Merck

Merck KGaA

Type d'entreprise

Grande entreprise


Secteur

Médecine / Pharmacie / Santé


Localisation

Darmstadt, Germany

Actualités (6)

  • Vie d'entreprise

    European Medicines Agency (EMA) Validates Application for Arpraziquantel to Treat Schistosomiasis in Preschool-Aged Children

    Arpraziquantel is a potential new treatment option for the estimated 50 million preschool-aged children with schistosomiasis, one of the most devastating parasitic diseases in the world A positive scientific opinion by EMA would facilitate registration of arpraziquantel in African endemic countries Merck is committed to the fight against schistosomiasis Merck, a leading science and technology company, and the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, today announced that the EMA has validated for review the application for arpraziquantel for the treatment of schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children (3 months to 6 years of age). “With this milestone, we are one step closer to achieving our mission of improving the health of preschool-aged children with schistosomiasis. Our contribution forms part of our larger ambition to eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health burden by 2030,” said Peter Guenter, Member of the Executive Board and CEO of Healthcare at Merck. The application was submitted by Merck on behalf of the Consortium for a scientific opinion by EMA under the EU-M4all procedure for high-priority medicines for human use intended for markets outside the European Union. A positive scientific opinion by EMA, if received, will facilitate regulatory decisions in endemic countries. Merck is designated as the future Marketing Authorization Holder for African countries. Derived from praziquantel, the standard of care treatment developed in the 1970s, arpraziquantel is tailored to meet the needs of preschool-aged children suffering from schistosomiasis. This group of approximately 50 million patients currently lacks a suitable treatment option. Containing the pharmacologically active enantiomer of praziquantel, arpraziquantel is a novel dispersible or orodispersible tablet (150mg). It can be taken with or without water, is palatable for preschool-aged children, and withstands hot and humid challenges presented by a tropical climate. The clinical development program was completed at the end of 2021. In the pivotal Phase III trial, the primary efficacy endpoint of clinical cure was met with a favorable safety profile. Adverse reactions observed in clinical studies were similar to those reported for praziquantel. For next steps, the Consortium is preparing for the potential inclusion of arpraziquantel in the World Health Organization list of prequalified and essential medicinal products. Together with relevant stakeholders, it is also exploring new mechanisms for providing equitable and sustainable access to arpraziquantel, once registered, and is conducting ADOPT – an implementation research program that paves the way for the large-scale delivery in endemic countries. The aim is to start the launch phases in 2024 for product availability on a not-for-profit basis in initial sub-Saharan African countries. As part of the Merck’s Global Health strategic priorities, the company’s commitment to the schistosomiasis elimination and the related collaborative efforts, including the development of arpraziquantel, have been recognized in the 2022 Access to Medicine (ATM) Index where Merck ranks fifth among the 20 largest pharmaceutical companies based on initiatives to advance global access to medicines in low- and middle-income countries. Merck aims to control and eliminate schistosomiasis through scientific and technological innovation. The strategy is not only to develop and provide medicines but also to improve diagnosis, counter disease transmission, increase disease control, expand access to healthcare, and strengthen local health systems. With this approach Merck is also helping to improve the health of underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries. By this the company contributes to United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 3 of good health and well-being. 

  • Vie d'entreprise

    Merck Aims to Double R&D Productivity in Oncology, Neurology and Immunology to Deliver more Medicines to Patients Faster

