# Merck

> Merck & Co. is a research-intensive biopharmaceutical company based in Rahway, New Jersey, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. It develops and sells prescription medicines, biologic therapies, vaccines and animal-health products, with a commercial engine led by the cancer immunotherapy KEYTRUDA and balanced by vaccines, cardiopulmonary medicines and a sizable veterinary business. Merck serves patients through wholesalers, hospitals, physicians, governments and managed-care systems, while its animal-health unit sells to veterinarians, farmers, producers and pet owners.

- **Founded:** 1891
- **Headquarters:** Rahway, New Jersey, United States
- **Founders:** George Merck (Founder)
- **Team size:** Approximately 75,000 employees as of December 31, 2025, including about 24,700 people in research activities.
- **Products:** KEYTRUDA and KEYTRUDA QLEX, GARDASIL 9, WINREVAIR, LIPFENDRA, CAPVAXIVE
- **Notable:** Founded in the United States in 1891 and published the first Merck Manual in 1899., Developed the first recombinant vaccine approved for human use, RECOMBIVAX HB, in 1986., Introduced lovastatin, the first commercial statin approved by the FDA, in 1987.

## Products & services

- **KEYTRUDA and KEYTRUDA QLEX** — A PD-1 cancer immunotherapy franchise, including intravenous pembrolizumab and a subcutaneous formulation, used across numerous approved cancer settings.
- **GARDASIL 9** — A nine-valent vaccine for prevention of diseases caused by specified human papillomavirus types.
- **WINREVAIR** — Sotatercept-csrk, an activin signaling inhibitor for adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension used with background therapy.
- **LIPFENDRA** — Enlicitide, a once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor approved in the United States to reduce LDL cholesterol in adults with hypercholesterolemia.
- **CAPVAXIVE** — A 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine designed around serotypes that cause invasive pneumococcal disease.
- **OHTUVAYRE** — An inhaled maintenance treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease added through the acquisition of Verona Pharma.
- **Merck Animal Health** — Veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, identification, traceability and monitoring products for companion animals and livestock.
- **Merck Manuals** — A medical reference covering thousands of health topics for professionals and consumers; the first edition appeared in 1899.

## Achievements

- Founded in the United States in 1891 and published the first Merck Manual in 1899.
- Developed the first recombinant vaccine approved for human use, RECOMBIVAX HB, in 1986.
- Introduced lovastatin, the first commercial statin approved by the FDA, in 1987.
- Created the Mectizan Donation Program in 1987 with a commitment to donate as much as needed for as long as needed to help eliminate river blindness.
- Received the first FDA approval for an anti-PD-1 therapy with KEYTRUDA in 2014.
- Received FDA approval for ERVEBO, a vaccine against Zaire ebolavirus disease, in 2019.
- Built KEYTRUDA and KEYTRUDA QLEX into a $31.68 billion franchise in 2025.
- Maintained a late-stage pipeline exceeding 50 Phase 2 programs, 30 Phase 3 programs and five programs under review as of April 30, 2026.
- Received FDA approval for LIPFENDRA, a once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor, in July 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Merck reported second-quarter sales of $16.607 billion, up 5% year over year, and raised its full-year sales outlook to $66.3 billion-$67.3 billion.
- **2026-07** — The FDA approved LIPFENDRA, or enlicitide, as a once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor to reduce LDL cholesterol in adults with hypercholesterolemia.
- **2026-07** — Merck and Gilead reported Phase 3 results showing an investigational once-weekly oral islatravir-lenacapavir regimen maintained viral suppression in adults who switched HIV therapy.
- **2026-05** — Merck completed its $6.8 billion acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals, adding the chronic myeloid leukemia candidate now called MK-4208.
- **2026-05** — Merck and Moderna presented five-year follow-up data for intismeran autogene plus KEYTRUDA in high-risk resected melanoma.
- **2026-01** — Merck completed the acquisition of Cidara Therapeutics, adding the long-acting antiviral candidate CD388 to its respiratory portfolio.

## Links

- Website: https://www.merck.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/merck
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Merck
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Merck
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merck
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MerckInvents

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Last updated: 2026-08-11