merck

１．Merck KGaA　(ドイツ） クリックして別紙へ
２．Merck & Co., Inc. (米）

Merck KGaAの起源は17世紀まで遡ります。1668年、ドイツのフランクフルトの南に位置するダルムシュタットに、フリ－ドリッヒ　ヤコブ　メルクがエンゼル薬局を創業したことに始まります。以来300有余年、メルクは医薬品会社として成長を続け、現在では 28カ国、62地域に自社工場を展開するまでになりました。1827年、メルクはモルヒネ、その他アルカロイド類の製造に成功しました。1850年、メルクは全ヨ－ロッパに製品販売網を構築しました。

1891年ジョ－ジ　メルクが米国に Merck & Co.を設立しましたが、この会社は後日、米国政府に接収されてしまいます。　http://www.merck.co.jp/japan/

(注　第一次世界大戦で没収、1917年独立。
　　　Rohm and Haasがドイツ　Rohmeから独立したのと同じ）

The history of Merck & Co., Inc. can be traced back to Darmstadt, Germany, in 1668 when an apothecarty named Frederic Jacob Merck opened a chemical firm. In 1891, George Merck began to establish his roots in the United States and set up Merck & Co., Inc. in New York, U.S.A. Originally started off as a fine chemicals suppliers, Merck & Co., Inc began its pharmaceutical research in the early 1930's.

The merger with Sharp & Dohme to create Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) in 1953 established a solid foundation for a fully integrated, multi-national producer and distributor of pharmaceutical products. Merck & Co., Inc acquired Medco Containment Services, Inc. in 1993, the leading pharmacy benefits management company in the United States.

During the past six decades, Merck & Co., Inc. has built a global research organization that ranks among the best worldwide in terms of the calibre of its scientists and breakthrough medical research. Today, Merck & Co., Inc. has about 70,000 employees in 120 countries and 31 factories worldwide. Our products are sold in more than 200 countries.

日本経済新聞　2003/9/1

メルク　新薬開発で攻め　非医薬品部門を分離　研究に経営資源を集中

日本経済新聞　2005/11/29 　　　　万有製薬、メルク社の事業再構築策の一環として一部組織を集約統合

米メルク、７０００人削減　リストラ発表

　米医薬品大手メルクは２８日、２００８年までに全従業員の１１%に相当する７千人の削減と、３１工場のうち５カ所を閉鎖・売却する大規模リストラを発表した。主力の高脂血症薬の特許が来年に切れるうえ、消炎鎮痛剤の副作用訴訟で多額の裁判費用と賠償金の発生が予想されるためコスト削減を徹底する。
　リチャード・クラーク最高経営責任者(CEO)が５月に就任して以降、初の大規模リストラになる。０６－１０年に税引き前で３５億-４０億ドルのコスト削減効果を見込んでいる。メルクはあわせて０５年通期の業績予想を当初の１株利益2.18-2.22ドル2.04-2.10ドルに引き下げた。

Schering AG, Germany confirmed today that it has been informed by Merck KGaA representatives during the weekend that Merck KGaA intends to make an all-cash offer for the shares of Schering AG at EUR 77 per share.

After the information about the approach became public, the Executive Board of Schering AG stated that this offer significantly undervalues Schering and its prospects as an independent specialized pharmaceutical company.

Schering also confirmed that the approach is unsolicited and that no negotiations are ongoing with Merck KGaA.

Schering AG is a research-based pharmaceutical company. Its activities are focused on four business areas: Gynecology & Andrology, Oncology, Diagnostic Imaging as well as Specialized Therapeutics for disabling diseases. As a global player with innovative products, Schering AG aims for leading positions in specialized markets worldwide. With in-house R&D and supported by an excellent global network of external partners, Schering AG is securing a promising product pipeline. Using new ideas, Schering AG aims to make a recognized contribution to medical progress and strives to improve the quality of life: making medicine work

日本経済新聞夕刊　2006/3/24

独医薬大手シェーリング　バイエルが買収合意
　2兆3000億円で　メルクより12%高く

　独医薬・化学大手のバイエルは２３日、医薬大手のシェーリングの買収で合意したと発表した。買収額は１６３億ユーロ(約２兆３千億円)で、事業統合によってドイツで最大手の医薬メーカーとなる。欧州では企業が国際競争やカネ余りを背景に相次いで大型買収に乗り出しており、医薬業界でも再編機運が再び盛り上がってきた。
　同じ医薬大手の独メルクは先にシェーリングに買収を提案し、「敵対的」と拒否された経緯がある。今後のメルクの出方によって買収合戦になる可能性も残る。

