Merck Serono and Thyroid

Merck KGaA is the oldest still operating chemical and pharmaceutical company in the world. Its roots go back to the year 1668, when F.J. Merck purchased the Engel-Apotheke (pharmacy) in Darmstadt. In 1827, E. Merck started with the large-scale production of alkaloids, later with plant extracts and many other chemicals in a standardized high quality. The sales increased very fast, products were exported to many countries, subsidiaries were founded throughout the world.

In 1889, Georg Merck, a grandson of E. Merck, took over the office in New York and established Merck & Co. Ten years later he started with the local production of chemicals in the USA. After World War I, Merck lost many of its foreign affiliates, among them Merck & Co. in the USA. They became an independent American firm and in the meantime they are one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.

Both companies agreed that in general the name "Merck" may be exclusively used in USA as well as in Canada by Merck & Co. and in the rest of the world by E. Merck (since 1995: Merck KGaA).

Merck KGaA now has around  40,000 employees in 66 countries all over the world. It operates in the pharmaceutical and chemicals business sector. The Pharmaceuticals business sector comprises innovative prescription drugs as well as over-the-counter products. Merck Serono creates a link between innovative biotechnology and established pharmaceutical science -- and creates a unique force in drug research.

Merck Serono is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the field of thyroid preparations. We are backed by a long history of thyroid research and development. Our products such as Euthyrox are marketed all over the globe.

For many years we have been dedicating our efforts to an efficient diagnosis and therapy of thyroid diseases for the welfare of the patient. We are supporting endocrinologists all over the world in their scientific work in this field.

We see one of our particular duties - together with ICCIDD, UNICEF and WHO - in the research and elimination of iodine deficiency disorders in Europe and worldwide.

We would like to thank all those who have placed their trust in us in the past years and we are sure that our cooperation will continue to be fruitful.

Merck Serono  is constantly improving the quality of its thyroid products by own research activities and also supports thyroid researchers worldwide:

Merck Serono is also deeply involved in the development of patient information programs and physician postgraduate services.