Merck & Co. Inc.

History

Year	Detail
1891	George Merck founded Merck & Co. to distribute fine chemicals across New York and neighboring areas in the U.S.
1933	The company's research laboratory was founded in New Jersey and includes three divisions: the Merck Institute for Therapeutic Research, Pure Research, and Applied Research.
1936	The company developed the first synthesized vitamin B₁, which significantly reduced vitamin B₁ deficiency. In the subsequent year, the company's management committed to isolating and synthesizing vitamins and making them more widely available.
1948	The introduction of sulfaquinoxaline launched the company into the animal health market. The product will help prevent coccidiosis, a parasitic poultry disease.
1950	The company commercially synthesized Cortisone to treat rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, and other chronic diseases.
1953	Merck & Co. Inc. merged with Sharp & Dohme while bringing Merck's chemical research and manufacturing facilities with Sharp & Dohme's pharmaceutical development, marketing expertise, and international presence.
1957	The company established the Merck Company Foundation, a nonprofit organization with an initial contribution of $500,000.
1970	The company discovered the treatment for trichinosis spread among animals. The treatment helps protect the reindeer and indigenous peoples who are depended on them for survival.
1971	The company distributed the measles-mumps-rubella (M-M-R) vaccine developed by Drs. Maurice Hilleman and Eugene B. Buynak. This vaccine includes ATTENUVAX, MERUVAX, and MUMPSVAX.
1977	The company's first pneumonia vaccine, PNEUMOVAX, was developed under Dr. Maurice Hilleman's direction and approved by the FDA.
1978	FDA-approved Mefoxin, which will be used to treat gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens.
1985	FDA-approved VASOTEC, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used for the treatment of high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.
1986	The company's recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, RECOMBIVAX HB was approved by FDA.
1996	FDA-approved company CRIXIVAN (INDINAVIR SULFATE) is used for the treatment of HIV.
1998	FDA-approved SINGULAIR is used for the treatment and prevention of asthma. This product was under research for 20 years at the company's Frosst discovery hub in Kirkland, Canada.
2006	FDA approved JANUVIA (sitagliptin), a DPP-4 inhibitor to treat Type 2 diabetes.
2009	Merck & Co. Inc. merged with Schering-Plough and started its business operations.
2014	FDA-approved BRAVECTO, a chewable tablet for dogs that kills various fleas and tick species for 12 weeks in a single dose.
2019	The company received FDA approval for the Ebola Zaire vaccine, Live (ERVEBO), to prevent disease caused by Zaire ebolavirus in people 18 and older