　買収後、両社は医薬事業を統合する。シェーリングの本社があるベルリンに新会社「バイエル・シェーリング・ファーマ」を設立。売上高は９０億ユーロを超え、独首位のべーリンガーインゲルハイムを上回る見通し。

2006/6/14 Merck

Merck KGaA to Sell Its Schering Shares to Bayer AG

Value of the transaction EUR 3.7 billion
Cooperations to be considered

Merck KGaA told Bayer AG today that it will sell its 21.4% (21.8% according to SEC calculations) stake in Schering AG to Bayer AG. This was agreed upon today during a discussion between Werner Wenning, Bayer’s Chief Executive, and Dr. Michael Roemer, chairman of the Merck KGaA Executive Board.

Merck will sale its total Schering stake ? 41,529, 770 shares ? at a price of EUR 89 per share. The total value of the transaction is EUR 3.7 billion.

2008/10/23　日本経済新聞夕刊　

米メルク、7200人削減　管理職25%など　つくば研究所も閉鎖

　米製薬大手メルクは２２日、２０１１年末までに全世界の従業員の１２%に当たる7200人を削減すると発表した。研究開発体制の見直しに伴い、日本では傘下の万有製薬に所属するつくば研究所(茨城県つくば市)を０９年末までに閉鎖する。主力製品の販売がふるわないため、経費削減を拡大する。
　

Global Restructuring Efforts
Merck remains confident in the progress it is making in creating a new business model that is more customer-centric, more agile and has a variable cost structure that enables investment in key growth areas such as research and development and new products and markets.

The restructuring effort will involve all areas of the Company. For example, Merck will accelerate the rollout of a new, more customer-centric selling model designed to provide Merck with a meaningful competitive advantage and help physicians, patients and payers, improve patient outcomes. The Company also will make greater use of outside technology resources, centralize common sales and marketing activities, and consolidate and streamline its operations. Merck's manufacturing division will further focus its capabilities on core products and outsource non-core manufacturing. In addition, Merck is enhancing its research operations to expand access to worldwide external science and incorporate it as a key component of the Company's pipeline, and ensure a more sustainable pipeline by translating basic research productivity into late-stage clinical success. As a result, basic research operations will be organized to consolidate work in support of a given therapeutic area into one of four locations. This will provide a more efficient use of research facilities and result in the closure of three basic research sites in Tsukuba, Japan; Pomezia, Italy; and Seattle by the end of 2009.

Merck & Co. Inc., (operating in the United Kingdom as MSD) and Avecia Investments Limited today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement by which Merck will acquire the biologics business of the Avecia group through a Merck affiliate (Merck Sharp & Dohme (Holdings) Limited or "MSD"). Avecia Biologics is a contract manufacturing organization with specific expertise in microbial-derived biologics. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

"At Merck we continue to execute on our strategy of expanding our biopharmaceutical expertise and manufacturing capacity," said John T McCubbins, senior vice president, Biologics and Therapeutic Protein Operations, Merck Manufacturing Division. "This transaction follows an initial strategic development and supply relationship with Avecia Biologics and will provide us with an operational facility staffed by an experienced workforce that is highly skilled in a broad portfolio of bioprocess systems."

Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will acquire Avecia Biologics Limited and all its assets, including all the company's process development and scale-up, manufacturing, quality and business support operations located in Billingham, UK. In addition to honoring all Avecia Biologics contractual commitments, Merck plans to engage in discussions with individual customers relating to their specific ongoing and future biological process development and manufacturing needs after the transaction is closed.

"Over the past ten years, Avecia Biologics has built and established an enviable reputation for bioprocess development and timely delivery of quality biopharmaceutical ingredients for our customers," said Steve Bagshaw, president, Avecia Biologics. “This acquisition recognizes these successes and now provides the exciting opportunity to focus on advancing Merck's broad early and mid-stage portfolio of biologic candidates."

Closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval, as well as other customary closing conditions. The Oligomedicines Business of the Avecia group based in the United States does not form part of this transaction.

About Avecia
Avecia is a privately owned biotechnology group providing contract development and manufacturing services in the fields of microbial-derived biopharmaceuticals and oligonucleotide medicines. The group’s Biologics Business, based at Billingham in the north east of the UK has been developing processes and making protein-based biologics to cGMP since 1998. Products currently being worked on include medicines targeted at forms of cancer, heart disease and stroke. In Milford, MA, the group’s OligoMedicines business carries out process development and manufacture of oligonucleotide therapeutics by sequential solid state synthesis to produce pharmaceuticals comprised of short strands of DNA or RNA. For more information visit www.avecia.com.