    Not intended for US-, Canada- or UK-based media   Company aims to launch one new product or indication every 1.5 years on average, bolstered by external innovation Phase III assets xevinapant and evobrutinib are expected to drive next wave of launches Focused leadership approach to pipeline enrichment builds on expertise in key biology and therapeutic areas as well as technological capabilities Darmstadt, Germany, November 21, 2022 – Merck, a leading science and technology company, today shared updates on the company’s healthcare research and development strategy, aimed at doubling R&D productivity. To achieve the goal of introducing one new product or major indication every 1.5 years on average, the company will focus its expertise and capabilities and leverage synergies within the existing pipeline to deliver transformative medicines in Oncology, Neurology and Immunology, augmented by an increased focus on external innovation. The company expects to maintain the output of its internal discovery engine, while more than 50% of future launches will result from external co-development partnerships and strategic in-licensing of assets for further in-house development. The strategy was shared today at the company’s R&D Update Call. “We are driven by our ambition to accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of innovative medicines to patients with cancer and neuroinflammatory and immune-mediated diseases,” said Danny Bar-Zohar, Global Head of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer for the Healthcare business sector of Merck. “With a mindset of design simplicity and resource discipline paired with agility of execution, we will speed the generation of high-quality data that will support our efforts to bring forth more medicines for more patients, faster.” To increase R&D productivity, the company will build on its established expertise in the underlying biology of its focused therapeutic areas of oncology, neurology and immunology and will leverage technological capabilities, particularly its industry-leading antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology. Oncology: Synergistic Approaches to Striking Cancer at Its Core The company’s oncology research and development strategy centers on cancer DNA while building on existing leadership in key cancer types, including head and neck, urothelial and colorectal cancers. The oncology pipeline is focused on synergistic approaches targeting key pathways involved in cancer cell survival, deploying mechanisms to hit cancer at its core: Delivering tumor DNA-damaging payloads right to the cancer with cutting-edge ADC technology Preventing cancer cells from repairing DNA damage, through inhibition of the DNA damage response (DDR) Restoring sensitivity to apoptosis, the cells’ natural death mechanism, which cancer can inhibit The lead asset in the oncology pipeline is xevinapant, an investigational first-in-class potent oral small molecule IAP (Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein) inhibitor being evaluated in the curative setting of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN) - an area that has not seen significant advances in treatment in the past 20 years. Xevinapant, which was in-licensed from Debiopharm in March 2021, builds on the company’s long heritage and extensive expertise in SCCHN. Based on the promising efficacy and safety profile seen in the Phase II trial and the urgent need for new treatments, the company is evaluating xevinapant in two ongoing randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III clinical trials with the goal of transforming the standard of care: the TrilynX study (NCT04459715) in patients with unresected LA SCCHN, and the XRay Vision study (NCT05386550) in patients with resected LA SCCHN who are at high risk of relapse and are ineligible for cisplatin. Additional external studies and real-world evidence are expected to elucidate the potential for xevinapant across additional patient segments. The company’s broad portfolio of selective and potent DDR inhibitors includes several agents under development that directly inhibit DDR pathways required for cancer cell survival. By attacking the inherent genetic instability of cancer cells, these agents have the potential to exploit this weakness and tip the therapeutic balance in difficult-to-treat cancers. The oral ATR (ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related) inhibitor M1774, which has been designed as a potentially best-in-class molecule, is the leading DDR asset in the pipeline. Recently presented dose-escalation results showed that M1774 at its recommended dose expansion level showed pharmacologically robust exposure and a favorable safety profile. M1774 has broad potential in combination with other DDR inhibitors and other medicines, and as monotherapy in the right genomic context. The DDR portfolio also includes inhibitors of ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated) and DNA-PK (DNA-dependent protein kinase) and has recently been complemented by a collaboration with Nerviano Medical Sciences with the option for a license agreement on the next-generation selective PARP1 (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) inhibitor NMS-293. Earlier this year, M9140, the first ADC developed using the company’s own technology, advanced into human trials. The ongoing Phase Ia study is assessing M9140 in patients with colorectal cancer. M9140 is an anti-CEACAM5 ADC with a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (exatecan) payload that has been rationally designed for stability in circulation and superior cancer cell killing activity with a broad therapeutic window. M9140 has synergistic potential with DDR inhibition as well. Neurology and Immunology: Expansion Building on Strength in Neurology and Immune Biology In neurology and immunology, Merck aims to expand its Multiple Sclerosis (MS) portfolio with evobrutinib, an investigational, oral, CNS-penetrating, highly selective inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) with the potential to become a best-in-class treatment option for relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). In a Phase II study and follow-up, evobrutinib is the first BTK inhibitor (BTKi) to demonstrate sustained clinical efficacy for people with RMS through three and a half years and impact early biomarkers of ongoing central inflammation that correlate with disease progression, including slowly expanding lesions volume and levels of blood neurofilament light chain protein. In pre-clinical studies, evobrutinib modulated both B cells and macrophages (in the periphery)/microglia (in the brain). This approach has the potential to positively impact both progression caused by relapses and silent progression occurring independent of relapse. During Phase II, the BTKi dose-finding study demonstrated that BID dosing achieved maximal efficacy with >95% BTK occupancy maintained in 98% of patients before the next dose. The Phase III readout for evobrutinib is expected in Q4 2023. Merck also seeks to expand in neurology by evaluating the potential of oral cladribine in neurological diseases where inflammation is a primary driver, such as generalized myasthenia gravis. The company is looking to diversify the pipeline with immunology and accelerate R&D by focusing on targets with proven biology via novel modalities. Key to these efforts is the ongoing Phase II WILLOW study of the TLR7/8 inhibitor enpatoran in cutaneous and systemic lupus erythematosus. Building on expertise in neurology, the company is initiating a proof-of-concept study in neuromuscular conditions dermatomyositis and polymyositis with enpatoran in 2023. These conditions have a high unmet medical need characterized by progressive muscle weakness and show lupus-like patterns of immune activation and TLR7/8 expression. Patients rely on us. By building on our existing strengths and maximizing synergies within our in-house discovered pipeline and with external assets, we will secure sustainable R&D productivity that leads to innovative medicines for patients in need,” Bar-Zohar added. To access the presentation and a recording, please visit the company’s website at https://www.merckgroup.com/en/investors/events-and-presentations.html

