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| Many popular and successful products have emerged from Merck's laboratories. After ]'s isolation of ] from ] in ], Merck pioneered (from ]) the commercial manufacture of morphine for an expanding global market. From ] onwards, Merck played a vigorous role too in the production and marketing of ]. ], author of '']'' (1884), was an enthusiastic collaborator in Merck's coca research, though the methodological sophistication of his self-experimentation studies has been challenged. | Many popular and successful products have emerged from Merck's laboratories. After ]'s isolation of ] from ] in ], Merck pioneered (from ]) the commercial manufacture of morphine for an expanding global market. From ] onwards, Merck played a vigorous role too in the production and marketing of ]. ], author of '']'' (1884), was an enthusiastic collaborator in Merck's coca research, though the methodological sophistication of his self-experimentation studies has been challenged. | ||
| Around ], Merck began producing and later patented ] (]). After ], a lack of ] and ] forced Merck to close its overseas division, including the ] subsidiary in the ] (which had been confiscated during the war). Attention was directed at ] as a new ] category, and ] was introduced in ], followed by ]in ]. | Around ], Merck began producing and later patented ] (]). After ], a lack of ] and ] forced Merck to close its overseas division, including the ] subsidiary in the ] (which had been confiscated during the war). Attention was directed at ] as a new ] category, and ] was introduced in ], followed by ]in ]. | ||
| Following the defeat of ] in ], Merck was granted permission by the military government to produce drugs, pesticides, food preservatives, reagents, and fine chemicals for laboratory use. Soon afterwards the boom commonly known as the "]" (]) set in. For Merck this meant two-digit sales-growth figures for many years. Successful pharmaceutical agents of this time included ] preparations — for example ], which is still used today —, the cold remedy ] or the hormone preparations ] and ]. In the chemical-research sector, work started on pearl-lustre ] in ], while the company's involvement in ] was initiated ten years later. In the area of ], Merck played a leading role in the development of ] methods. | Following the defeat of ] in ], Merck was granted permission by the military government to produce drugs, pesticides, food preservatives, reagents, and fine chemicals for laboratory use. Soon afterwards the boom commonly known as the "]" (]) set in. For Merck this meant two-digit sales-growth figures for many years. Successful pharmaceutical agents of this time included ] preparations — for example ], which is still used today —, the cold remedy ] or the hormone preparations ] and ]. In the chemical-research sector, work started on pearl-lustre ] in ], while the company's involvement in ] was initiated ten years later. In the area of ], Merck played a leading role in the development of ] methods. | ||
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| Merck's mission statement: The mission of Merck is to provide ] with superior products and services by developing innovations and solutions that improve the ] and satisfy customer needs, and to provide ]s with meaningful work and advancement opportunities, and ]s with a superior rate of return. | Merck's mission statement: The mission of Merck is to provide ] with superior products and services by developing innovations and solutions that improve the ] and satisfy customer needs, and to provide ]s with meaningful work and advancement opportunities, and ]s with a superior rate of return. | ||
| Merck prides itself on its commitment to ] and its ]. |
Merck prides itself on its commitment to ] and its ]. ] has distributed over $160 million to educational and non-profit organizations since it was founded in ]. Merck has also published the ] since ], which has been used by doctors and families alike. | ||
| ==Resources== | ==Resources== | ||
Revision as of 22:38, 12 March 2004
Merck or Merck KGaA is a self-described "leading global research-driven pharmaceutical products and services company" based in Germany.
Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of innovative products to improve human and animal health, directly and through its joint ventures.
History
Merck has a colourful and varied history. The roots of Merck reach back into the 17th Century. In 1668, Friedrich Jacob Merck, an apothecary, assumed ownership of the "Engel-Apotheke" (Angel Pharmacy) in Darmstadt, German.
In 1816, Emanuel Merck took over the pharmacy. Thanks to his good scientific education he was successful in isolating and characterizing alkaloids in the pharmacy laboratory. He began manufacturing of these substances "in bulk" in 1827, toting them as a "Cabinet of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Innovations" for sale. He and his successors gradually built up a chemical-pharmaceutical factory that produced — in addition to raw materials for pharmaceutical preparations — a multitude of other chemicals and (from 1990) medicines.
In 1891, George Merck began to establish his roots in the United States and set up Merck & Co., Inc. in New York, U.S.A. Originally started off as a fine chemicals suppliers, Merck & Co., Inc began its pharmaceutical research in the early 1930's. Today, Merck & Co., Inc. has about 70,000 employees in 120 countries and 31 factories worldwide.
Drug Discoveries
Many popular and successful products have emerged from Merck's laboratories. After Wilhelm Adam Sertürner's isolation of morphine from opium in 1805, Merck pioneered (from 1827) the commercial manufacture of morphine for an expanding global market. From 1884 onwards, Merck played a vigorous role too in the production and marketing of cocaine. Sigmund Freud, author of Über Coca (1884), was an enthusiastic collaborator in Merck's coca research, though the methodological sophistication of his self-experimentation studies has been challenged.
Around World War I, Merck began producing and later patented MDMA (ecstacy). After World War I, a lack of skilled workers and raw materials forced Merck to close its overseas division, including the Merck and Co. subsidiary in the United States (which had been confiscated during the war). Attention was directed at vitamins as a new product category, and Vigantol was introduced in 1927, followed by Cebionin 1934.
Following the defeat of Germany in World War II, Merck was granted permission by the military government to produce drugs, pesticides, food preservatives, reagents, and fine chemicals for laboratory use. Soon afterwards the boom commonly known as the "Wirtschaftswunder" (economic miracle) set in. For Merck this meant two-digit sales-growth figures for many years. Successful pharmaceutical agents of this time included corticoid preparations — for example Fortecortin, which is still used today —, the cold remedy Nasivin or the hormone preparations Gestafortin and Menova. In the chemical-research sector, work started on pearl-lustre pigments in 1957, while the company's involvement in liquid crystals was initiated ten years later. In the area of analytical chemistry, Merck played a leading role in the development of chromatographic methods.
Mission
Merck's mission statement: The mission of Merck is to provide society with superior products and services by developing innovations and solutions that improve the quality of life and satisfy customer needs, and to provide employees with meaningful work and advancement opportunities, and investors with a superior rate of return.
Merck prides itself on its commitment to diversity and its social conscience. The Merck Company Foundation has distributed over $160 million to educational and non-profit organizations since it was founded in 1957. Merck has also published the Merck Manual of Medical Information since 1899, which has been used by doctors and families alike.