Merck to Acquire Cubist Pharmaceuticals for $102 Per Share in Cash
Acquisition Augments Merck’s Strong Foundation and Opportunity for Growth in Hospital Acute Care Market

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck will acquire Cubist for $102 per share in cash, which represents a 35 percent premium to Cubist’s average stock price for the most recent five trading days.
Unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, the transaction has an equity valuation of $8.4 billion and will also include $1.1 billion in net debt (based on projected cash balances) and other considerations for a total transaction value of approximately $9.5 billion.

“Cubist is a global leader in antibiotics and has built a strong portfolio of both marketed and late-stage pipeline medicines,” said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “Combining this expertise with Merck’s strong capabilities and global reach will enable us to create a stronger position in hospital acute care while addressing critical areas of unmet medical need, such as antibiotic resistance.”
“Combining with Merck is an exciting opportunity to accelerate Cubist’s established leadership in antibiotics and deliver significant, certain and immediate value to shareholders,” said Michael Bonney, chief executive officer, Cubist. “We have a deep respect for Merck, and it is clear that they share our commitment to addressing the growing, global problem we are facing in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Under Merck’s robust commercial platform, global reach and scientific expertise, we believe Cubist's programs can thrive. We’re proud of the company that our team has built and are confident that Cubist's important mission and focus on significant unmet medical needs will continue.”

For more than 20 years, Cubist has been committed to global public health through the discovery, development and supply of antibiotics to treat serious and potentially life-threatening infections caused by a broad range of increasingly drug-resistant bacteria.

Cubist’s antibiotic CUBICIN®, the only approved once-a-day therapy for both S. aureus bacteremia and complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI), has been used to treat more than two million patients and continues to be an important therapy in the acute care environment.

Cubist’s in-line and late-stage pipeline of anti-infective medicines, including ZERBAXA™ which is pending approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will enhance Merck’s hospital acute care business in a variety of therapeutic areas, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative multi-drug resistant infections.

The acquisition of Cubist creates strong fundamental value with return on capital in excess of Merck's hurdle rate within a few years of closing. Merck expects the acquisition to add more than $1 billion of revenue to its 2015 base. While the transaction will be neutral to non-GAAP EPS in 2015, Merck expects it to be significantly accretive to non-GAAP EPS in 2016 and beyond. The acquisition will be accretive to both Merck’s sales and earnings growth.

Cubist complements Merck’s strategy and the global initiative Merck launched last year, particularly in the area of sharpening its commercial focus on key therapeutic areas that have the potential to deliver the greatest return on investment. With the company’s long-standing leadership in anti-infectives as well as its customer-focused operating model, Merck identified the hospital acute care segment as one of the company’s key priority areas in which it believes it can have the greatest impact in addressing significant unmet medical needs while delivering the greatest value to customers and society.
Merck strategically focused on acute care within the larger hospital setting as a top priority because of the significant unmet need and the unique opportunities for Merck to improve patient care and manage costs in this setting with its in-line portfolio, promising pipeline and its customer capabilities.
Hospitals are a central hub for healthcare delivery around the world and currently represent 25 percent of overall healthcare spend. Merck believes now is an optimal time to significantly grow its hospital acute care presence because of the positive regulatory and reimbursement trends in the hospital setting and the increasingly important role that hospitals are expected to provide in healthcare overall.
For the first three quarters of 2014 compared to 2013, Merck’s hospital acute care portfolio grew by more than 10 percent, excluding the impact of foreign exchange. Key products in Merck’s hospital acute care portfolio include several antibiotics and antifungals, as well as BRIDION® (sugammadex), which is marketed outside the United States and is currently under regulatory review in the United States. In addition, Merck has continued to invest in its hospital acute care pipeline and has several candidates, including actoxumab/bezlotoxumab (MK-3415A), an investigational combination of therapeutic antibodies targeting two C.difficile pathogenic toxins (A and B), which is being evaluated in clinical trials for the prevention of recurrence of C.difficile infection; and relebactam (MK-7655), an investigational class A and C beta-lactamase inhibitor being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of severe bacterial infections.
Under the terms of the agreement, Merck, through a subsidiary, will initiate a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The closing of the tender offer will be subject to certain conditions, including the tender of shares representing at least a majority of the total number of Cubist’s outstanding shares (assuming the exercise of all options), the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary conditions. Upon the completion of the tender offer, Merck will acquire all remaining shares through a second-step merger without the need for a stockholder vote under Delaware law. The companies expect the transaction to close in the first quarter of 2015.