  • Vie d'entreprise

    Merck Invests € 290 Million in U.S. Drug Safety Testing Capacity

    Responds to growing global demand for biosafety testing as essential requirement for drug development and commercialization Expansion creates more than 500 new jobs in Rockville, Maryland, USA Strategic investment in Life Science Services business, part of the company’s “Big 3” growth drivers Represents the largest biosafety testing investment in Merck history Merck, a leading science and technology company, invests more than € 290 million in its biosafety testing capacity at Rockville, Maryland, USA. This will significantly increase the company’s ability to conduct biosafety testing and analytical development services. Biosafety testing and analytical development are critical and fundamental requirements of the drug development and commercialization process to ensure the safety of medicines. Global demand for these services is growing at a double-digit rate. “Merck is harnessing its broad portfolio of modern technologies and enabling services to help ensure the safety of the world’s medicines. These significant investments in Rockville and other sites across our global network will help us meet growing demand for the robust testing studies that biologics manufacturers depend upon to comply with stringent regulatory guidelines,” said Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck. “This is a prime example of our focus on sustainable growth in areas with strong underlying upwards dynamics.” “This is the largest investment in contract testing in Merck’s history. Our Rockville campus has a long track record of testing for both traditional and novel therapies. We have been driving innovation in biosafety testing for 75 years and this expansion enables Merck to lead in shaping the future of testing,” said Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Life Science. “We thank the State of Maryland and Montgomery County, Maryland, for their collaboration in making this new campus a reality for our employees and clients. Together, we are impacting life and health with science.” The BioReliance® contract testing portfolio from Merck provides best-in-class biosafety testing and analytical development methods for both traditional and novel therapies. The new state-of-the-art, 23,000-square-meter facility at Merck’s Rockville site will house biosafety testing, analytical development, viral clearance suites, and cell bank manufacturing services. Currently, about 600 employees work at the site. Over the next four years, the expansion will create more than 500 new jobs. With more than 30 years of drug development, material science and process technology expertise, Millipore® CTDMO Services offerings span pre-clinical development to commercial manufacturing, including testing, across multiple modalities including mAbs, highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients, antibody-drug conjugates, viral vector therapies, mRNA, and lipid nanoparticle formulation. Contract testing and the newly formed Millipore® CTDMO Services are part of the Life Science Services business unit, which together with the Process Solutions business is one of Merck's “Big 3” growth drivers. The company aims to increase its Group sales to approximately € 25 billion by 2025. Recently, Merck’s Life Science business sector announced investments in Martillac and Molsheim, France; Shanghai, China; Sheboygan and Verona, Wisconsin, USA; Cork, Ireland; Wuxi, China; Carlsbad, California, USA; Jaffrey, New Hampshire and Danvers, Massachusetts, USA; Buchs, Switzerland; and Darmstadt, Germany. These expansions are part of an ambitious, multi-year program. It aims to increase the capacity and capabilities of Merck’s Life Science business sector to support the growing global demand for lifesaving medications and to make significant contributions to public health.

