Merck, also known as MSD outside the US and Canada, is a multinational pharmaceutical company that was founded in 1891 as a subsidiary of Merck Group, a German chemical company. It became an independent company in 1917 after being confiscated by the US government during World War I. Merck develops and produces medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products for various diseases and conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, HIV, Ebola, and COVID-19. As of 2020, Merck had over 69,000 employees in more than 140 countries and regions. It reported a revenue of $48 billion and a net income of $7.1 billion for the fiscal year 20204.
