In Medicaid Settlement |last=Johnson |first=Carrie| newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/merck-resolves-federal-and-state-investigations-related-to-certain-activities | title=Merck Resolves Federal and State Investigations Related to Certain Past Pricing And Certain Past Sales and Marketing Activities | publisher=FierceBiotech | date=February 7, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-merck/merck-reaches-settlement-in-medicaid-rebate-probe-idUSN0744064920080207 | title=Merck reaches settlement in Medicaid rebate probe | first=Jon | last=Hurdle | work=Reuters | date=February 7, 2008}}</ref>
==="Merck" name legal dispute=== In 191 of 193 countries, the original Merck company, the Merck Group of Darmstadt, owns the rights to the "Merck" name. In the United States and Canada, the company trades under the name EMD (an abbreviation of Emanuel Merck, Darmstadt), its legal name here says ''Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany'', and instead of "Merck Group", the "EMD Group" name is used. In the United States and Canada, Merck & Co. holds the rights to the trademark "Merck", while in the rest of the world the company trades under the name MSD (an abbreviation of Merck, Sharp & Dohme) and its legal name says here ''Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. Kenilworth, NJ, USA''.
In 2015 the Merck Group adopted a new logo and said it will be "much more aggressive" about protecting the brand of "the real Merck".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-02-10/a-tale-of-two-mercks-as-protesters-take-on-wrong-company |title=A Tale of Two Mercks as Protesters Take On Wrong Company|first1=Allison |last1=Connolly |first2=Makiko |last2=Kitamura |website=Bloomberg News | date=February 10, 2014 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Merck of Darmstadt has initiated litigation against its former subsidiary, Merck & Co. (MSD) of Kenilworth, in several countries over infringing use of the Merck name. In 2016, the High Court of Justice in the United Kingdom ruled that MSD had breached an agreement with its former parent company and that only Merck of Darmstadt is entitled to use the Merck name in the United Kingdom.<ref name=Fight>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-merckkgaa-name-idUSKCN0UT239/ |title=Fight over Merck name sees German firm win in British court |website=Reuters |date=January 15, 2016}}</ref> The judge also held that MSD's use of "Merck" as part of branding on its global websites were directed to the UK and infringed Merck's trade mark rights in the UK.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/merck-kgaa-darmstadt-germany-announces-favorable-uk-court-ruling-on-name-use |title=Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Announces Favorable UK Court Ruling on Name Use |magazine=Fierce Pharma | date=January 15, 2016}}</ref>
In response to the ruling, MSD initiated counter-litigation in the United States in January 2016 by filing a federal lawsuit which accused its former parent company of "infringing on its trademark" through actions that included the increased usage of "Merck KGaA" and "MERCK" in branding in the US as well as on its social media presence. Further Merck & Co. has also accused the Merck Group of federal trademark dilution, unfair competition, false advertising, deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, and cybersquatting. The case came to a head when a research scientist believed he was communicating with Merck & Co regarding a research grant in oncology, when in fact he was talking with the Merck Group. As a result, Merck & Co. asked the federal court to stop the Merck Group from using "Merck" on any products or marketing materials in the United States. As a direct result, Merck & Co is seeking "''all monetary gains, profits, and advantages''" made by the Merck Group and three-times the damage, plus additional punitive damages.<ref name=Wrangle/>
In April 2020, in the course of litigation of Merck against MSD in Switzerland, the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland ruled that MSD's use of the "Merck" brand in its global websites could, absent geotargeting mechanisms, have "commercial effect" in Switzerland and could therefore violate Merck's rights (if any) to the "Merck" brand in Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Judgment 4A_335/2019 of 29 April 2020 |url=http://relevancy.bger.ch/php/aza/http/index.php?highlight_docid=aza://aza://29-04-2020-4A_335-2019&lang=de&zoom=&type=show_document | publisher=Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland | date=April 29, 2020}}</ref>
