Merck healthcare and chemical products

Merck KGaA, headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest operating chemical and pharmaceutical company. It was founded in 1668 by Friedrich Jacob Merck when he acquired the Engel-Apotheke (Angel Pharmacy). Over centuries, the company evolved from a local pharmacy into a global leader in science and technology.

Today, Merck KGaA operates globally in the sectors of healthcare, life science, and electronics. It is important to distinguish it from the American company Merck & Co. (known as MSD outside the US and Canada), which was originally a subsidiary of the German Merck but was confiscated by the United States during World War I and became an independent entity. The German Merck retains the rights to the name 'Merck' everywhere except in the United States and Canada, where it operates as EMD.

The company remains a family-owned enterprise at its core, with the Merck family holding a majority stake through the E. Merck KG partnership. Manufacturing occurs in numerous facilities across Europe, North America, and Asia to support its vast portfolio of high-tech chemicals and therapeutic medicines.