With a tradition spanning over three hundred years, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Gemany, is the oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company in the world. We still operate successfully in both sectors worldwide, but operate in the US and Canada as EMD Serono and EMD Chemicals. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.
This long history signifies a capacity at EMD that is still valid today and will be a crucial factor of success in future: the ability of our leaders and employees to sustain essential characteristics of the company and – at the same time – to follow a pioneering spirit and drive innovation. Being aware of this core capacity we have formulated our future strategy
“Sustain. Change. Grow.”

Heinrich Emanuel Merck - transition from pharmacy to industrial company