キュービストは薬物耐性菌の治療薬として４つの新薬を2020年までに投入する方針。耐性菌の脅威が高まっているため公衆衛生当局は企業に新しい抗生物質への投資を促している。医薬品メーカーはがんやＣ型肝炎など収益性の高い治療薬に注力するため、こうした分野にあまり力を入れてこなかった。　　

メルクのケン・フレイザー最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）はかねて、自社の治療薬を補完できる分野で中小企業の買収を目指していると述べている。今年７月のブルームバーグとのインタビューでは、大手企業の買収は「非常に時間がかかり、新薬への投資という当社の方針にとって妨げとなる」として関心がないことを明らかにしていた。

September 6, 2017

Merck to Acquire Rigontec, RIG-I Therapeutics Pioneer, Advancing Leadership in Immuno-Oncology

米製薬大手のメルクは６日、独バイオ医薬品ベンチャーのリゴンテックを買収すると発表した。まず現金で１億1500万ユーロ（約150億円）を払う。さらにリゴンテックが開発する新薬候補の治験結果や商業化の進展などに応じ、最大３億4900万ユーロを追加で払う。

　リゴンテックは2014年設立の独ボン大学発ベンチャー。免疫の仕組みを利用した新しいがん治療薬の開発に強みを持つ。メルクも同分野を成長の柱に据えている。がんの免疫治療では複数の薬を組み合わせることで治療効果が高まるとの研究結果もあり、リゴンテックの開発品取得で相乗効果を期待する。

RIG-I経路でのがん免疫療法のパイオニアでこの療法は短期での腫瘍に対する免疫効果にもならず長期での効果も期待されています。

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Rigontec today announced that Merck will acquire Rigontec.

Rigontec is a pioneer in accessing the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) pathway, part of the innate immune system, as a novel and distinct approach in cancer immunotherapy to induce both immediate and long-term anti-tumor immunity. Rigontec’s lead candidate, RGT100, is currently in Phase I development evaluating treatment in patients with various tumors. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck, through a subsidiary, will make an upfront cash payment of €115 million to Rigontec’s shareholders; based on the attainment of certain clinical, development, regulatory and commercial milestones, Merck may make additional contingent payments of up to €349 million. The transaction is subject to certain closing conditions.

“Rigontec’s immuno-oncology approach of engaging the innate immune system to safely eliminate cancer cells complements our strategy and our current pipeline,” said Dr. Eric Rubin, vice president of early-stage development, clinical oncology, Merck Research Laboratories. “We are eager to build upon Rigontec’s science as we continue our efforts in bringing forward meaningful advances for patients with cancer.”

“Merck is a true pioneer in the immuno-oncology space and we are thrilled that our technology will benefit from their experience and leadership position,” said Christian Schetter, Ph.D., CEO of Rigontec. “We are confident that our programs will be in the best hands and that the team at Merck will continue the work we established with our scientific founders and brought into the clinic within three years since our foundation as a company.”

About Rigontec リゴンテックは2014年設立の独ボン大学発ベンチャー。免疫の仕組みを利用した新しいがん治療薬の開発に強みを持つ。

Rigontec is the leader in RIG-I targeting therapeutics. Utilizing the proprietary RIG-I agonist 作動薬approach, the company harnesses one of the most essential pathways in the innate immune system to pioneer a novel immuno-oncology 癌免疫 treatment approach. Rigontec’s proprietary agonists specifically activate RIG-I, inducing both immediate and long-term anti-tumor immunity and have proven substantial local and systemic tumor regression in several relevant in vivo models. In addition to malignant diseases, proprietary RNA molecules can be developed for the treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Rigontec was founded in 2014 as a spin-out of the University Bonn, Germany, and has to date raised close to €30 million from experienced life science investors including Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, Forbion Capital Partners, High-Tech Gründerfonds, MP Healthcare Venture Management, NRW.BANK, Sunstone Capital and Wellington Partners Life Sciences.

RIG-I（リグ-アイ）（retinoic acid-inducible gene-I）はヒトの自然免疫系で働くタンパク質の分子。ウイルスが細胞内に進入した時にウイルス由来のRNAを認識し、抗ウイルス作用を示すI型インターフェロン産生の誘導を引き起こす、細胞質内に存在するRNAヘリカーゼである。京都大学の藤田尚志教授らによってその機能が明らかにされた。「リィグ・ワン」と誤って発音されることが多いが、正しくは「リィグ・アイ」である。

Merck Reports Third-Quarter 2008 Financial Results

ZETIA and VYTORIN are currently sold through Merck's and Schering-Plough's joint venture, Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals.

医薬品売上高ランキング

(注)07年実績、単位億ドル、ユート・ブレーン調べ

March 9, 2009 Merck

Merck and Schering-Plough to merge