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May 16, 2013
Coppertone encourages parents to protect children from UV rays year-round

Merck Consumer Care, the makers of Coppertone, launched today the "Making the Sunscreen Grade" program to equip parents with tools to help their children develop lifelong sun habits.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck Consumer Care, the makers of Coppertone, launched today the "Making the Sunscreen Grade" program to equip parents with tools to help their children develop lifelong sun habits, including those that protect them from the sun during the school day.

May 8, 2013
Merck submits FDA filing for ragweed allergy drug

Drug maker Merck is seeking regulatory approval for an experimental tablet placed under the tongue that could be used to treat ragweed allergies.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Drug maker Merck is seeking regulatory approval for an experimental tablet placed under the tongue that could be used to treat ragweed allergies.

Merck said the Food and Drug Administration accepted a regulatory application for its ragweed pollen sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet. Ragweed, also known as Ambrosia artemisiifolia, is a major cause of seasonal allergies in the United States. Merck also submitted an application for a similar drug, for Timothy grass pollen allergies, in March.

May 6, 2013
FDA approves Merck cholesterol drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by Merck for treating high cholesterol, the drug maker said.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by Merck for treating high cholesterol, the drug maker said.

Merck announced the approval of Liptruzet (ezetimibe and atorvastatin). The drug combines two preexisting cholesterol drugs: ezetimibe, which Merck markets under the brand name Zetia, and atorvastatin, which Pfizer markets under the name Lipitor. Both drugs are available as generics, but because Liptruzet is a novel combination of them, it required FDA approval as a new drug.

March 8, 2013
Leticia Moreinos Schwartz to promote Type 2 diabetes awareness among Hispanics

Drug maker Merck has hired celebrity chef and cookbook author Leticia Moreinos Schwartz as a spokeswoman to reach out to Hispanics living with Type 2 diabetes, the drug maker said.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Drug maker Merck has hired celebrity chef and cookbook author Leticia Moreinos Schwartz as a spokeswoman to reach out to Hispanics living with Type 2 diabetes, the drug maker said Friday.

January 25, 2013
Merck: FDA approves Oxytrol for Women, creating overactive bladder category in OTC

Merck on Friday announced the Food and Drug Administration has approved the switch of Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin transdermal system, 3.9 mg/day) from prescription-only to nonprescription, creating a new category — overactive bladder in women — in the OTC area.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck on Friday announced the Food and Drug Administration has approved the switch of Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin transdermal system, 3.9 mg/day) from prescription-only to nonprescription, creating a new category — overactive bladder in women — in the OTC area. Most notable about this switch is the fact that the FDA approved Oxytrol for Women against the majority opinion of its Nonprescription Drug Advisory Committee, which voted five in favor and six opposed to the switch in November. 

December 3, 2012
Merck starts Alzheimer's drug trial

Merck has started a clinical trial that it hopes will eventually enroll 1,700 patients to evaluate an experimental drug for Alzheimer's disease, the company said.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck has started a clinical trial that it hopes will eventually enroll 1,700 patients to evaluate an experimental drug for Alzheimer's disease, the company said.

Merck announced the start of "EPOCH," a combined phase-2 and phase-3 study of the drug MK-8931, a 78-week trial in which patients will take either the drug in the 12-mg, 40-mg or 60-mg doses or placebo.

November 8, 2012
FDA accepts Merck application for insomnia drug

The Food and Drug Administration has accepted an application from Merck for an experimental drug for insomnia, the drug maker said Thursday.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted an application from Merck for an experimental drug for insomnia, the drug maker said Thursday.

Merck announced the the FDA's acceptance of its regulatory filing for suvorexant, which the FDA's Controlled Substances Staff will review while the agency is reviewing the application.

October 9, 2012
Merck to move HQ in New Jersey

Merck is moving its global headquarters from Whitehouse Station, N.J., to its existing property in Summit, N.J., which currently houses research, manufacturing, animal health and consumer care operations.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck is moving its global headquarters from Whitehouse Station, N.J., to its existing property in Summit, N.J., which currently houses research, manufacturing, animal health and consumer care operations.

