Merck & Co (US)

Merck is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, with a portfolio currently led by asthma treatment Singulair. The group has struggled against multiple setbacks in recent years, the most serious of which were the repercussions from defects in its blockbuster arthritis medicine Vioxx. Merck withdrew that product in 2004 after publication of a report which demonstrated that it increased the risk of heart attacks in some patients. A series of lawsuits ensued, although for the most part Merck was exonerated of any fault and later announced a settlement to cover all subsequent suits. As if that were not enough to contend with, the company's flagship product Zocor lost its patent in 2006, and Merck seemed to have comparatively few other blockbusters in its pipeline. Yet the company has made a dynamic recovery since then, turning what appeared to be a clutch of minor vaccines into what could now be substantial new products. In 2009 it announced plans to acquire smaller competitor Schering-Plough. The two companies are already partners in a global asthma and anti-cholesterol joint venture. Advertising Age estimated global measured advertising expenditure of $395m in 2007, making Merck the world's #88 advertiser.

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Merck website

Crixivan	Vioxx
Fosamax	Zocor
Maxalt	Cozaar
Propecia	Merck Vaccines
Proscar	Merial
Zetia	Singulair

Merck Sharp & Dohme

Banyu Pharmaceutical

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