  • Vie d'entreprise

    Merck Completes Acquisition of Exelead and Plans to Invest More Than € 500 Million in Technology Scale-Up

    Continued investment in Exelead’s capabilities planned over the next ten years Adds to Merck’s growing global, multi-modality CDMO network, following newly formed CDMO business unit in Life Science Company now offers comprehensive end-to-end services across mRNA value chain Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced the closing of the transaction to acquire Exelead, following regulatory clearances and the fulfillment of other customary closing conditions, for approximately USD 780 million in cash. The business combination is expected to enable Merck’s Life Science business sector to provide its customers with comprehensive end-to-end contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services across the mRNA value chain. Merck plans to further invest over € 500 million to scale up Exelead’s technology over the next ten years. “With the addition of Exelead’s leading capabilities and highly experienced team, Merck achieves an important milestone in becoming one of the leading CDMO players in mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, offering an integrated CDMO across the mRNA value chain from pre-clinical to commercial,” said Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Life Science. “mRNA holds much promise as a treatment well beyond Covid-19 and we will further invest in this technology to help realize its potential.” Exelead, a biopharmaceutical CDMO, specializes in PEGylated products and complex injectable formulations, including Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) based drug delivery technology, which is key in mRNA vaccines and therapeutics for use in Covid-19 and many other indications. The company has experience in all development phases from pre-clinical development to commercial contract manufacturing for LNP formulations, including fill and finish. Exelead will complement Merck’s more than 20 years’ experience in producing lipids as well as its mRNA manufacturing capabilities acquired through AmpTec in 2020. This integrated offering will accelerate Merck’s ability to bring life-enhancing vaccines and treatments to patients faster by simplifying supply chain complexity and enhancing speed to market through its end-to-end portfolio. Over the past two years, Merck’s Life Science business sector has made significant investments to advance traditional and novel modalities (mAb, ADC, HP-API, viral vector, and mRNA) through acquisitions and expansions. The acquisition of Exelead is another milestone to accelerate innovation in Merck’s Process Solutions and Life Science Services businesses, one of the company’s three growth engines (“Big 3”), through targeted smaller to medium-sized acquisitions with high impact.

