merck

Merck is a name shared by two historically related but legally separate companies. In the United States and Canada, the pharmaceutical business operates as Merck & Co., headquartered in Kenilworth, New Jersey. In the rest of the world, the group is Merck KGaA, based in Darmstadt, Germany. The two entities are distinct legal entities and are not part of one company.

Merck & Co. develops prescription medicines, vaccines, and consumer health products. It markets vaccines such as those for human papillomavirus and other infectious diseases, and prescription medicines across multiple therapeutic areas. In many markets outside the United States, Merck & Co. products are sold under the Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) brand to avoid confusion with Merck KGaA.

Merck KGaA is a German multinational that operates primarily in two segments: Life Science, which provides laboratory materials, reagents, and bioprocessing solutions for research and manufacturing; and Performance Materials, which supplies specialist materials used in electronics, automotive coatings, cosmetics, and other industries. Merck KGaA maintains the Merck brand outside North America and has a long corporate history dating to its founding in Darmstadt in the 17th century.

History and branding distinctions stem from a 20th-century split following World War I, when the American and German entities separated and adopted different branding strategies. Today, Merck & Co. (MRK) and Merck KGaA (also MRK on many markets) operate independently, with separate governance, stock listings, and strategic focuses.

Notable points include the U.S. use of Merck & Co. and MSD branding outside the United States for Merck & Co., and the separate global branding of Merck KGaA, which helps minimize confusion between the two companies.