General presentation of Merck

The Merck Group is one of the big names in the pharmaceutical industry, specialising in the development, production and marketing of therapeutic products and vaccines. The company's most important business is the sale of pharmaceuticals. This is followed by the sale of vaccines and other complementary activities.
Merck's most important market is the United States, but it also does a lot of business in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Japan.
Among the major products marketed by the Merck group are vaccines such as Gardasil, which prevents HPV, and RotaTeq, a vaccine against rotavirus.
Merck also manufactures treatments for cholesterol problems such as Ezetrol and Zocor, both of which combat hypercholesterolemia.
It is also the originator of Isentress, used to treat HIV, and Vioxx for osteoarthritis problems, which has since been withdrawn from the market because of the cardiac risks it presented.
Finally, Merck is also known for its Singulair treatment for asthmatics.
Merck's shares are listed on Euronext Paris. However, its share price is also included in the calculation of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA).
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