  • Vie d'entreprise

    Fiscal 2021: Merck Delivers Record Growth and Higher Profitability

    Fiscal 2021 Group sales rise by 12.3% to € 19.7 billion; EBITDA pre up 17.3% to € 6.1 billion; EBITDA pre margin increases to 31.0% Greater investments in high-growth businesses; net financial debt significantly lower Earnings per share pre of € 8.72; proposed dividend rises by € 0.45 to all-time high of € 1.85 Forecast for 2022 Strong organic growth of net sales and EBITDA pre expected All business sectors are forecast to contribute to the positive development; Life Science will remain the strongest growth engine of Merck Darmstadt, Germany, March 3, 2022 – Merck, a leading science and technology company, delivered record growth in fiscal 2021. In the course of the year, the company had already raised its business forecast three times. Group net sales increased by 12.3% to € 19.7 billion compared with the previous year. All three business sectors, first and foremost Life Science, contributed to this sales growth. Main drivers were the company’s Big 3 businesses – the Process Solutions business of Life Science, new Healthcare products and the Semiconductor Solutions business of Electronics. EBITDA pre of Merck advanced by 17.3% to € 6.1 billion, outpacing sales growth; the EBITDA pre margin of the Group rose by 1.3 percentage points to 31.0%. Earnings per share pre, which is a determinant of the Merck dividend, increased by 30.1% to € 8.72 in 2021. In line with the company’s dividend policy, the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board will propose to the Annual General Meeting on April 22, 2022, a dividend of € 1.85 per share, an increase of € 0.45 over the previous year. “2021 was a year of record growth and margin expansion. Our customer-centric teams have delivered outstanding results,” said Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck. “Despite a difficult environment, we have stayed a reliable partner for patients, scientists and our customers – and were hence able to achieve a record result. In 2021, we delivered growth in all business sectors and regions. Our Big 3 performed especially well. In parallel, we’ve successfully executed our strategic agenda, in particular by enhancing our position as a preferred supplier and solutions provider for traditional and novel modalities within Life Science,” Garijo emphasized. Merck is significantly increasing investments in growth At its Capital Markets Day last September, Merck announced its updated, medium-term growth plans. Accordingly, by 2025, around 80% of the planned sales growth is to come from the Big 3 businesses. From April 1, 2022, the Big 3 will comprise the Process Solutions business, which has been refocused as part of a reorganization of Life Science, and the newly established Life Science Services business. Together, these two units represent one of the Big 3 businesses. In addition, there are new products from Healthcare and the Semiconductor Solutions business of Electronics. To achieve its growth targets, the company plans to increase its total investments between 2021 and 2025 significantly compared with the period from 2016 to 2020. With the acquisition of Exelead, a biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), Merck has further boosted its position in the CDMO market. The company also acquired Chord Therapeutics, a biotech company specializing in rare inflammatory disorders of the nervous system. In addition, Merck announced plans to invest significantly more than € 3 billion in innovations and capacities in its Electronics business sector by the end of 2025. Moreover, the company took further steps in the implementation of its sustainability strategy in 2021. Among other things, the Annual General Meeting in April 2021 approved the implementation of Merck's sustainability goals as an element of the compensation system for members of the Executive Board. “Our focus is and remains our medium-term goal: around € 25 billion in Group sales by 2025. We will work tirelessly to accelerate Merck’s efficient growth by consistently and purposefully allocating our capital in future-oriented areas,” said Belén Garijo. Net income increases to € 3.1 billion In fiscal 2021, Group net sales rose organically by 13.8% amid negative foreign exchange effects of -1.4%. EBITDA pre grew organically by 18.1% in 2021. It should be noted here that the year-earlier figure included income from the reversal of a litigation provision amounting to € 365 million. Excluding this one-time effect in 2020, EBITDA pre rose organically by 27.0%. Foreign exchange movements and portfolio effects of -0.6% and -0.1% respectively had only an insignificant impact on the development of EBITDA pre. Earnings per share pre came in at € 8.72, representing an increase of 30.1% over the previous year. In 2021, the operating result EBIT soared by 40.0% to € 4.2 billion; Group net income climbed 53.7% to € 3.1 billion. Operating cash flow amounted to € 4.6 billion in 2021, thus increasing by 32.7% over the previous year. Furthermore, Merck lowered its net financial debt by € 2.0 billion to € 8.8 billion. Life Science remains the main growth engine in 2021 In 2021, Life Science generated organic sales growth of 21.3%. Including negative foreign exchange effects of -1.6%, sales rose by a total of 19.6% to € 9.0 billion. In 2021, EBITDA pre of Life Science increased by 36.6% to € 3.3 billion. The EBITDA pre margin was 36.6%. Key business developments in Life Science in fiscal 2021: The Process Solutions business, which markets products and services for drug manufacture, generated organic sales growth of 31.0%. This made it the fastest growing business within Life Science, fueled by strong demand in the core business as well as for products in connection with the pandemic relief effort. Research Solutions, which provides products and services to support life science research for pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and academic research laboratories, delivered organic sales growth of 15.1% in 2021. This was mainly driven by a recovery in the core business from pandemic-related effects. With its broad range of products for researchers as well as scientific and industrial laboratories, Applied Solutions generated organic growth of 8.8%. Oncology and Fertility drive growth in Healthcare In fiscal 2021, the Healthcare business sector generated an organic sales increase of 8.5%, driven mainly by the Oncology and Fertility franchises. By contrast, the impact of negative foreign exchange effects on sales was -1.4%. In addition, the sale of the allergy business Allergopharma in the first quarter of 2020 led to a portfolio effect of -0.3%. Overall, net sales of Healthcare rose by 6.8% to € 7.1 billion in fiscal 2021. EBITDA pre fell by -5.0% to € 2.2 billion; the EBITDA pre margin was 30.4%. Key business developments in Healthcare in fiscal 2021: Sales in the Oncology franchise increased organically by 28.5%. Sales of the immuno-oncology medicine Bavencio more than doubled. This growth was mainly driven by the successive approvals since June 2020 as a first-line maintenance treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. The oncology drug Erbitux rebounded from the pandemic lows of 2020 and also benefited from high demand in China and Japan. Temporary contract manufacturing of cetuximab, the active ingredient of Erbitux, for Eli Lilly also positively impacted sales growth. Sales in the Neurology & Immunology franchise grew organically by 1.2%. Mavenclad, for the treatment of certain forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), generated organic sales growth of 32.6%. The growth was mainly attributable to the partial recovery of the segment for high-efficacy MS therapies, which was adversely affected by the pandemic in 2020. This contrasted with a year-on-year organic decline of -13.6% in sales of the MS drug Rebif, caused by the ongoing difficult competitive situation in the interferon market as well as competition from oral dosage forms and high-efficacy MS therapies. Sales in the Cardiovascular, Metabolism and Endocrinology franchise declined organically by -1.1%. A key reason for this was the volume-based procurement regulation, which was introduced in China in 2020 and affects the diabetes medicine Glucophage and the beta-blocker Concor. The Fertility franchise delivered very good organic sales growth of 25.6%. The sales increase was primarily due to Covid-19 rebound effects in North America and Asia-Pacific, as well as to the generally strong demand for Fertility products. Electronics grows primarily due to the strength of Semiconductor Solutions In 2021, net sales of Electronics rose organically by 7.7% amid a negative foreign exchange impact of -0.9%. Overall, sales by Electronics thus increased by 6.7% to € 3.6 billion. EBITDA pre amounted to € 1.1 billion, representing an increase of 10.2% over the previous year. The EBITDA pre margin was 31.3%. Key business developments in Electronics in fiscal 2021: Net sales of Semiconductor Solutions grew organically by 15.0%, based on strong demand in the Semiconductor Materials and Delivery Systems & Services businesses and despite the challenges caused by global supply chain delays. Semiconductor Solutions accounted for 60% of the net sales by Electronics in 2021. Net sales of Display Solutions declined organically by -6.4%. The sales growth in OLED materials partly offset the continued competitive challenges in the Liquid Crystals business. Surface Solutions saw a 12.5% organic increase in net sales. The key driver of this growth was the continued rebound from the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis, which weighed heavily on business in 2020. Strong organic growth of net sales and EBITDA pre expected Merck expects strong organic growth of net sales in fiscal 2022, driven by all business sectors, particularly by Life Science. Foreign exchange effects are forecast to have a positive impact of 1% to 4%. For EBITDA pre in fiscal 2022, the company expects strong organic growth. Life Science is likely to be the key growth driver, yet Merck also expects positive contributions to the organic growth of EBITDA pre from Healthcare and Electronics. The forecast foreign exchange development is expected to have a positive effect of 2% to 5% on Group EBITDA pre; it is likely to be seen mainly in the Healthcare and Electronics business sectors. The development of operating cash flow should largely mirror the forecasted strong operating performance, complemented by positive foreign exchange effects. Overall, Merck expects to see a strong increase in operating cash flow in fiscal 2022. In principle, however, the forecast for operating cash flow is subject to a higher fluctuation corridor than the forecast for net sales and EBITDA pre.

