Merck & Co., Inc. can look back proudly across nearly a century of innovative drug discovery and organic growth.

From its humble origins as an apothecary shop in Darmstadt in Germany, few could have predicted that by the year 2006, our parent company would be employing over 60,000 people worldwide.

In 1668, an apothecary, E. Merck, founded a small family business in Darmstadt in Germany, trading primarily in fine chemicals. However, as generations succeeded generations, the company, E. Merck, gradually expanded and became a successful and well respected producer and international exporter of pharmaceutical products.

By 1900, on the strength of its portfolio of plant alkaloids such as morphine and quinine, the company employed 800 workers, 50 pharmacologists, and an office staff of 150. By 1913, E. Merck had a payroll of 2,000.

Part of the E. Merck growth strategy during the early years included setting up a partner company, Merck & Co., in New York, which specialised in developing synthetic cortical hormones, and began to foster innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Business in the “New World” flourished and, in 1918, Merck & Co., Inc., became independent of its German parent and began the move into science-based innovation to complement its manufacturing activities.

By 1950, exports accounted for 20% of the company's business and, in order to broaden its network for overseas distribution, Merck & Co., Inc. merged with Sharp & Dohme and, in 1953, Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited was born.

The merger between Merck & Co., Inc., and Sharp & Dohme in 1953 led to the development of one of the most dominant forces in the UK and Irish pharmaceutical industries. The strength to invest in ground-breaking research quickly led to the discovery of many new drugs that changed the way many potentially life-threatening illnesses were treated.

In 1953, the UK headquarters of Merck Sharp & Dohme opened in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. The Company then acquired Thomas Morson & Son Ltd. of Ponders End in Middlesex and, in 1964, a new production facility was opened at Hoddesdon. Later, in 1975, the Development Laboratories were built at Hoddesdon and a manufacturing plant was established in Cramlington, Northumberland.

In 1976 a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility was built in Co. Tipperary and since then over €750 million capital investment as been invested in Ireland. Until the end of 2003 marketing for MSD's products in Ireland was conducted from the UK subsidiary. However this all changed in 2004 with the establishment of Merck Sharp & Dohme Ireland (Human Health) Ltd.

Launched in 2004, Merck Sharp & Dohme Ireland (Human Health) Ltd. is the Irish subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. Almost €5 million is being invested in the establishment of the new company, which conducts the clinical research, regulatory affairs, marketing and sales operations in Ireland for Merck & Co., Inc. There are currently 90 employees.

The decision to create a dedicated, fully fledged subsidiary here signals a broader commitment to Ireland, building on our scientific and clinical research capabilities and knowledge to partner even closer with all members of the Irish healthcare sector. It also represents an important step in our global efforts to advance the frontiers of medical science.