Merck & Co. Inc.
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| Merck & Co. Inc. | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Kenilworth, N.J. |
| Top official: | Kenneth C. Frazier, Chairman and CEO |
| Year founded: | 1891 |
| Website: | Official website |
Merck & Co. Inc. was the second-largest biopharmaceutical company in the United States as of 2016. The company performed pharmaceutical research to develop medicines and vaccines for humans and animals. Merck is based in Kenilworth, New Jersey.[1][2]
Mission
According to the organization's website, Merck & Co. Inc. had the following mission statement:
| “ | To discover, develop and provide innovative products and services that save and improve lives around the world.[2][4] | ” |
Background
Merck & Co. Inc. was established in 1891 as the U.S. branch of the German-based drug manufacturer Merck KGaA. The U.S. government seized the Merck stock in 1917 due to the company's German connections during World War I. George Merck reacquired the company's stock in 1919 and established Merck as an independent business in the United States. The company operated as Merck in the United States and Canada and as MSD in more than 140 other countries.[1][2][5]
As of 2016, Merck's researchers aimed to develop medicines and vaccines for humans and animals. The company's scientists pioneered a number of pharmaceutical products, including the measles vaccine, antacids, cold medicines, and statin drugs. Merck's researchers had focused on developing medicines to address "hepatitis C, HIV, diabetes and immuno-oncology."[2][5]
Political activity
As of 2016, Merck & Co. Inc. aimed to support its public policy priorities through participation in U.S. political process. According to the company's website, Merck aimed "to inform and advocate for public policies that foster research into innovative medicines and that improve access to medicines, vaccines and health care."[6]
Merck made political contributions to federal and state candidates through Merck PAC, its voluntary, employee-funded political action committee. The company also made direct corporate contributions to state or local candidates and political committees when permissible by law. In addition, Merck was a member of 501(c)(6) professional industry and trade organizations that aimed to advocate for the interests of the pharmaceutical industry, such as Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).[6][7]
Lobbying
The following table displays Merck's federal lobbying expenditures according to the Center for Responsive Politics:[8]
| Federal lobbying expenditures for Merck & Co. Inc., 2010-2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Total expenditures | |
| 2015 | $5,540,000 | |
| 2014 | $4,820,000 | |
| 2013 | $6,030,000 | |
| 2012 | $9,510,000 | |
| 2011 | $8,245,000 | |
| 2010 | $7,612,510 | |
Ballot measure activity
Merck had taken positions on ballot measures that seek to impact prescription drug pricing. The company was a financial supporter of Californians Against the Deceptive RX Proposition, the leading coalition behind the No on Prop 61 campaign. The coalition opposed the 2016 California Drug Price Standards Initiative (Proposition 61), which proposed to regulate drug prices by requiring state agencies to pay the same prices for prescription drugs as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).[3][9]
"The measure would impose unworkable contracting requirements for some state prescription drug purchases based on prices paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)," stated the No on Prop 61 website. "Independent experts warn the measure could increase state prescription drug costs, while reducing patient access to medicines."[10]
Overview of ballot measure support and opposition
The following table details Merck's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for the Merck & Co. Inc. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Status |
| California Proposition 61, Drug Price Standards (2016) | 2016 | Opposed[3] |  Defeated
|
| California Proposition 78, Prescription Drug Discount Program Initiative (2005) | 2005 | Supported[11] | Defeated
|
Leadership
As of October 2016, Merk & Co. Inc. leadership included the following individuals:[12]
- Kenneth C. Frazier, Chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer
- Sanat Chattopadhyay, Executive vice president and president of the Merck Manufacturing Division
- Robert M. Davis, Executive vice president, chief financial officer and global services
- Richard R. DeLuca Jr., Executive vice president and president of Merck Animal Health
- Julie L. Gerberding, Executive vice president and chief patient officer, strategic communications, global public policy and population health
- Mirian M. Graddick-Weir, Executive vice president, human resources
- Michael J. Holston, Executive vice president and general counsel
- Roger M. Perlmutter, Executive vice president and president of Merck Research Laboratories
- Adam H. Schechter, Executive vice president and president of Global Human Health
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Merck & Co. Inc.. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- California Proposition 61, Drug Price Standards (2016)
- California 2016 ballot measures
- Healthcare policy in California
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Drug Watch, "Merck & Co.," accessed October 3, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Merck & Co. Inc., "About us," accessed October 3, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 California Fair Political Practices Commission, "November 2016 General Election," accessed October 2, 2016, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Merck & Co. Inc., "Our history," accessed October 3, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Merck & Co., "Our approach-public policy," accessed October 27, 2016
- ↑ Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, "Members," accessed October 26, 2016
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, "Merck & Co.," accessed October 26, 2016
- ↑ No on Prop 61, "Home," accessed October 3, 2016
- ↑ No on Prop 61, "Get the facts," accessed October 3, 2016
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Drug Industry Wins Despite Defeat, Some Say," November 10, 2005
- ↑ Merck & Co. Inc., "Executive committee," accessed October 3, 2016
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