September 10, 2012
Patients who stop taking insomnia drug continue having sleeping problems, Merck study finds

A study of an experimental drug for insomnia indicated that patients who stop taking it continue having sleeping problems, according to results of a clinical trial announced Monday.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — A study of an experimental drug for insomnia indicated that patients who stop taking it continue having sleeping problems, according to results of a clinical trial announced Monday.

Merck released data from a phase-3 trial of suvorexant in which patients who had been taking the drug daily for a year were switched to placebo for a two-month "discontinuation phase." Patients who were switched from the drug to placebo showed sleeping difficulties similar to those who had consistently taken placebo.

April 30, 2012
Merck wins patent infringement suits against Mylan

Mylan will be barred from marketing a generic version of a Merck cardiovascular drug until the drug's patent expires, under a court ruling announced Friday.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Mylan will be barred from marketing a generic version of a Merck cardiovascular drug until the drug's patent expires, under a court ruling announced Friday.

Merck said the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey ruled against Mylan in two patent infringement suits related to the drugs Zetia (ezetimibe) and Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin). Specifically, the court ruled that a patent covering the drug, RE 42,461, is valid and enforceable and enjoined Mylan from launching until the patents expiration in April 2017.

April 16, 2012
Merck, Endocyte sign deal to develop cancer drug

Two drug makers have signed a deal to develop an experimental drug for treating two types of cancer.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Two drug makers have signed a deal to develop an experimental drug for treating two types of cancer.

Merck and Endocyte announced that they would develop and commercialize the latter's drug EC145 (vintafolide), currently in a phase-3 trial, as a treatment for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and a phase-2 trial for non-small cell lung cancer. Both studies are also using Endocyte's experimental diagnostic agent, EC20 (etarfolatide).

March 6, 2012
FDA declines to approve Merck cholesterol drug

The Food and Drug Administration is asking for additional data before it approves a new cholesterol drug made by Merck, the drug maker said.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration is asking for additional data before it approves a new cholesterol drug made by Merck, the drug maker said.

Merck said the agency issued a complete response letter for its regulatory approval application for a drug that would combine the cholesterol drug Zetia (ezetimibe) with atorvastatin, the active ingredient in Pfizer's Lipitor. A complete response letter means that the FDA cannot approve a drug application in its current form.

February 7, 2012
Investigational Merck drug 'significantly' reduces cardiovascular death

A drug under development by Merck "significantly" reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death in patients, according to clinical trial results announced Tuesday.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — A drug under development by Merck "significantly" reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death in patients, according to clinical trial results announced Tuesday.

February 2, 2012
FDA approves Merck diabetes drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Merck for Type 2 diabetes, the drug maker said Thursday.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Merck for Type 2 diabetes, the drug maker said Thursday.

Merck announced the approval of Janumet XR (sitagliptin and metformin hydrochloride) extended-release tablets as a once-daily treatment for the disease.

November 23, 2011
Report: Merck KGaA alleges that Merck took over its Facebook page

Facebook wars happen all the time, but it's not often that drug manufacturers duke it out online.

NEW YORK — Facebook wars happen all the time, but it's not often that drug manufacturers duke it out online.

October 6, 2011
Merck chairman announces retirement

Merck chairman Richard Clark is retiring, the company said Thursday.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck chairman Richard Clark is retiring, the company said Thursday.

Merck announced that Clark, who remained chairman of the company after stepping down as president and CEO in 2010, would retire from the company and its board of directors as of Dec. 1. Kenneth Frazier took over as president and CEO in January 2011, and the board has elected him to serve as chairman following Clark's departure.