===Tax implications of transaction accounting=== In February 2007, Merck paid $2.3 billion to the Internal Revenue Service to settle a tax dispute over the accounting treatment of transactions between 1993 and 2001.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2007/02/14/merck-agrees-to-settle-23-billion-tax-dispute-with-irs.html | title=Merck Agrees to Settle $2.3 Billion Tax Dispute with IRS |agency=Reuters | work=CNBC | date=February 14, 2007}}</ref>
===Sexual dysfunction and suicidal thoughts associated with Propecia=== In 2021, an investigation by Reuters revealed that Merck's baldness drug Propecia caused persistent sexual dysfunction in men.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=2021-02-03|title=Exclusive: Merck anti-baldness drug Propecia has long trail of suicide reports, records show|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-merck-propecia-suicide-exclusive-idUSKBN2A32XU|access-date=2022-02-20}}</ref> The drug has been linked to over 700 incidences of suicidal thoughts<ref>{{Cite web|title=Investigation Finds Merck's Anti-Baldness Drug Long Linked to Suicide Reports|url=https://www.biospace.com/article/investigation-finds-merck-s-anti-baldness-drug-long-linked-to-suicide-reports/|access-date=2022-02-20|website=BioSpace|date=4 February 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> and 110 deaths.<ref name=":0" /> Merck has been receiving reports since 1998, but never included the risks on the label.<ref name=":0" /> In 2015, Merck was sued by consumer-rights law firm Hagens Berman over a wrongful death linked to Propecia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Merck & Co. Slapped With Wrongful Death Suit Over Popular Hair Loss Drug|url=https://www.biospace.com/article/merck-and-co-slapped-with-wrongful-death-suit-over-popular-hair-loss-drug-/|access-date=2022-02-20|website=BioSpace|language=en-US}}</ref>
===Use of methylene chloride=== Merck & Co. once used methylene chloride, a "priority pollutant" on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's list of pollutants and an animal carcinogen. It was used as a solvent in the manufacturing process for imipenem, an ingredient of the antibiotic Primaxin. Merck chemists and engineers subsequently replaced the compound with others having fewer negative environmental effects. Merck has also modified its equipment to provide greater control over its manufacturing process. Biological oxygen demand was reduced by 75%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Success Story - Merck & Company Inc. - Cherokee Plant - 00155.pdf |url=https://p2infohouse.org/ref/01/00155.pdf |access-date=13 March 2026 |website=P2 Infohouse}}</ref>
=== Discharge of potassium thiocyanate === In 2007, Merck settled Clean Water Act violations related to the discharge of potassium thiocyanate and resulting fish kills in the Wissahickon creek.<ref>{{Cite web |title=12/13/2007: Merck Settles Clean Water Act Violations Related to June 2006 Fish Kills in Wissahickon Creek |url=https://www.epa.gov/archive/epapages/newsroom_archive/newsreleases/fcf170d8474c34db852573b0006806a8.html |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=www.epa.gov}}</ref> In 2011, Merck paid a $1.5 million civil penalty to settle violations of federal environmental laws at its pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in Riverside, Pennsylvania (in relation to use of methylene chloride) and West Point, Pennsylvania (in relation to discharge of potassium thiocyanate).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/merck-co-inc-settlement |title=Merck & Co., Inc. Settlement |date=9 May 2013 | publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency}}</ref>
==Politics== The company spends approximately $10 million per year on lobbying in the United States. Political contributions have mostly been to individuals and organizations associated with the Democratic Party.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/merck-co/summary?id=D000000275 | title=Merck & Co | work=OpenSecrets}}</ref> The company is a member of many industry advocacy groups and sponsors many industry events.
==Notable publications== Merck & Co. publishes ''The Merck Manuals'', a series of medical reference books for physicians, nurses, technicians, and veterinarians. These include the ''Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy'', the world's best-selling medical reference. ''The Merck Index'', a compendium of chemical compounds, was published by Merck & Co. until it was acquired by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2012.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commonscat}} * {{Official website|https://www.merck.com}} * {{OpenSecrets}} {{Finance links | name = Merck & Co., Inc. | google = MRK:NYSE | reuters = MRK.N | sec_cik = 310158 | yahoo = MRK }}
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