In 1668, German pharmacist John Merck founded his family's first pharmaceutical company in Demstadt, and the Merck pharmaceutical kingdom began.
In 1891, Georg Merck took over the New York branch of Merck of Germany and founded Merck & Co., which continued to produce chemicals in the next few years. After World War I, Merck (Merck, USA) turned into an independent American-owned company and became a world-famous pharmaceutical company.
In 1933, Merck set up the first scientific research laboratory in the United States. This laboratory refined and manufactured vitamin B12 and produced the first steroid, cortisone. During World War II, George Merck, the grandson of the founder of the German company and the CEO of the company at the time, transferred 80% of the German shares to the U.S. government, while keeping the remaining 20%. After the war, the government's shares were listed.
Merck and Dohme merged in 1953
In 1953, Merck and Sharp and Dohme merged to form Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD). ), establishing a fully integrated transnational drug production and distribution industry. According to the agreement between Merck of Germany and Merck of the United States (Merck of the United States), Merck can only use the name "Merck" in North America (the United States and Canada), and must use the name of Merck outside the United States. At this point, Merck of Germany and Merck & Co. (Merck, USA) has officially broken up. Subsequently, Merck & Co. marketed its products around the world under the Merck Sharp & Dohme brand.
In 1992, Merck (China) Co., Ltd. was established in Hong Kong.
Hangzhou MSD Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
In June 1994, the joint venture Hangzhou MSD Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. was established, beginning Merck's exciting journey in China.
On March 9, 2009, Merck announced that it would acquire the multinational pharmaceutical giant Schering-Plough, also a Fortune 500 company, for US$41.1 billion to form a new Merck. The new company will become the world's second largest pharmaceutical company. , the new Merck will also continue to uphold the famous saying of the company's founder, Mr. George W. Merck, "We should always remember: Drugs are produced for human beings, not for the pursuit of profits. As long as we stick to this belief, With the lofty values ??of "profits will follow", we will continue to strive for the cause of human health