Large-Cap Pharmaceuticals

Merck & Co., Inc.

The Company

Until two international mergers last year, Merck & Co. <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: MRK)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: MRK)") end if %> was the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer in the world. Based in cosmopolitan Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, Merck has produced blockbuster drug after blockbuster drug by harnessing the scientific know-how of its unparalleled research and development team. Merck's decision in the 1930s to produce "university quality" research has set its research efforts apart, attracted renowned scientists, and earned employees of the company numerous Nobel prizes over the years.

Recent big drugs from Merck have included the high blood pressure medication Cozaar, chicken pox vaccine Varivax, heartburn medication Pepcid AC, and anti-osteoporosis drug Fosamax. The company has a sizable animal health unit that it co-owns with Rhone-Poulec and has also entered into the drug mail-order and pharmacy benefit program management market in anticipation of the growth of managed care with the acquisition of Medco Containment and Systemed. Along with Johnson & Johnson, the company represents the healthcare industry on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.  (Go to next snapshot.)

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