  • Vie d'entreprise

    Top Employers Institute honors Merck as Global Top Employer 2019

    Top Employers Institute honors Merck as Global Top Employer 2019 Scored particularly well regarding talent development, performance management, and career and succession planning Additional Top Employer certifications for the regions Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and North and Latin America Darmstadt, Germany, February 6, 2019 – Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced it has been named one of only 14 global employers of choice by the Top Employers Institute. The annual Global Top Employer certification recognizes companies that have shown excellence in people practices and structures worldwide. Merck has been awarded this certification for the third consecutive time. The Top Employers Institute particularly recognized our achievements in talent development, performance management, and career and succession planning. Besides the certification as Global Top Employer 2019, Merck also received the certifications Top Employer Europe 2019 and Top Employer Germany 2019. “Our leadership in science and technology is the direct result of having a highly qualified team of motivated people committed to coming up with new ideas to make the world better,” said Belén Garijo, CEO Healthcare and member of the Executive Board responsible for HR at Merck. “Such external recognition will enhance even further our ability to bring on board the talent that allows us to constantly challenge the status quo.” The annual international research undertaken by the Top Employers Institute recognizes leading employers around the world through a stringent evaluation process. Including more than 1,500 companies across 118 countries, this evaluation is based on a detailed assessment of HR processes and structures and focuses on criteria such as talent strategy, career and succession planning, executive development, onboarding, personnel planning, training and development, corporate culture, compensation and benefits, and performance management. As well as being named a Global Top Employer 2019, Merck has also received regional certifications in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. In addition to these certifications, in 2018 Merck was ranked among the top five employers in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry by Science magazine. Further information on the Top Employer Institute and its certifications at: https://www.top-employers.com/de/