Company Overview

Merck and Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ USA is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Merck discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets vaccines and medicines in over 20 therapeutic categories directly and through its joint ventures. Our mission is to provide society with superior products and services by developing innovations and solutions that improve the quality of life. The focus of research at Merck is on innovation in all areas of drug research and development, working on programs to satisfy unmet medical needs.

With approximately 60,000 employees, Merck conducts research at ten major research centers in the United States, Europe, and Japan, manufactures products in 30 facilities, and sells products in approximately 150 countries.

At Merck, our strategy for growth is based on breakthrough research - both internal and external through partnerships - and demonstrating the value of our medicines to patients, payers, and providers. Worldwide sales in 2004 were $22.9 billion. Merck continues to invest heavily in research and development, with R&D spending in 2005 estimated to be approximately $4 billion.

Merck's product line includes a broad portfolio of highly innovative prescription products in important therapeutic areas. Human health products include medicines to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, elevated cholesterol levels, osteoporosis, benign prostatic hypertrophy, arthritis, pain, migraine, glaucoma, gastrointestinal ulcers, infectious diseases (antibiotic, anti-fungal, and antiviral agents), and vaccines to prevent childhood diseases and hepatitis A and B.

Embracing Partnerships

At Merck, we are strongly committed to partnership success. We have a long tradition of successful partnerships. Alliances with innovative partners are an integral part of our long-term business and research strategy. More than one-third of our sales are from alliance products and patents, including some of our biggest growth drivers.

Our vision is to create a "virtual lab" - the pursuit of the best scientific programs from both internal research and external collaborations. This approach will accelerate the successful development and commercialization of breakthrough discoveries that can bring meaningful improvements to patients' lives.

Our focus is seeking alliances for new NCE's and biological entities as product candidates for development. We are open to basic research collaborations and early research technologies as well.

Merck welcomes partnerships touching virtually all human health therapeutic areas that address unmet needs for patients, as well as technologies that will enhance the productivity of our research laboratories. Therapeutic areas of particular interest include cancer, central nervous system disorders, diabetes, and obesity. Also of interest include the following: anti-infectives, anti-virals, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, immunology, new vaccine technology, ophthalmics, osteoporosis, pain, respiratory, vaccines, and platform research technology.

Contact Information

To contact Merck about a licensing opportunity, please contact Chief Licensing Officer, Merck & Co., Inc., One Merck Drive, P.O. Box 100, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889 USA; Tel: 903-423-4350; Fax: 908-735-1201. Please provide a brief, non-confidential overview of your discovery with sufficient data to allow a preliminary scientific review.

For further information, please visit our website at http://www.merck.com/licensing/