The history of EMD
Merck in Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. In North America, the company operates under the umbrella brand EMD, formed from the initials of Emanuel Merck, Darmstadt.
If you'd like to find out more please refer to
| 1668 | Friedrich Jacob Merck acquires the Angel Pharmacy ("Engel-Apotheke") |
| 1741 | Johann Heinrich Merck, Goethe's friend, is born |
| 1827 | Heinrich Emanuel Merck: from a pharmacy trade to a research-based industrial company |
| 1888 | Comparative chemical analysis with "Merck's guaranteed pure reagents" |
| 1900 | Merck is represented on all continents |
| 1904 | First list of finished medicinal products; liquid crystal research begins |
| 1917 | U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. expropriated - independent ever since |
| 1920 | For the first time, non-family members join the executive management |
| 1945 | Loss of subsidiaries abroad, new start from the ruins |
| 1971 | Firm re-establishement in the United States – after Asia and Latin America |
| 1995 | Establishment of Merck KGaA, public listing |
| 2003 | Erbitux®: Entry into targeted cancer therapy |
| 2007 | Serono acquisition, divestment of Generics, capital increase, admission to the DAX® |
| 2010 | Millipore acquisition |
A dedicated team in Darmstadt has been established to preserve and present the wide range of developments at EMD to the present day. We want to incorporate your ideas and experiences from all areas. Please support us by sharing artifacts, e.g. in the form of files, books, photos or other objects.
With support and advice from the Corporate History Team, you will be able to access:
… and in our exhibits, a way to make the past, present and the future tangible.
- Written documentation or photographs on all areas of the company EMD – around the world
- Books on the history of science and more from the 15th to the 21st centuries
- A venue for smaller symposia or meetings