October 5, 2011
FDA to review Merck, Ariad drug for bone, soft-tissue sarcomas

The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a regulatory approval application from Merck and Ariad Pharmaceuticals for a new drug to treat soft-tissue and bone cancers, the drug makers said Wednesday.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a regulatory approval application from Merck and Ariad Pharmaceuticals for a new drug to treat soft-tissue and bone cancers, the drug makers said Wednesday.

The FDA is expected to complete its review of ridaforolimus for soft-tissue and bone sarcomas in patients who have shown a favorable response to chemotherapy by second quarter 2012.

Sarcomas are cancers of the body's connective tissues, and treatment options remain limited, the companies said.

July 29, 2011
Merck announces plans to trim workforce

Merck disclosed plans to reduce its workforce by 12% to 13% by the end of 2015, the company announced Friday in its second-quarter earnings release.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck disclosed plans to reduce its workforce by 12% to 13% by the end of 2015, the company announced Friday in its second-quarter earnings release.

July 14, 2011
Merck partners with universities to research ways to eradicate HIV

A team comprised of scientists from drug maker Merck and several U.S. universities will look for ways to eradicate HIV, Merck said.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — A team comprised of scientists from drug maker Merck and several U.S. universities will look for ways to eradicate HIV, Merck said.

June 13, 2011
Merck, Hanwha to develop Enbrel biosimilar

Merck will collaborate with a Korean manufacturer to develop a biosimilar version of a drug used for autoimmune diseases.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck will collaborate with a Korean manufacturer to develop a biosimilar version of a drug used for autoimmune diseases.

Merck, which operates outside the United States and Canada as MSD to avoid confusion with Germany-based Merck KGaA, announced Monday a collaboration with Seoul, South Korea-based Hanwha Chemical to develop and commercialize HD203, a biosimilar version of Enbrel (etanercept), made by Amgen and Pfizer. The drug is used to treat such disorders as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

May 16, 2011
Merck closes Inspire acquisition

Drug maker Merck has completed its acquisition of eye care company Inspire.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Drug maker Merck has completed its acquisition of eye care company Inspire.

As previously reported, Merck announced its plan to acquire the company for $5 per share in cash, or $430 million. In addition, Monarch Transaction, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck, has merged with and into Inspire, with Inspire surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck, effective today.

May 9, 2011
Merck kicks off Hope Against Hepatitis C initiative

Drug maker Merck announced that it has kicked off an initiative that includes a wide range of public education and patient support programs, as well as research efforts to help improve care for people living with chronic hepatitis C virus infections.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Drug maker Merck announced that it has kicked off an initiative that includes a wide range of public education and patient support programs, as well as research efforts to help improve care for people living with chronic hepatitis C virus infections.

Merck's Hope Against Hepatitis C initiative includes a variety of public-private partnerships, educational programs and collaborative research efforts aimed at supporting the hepatitis C community.

April 28, 2011
Merck closer to acquiring Inspire

Merck has cleared a hurdle in its effort to buy eye care company Inspire Pharmaceuticals for $430 million, the company said Thursday.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck has cleared a hurdle in its effort to buy eye care company Inspire Pharmaceuticals for $430 million, the company said Thursday.

The expiration of the waiting period mandated by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 brings Merck one step closer to acquiring Inspire.

Merck announced its intention to buy Raleigh, N.C.-based Inspire for $5 per share on April 15.

April 21, 2011
Merck, Sanofi commence late-stage trial for childhood diseases vaccine

Merck and Sanofi Pasteur have started a late-stage clinical trial of a combination vaccine for six childhood diseases, the companies said Thursday.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck and Sanofi Pasteur have started a late-stage clinical trial of a combination vaccine for six childhood diseases, the companies said Thursday.

April 12, 2011
Sylatron OKed as add-on melanoma treatment

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment made by Merck for treating skin cancer, Merck said Monday.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment made by Merck for treating skin cancer, Merck said Monday.

Merck announced the approval of Sylatron (peginterferon alfa-2b) as an add-on treatment for treating melanoma with microscopic of gross nodal involvement within 84 days of surgery.