Merck & Co.

Merck & Co is an American pharmaceutical company that is engaged in research, development, production and marketing of a broad range of innovative healthcare products for humans and animals. It is currently considered as one of the seven largest pharmaceutical companies in the world in terms of both capitalization and revenue. It is based in the United States, with its headquarters located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, the company is known under the name Merck Sharp & Dohme. Merck & Co was established as a subsidiary of Merck KGaA in 1891 and as an independent company in 1917.

Merck & Co’s pharmaceutical segment provides a wide array of products for human healthcare. It consists of therapeutic and preventive medicine, such as Cozaar, which is used to treat hypertension and diabetic nephropathy; Emend, which treats nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy; Fosamax, which is used to treat osteoporosis; Maxalt, which cures migraines; Singulair, which is used to treat asthma; and Primaxin, an antibiotic.

The company also manufactures vaccines, including Gardasil, which protects against HPV, a sexually transmitted disease; ProQuad, which simultaneously prevents measles, mumps, rubella and varicella in children; and Recombivax HB, which is used to protect against hepatitis B.