IntroductionFrom its humble beginnings as a small pharmacy, Merck has placed great importance on improving the health and well-being of its customers. With pharmaceutical patents expiring and genetic forms of their flagship products becoming available, Merck's strategy is to do the unexpected; Instead of raising the price of older products in favor of new, patent-protected drugs, Merck focuses on reducing costs to better compete with their generic counterparts. Additionally, Merck's growth plan now includes a much more aggressive search for new drugs in its pipeline through in-depth research. Merck became the second largest healthcare company in the world after merging with Schering-Plough in 2009 and has contributed to great discoveries such as the first cervical cancer vaccine and great resources such as the Merck manuals which are used as a source of information for doctors , scientists and consumers around the world. Company History In 1891, George Merck founded the first Merck & Co in the United States. The store was originally created as an extension of his family's pharmacy and pharmaceutical factory, created in 1668 by Friedrich J. Merck in Darmstadt, Germany. Due to strained relations between the United States and Germany during World War I, Merck & Co. was separated from its parent company in 1917 by the U.S. government. On May 9, 1919, under government supervision, Merck put 80% of its shares up for public auction and finally concluded the separation from E. Merck in Darmstadt. 1953 offered a new opportunity for Merck when it merged with Sharp & Dohme; a local company based in Baltimore. This new partnership increased Merck's customer base and resources. A decade late... half of the document...l(Accessed 17 July 2011)8. Merck. Merck.Com.nd http://www.merck.com/product/vaccines/home.html (accessed 22 July 2011)9. Merck. Merck.Com. and http://www.merck.com/product/animal-health/home.html (accessed July 9, 2011).10. Collis, David and Troy Smith. “Strategy in the Twenty-First Century Pharmaceutical Industry: Merck&Co. and Pfizer Inc.” Harvard Business School, 2007: 8-12.11. Merck. Merck.Com. and http://www.merck.com/about/views-and-positions/sales-and-marketing/home.html (accessed July 9, 2011)12. Yahoo.finance.yahoo.com.nd http://finance.yahoo.com/q/co?s=MRK+Competitors (accessed July 22, 2011)13.Merck.Merck.Com.n.dhttp:// phx .corporate.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9OTYzMzB8Q2hpbGRJRD0tMXxUeXBlPTM=&t=1(accessed July 22, 2011)14. Wikinvest.Wikinvest.com.nd http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Merck_(MRK)(Accessed July 22, 2011)