A crucial component of our business activities is the responsible marketing of our products in accordance with regulations. In our Pharmaceuticals business, the requirements for marketing are very stringent, as they are for all interactions in the health care industry. Our number-one goal is for patients to receive effective treatment. For this to happen, all health care industry players must have continuous access to the relevant information, patients must have access to the medicines they need, and the medicines must be correctly prescribed and utilized. In order to achieve this, we adhere to strict ethical standards for the marketing of our products. These [...]
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany utilizes genetically modified organisms in research and development. Since the 1980s, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has been manufacturing biotech products that are produced using genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Without this technology, the major medical advances of the last several years would not have been possible. Our major research centers for medical biotechnology are located in Darmstadt (Germany), Boston (United States), Beijing (China), and Tokyo (Japan). Important production sites for this are Aubonne and Corsier-sur-Vevey in Switzerland. In 2012, we completed the expansion of our site in Corsier-sur-Vevey. Now one [...]
[...] are implemented by paying them bonuses based on the cost savings or the contribution to occupational safety, environmental protection and quality improvement. Our employees submitted 4,111 suggestions in 2011 and 3,128 in 2012 for improvement. These led to savings amounting to € 1.9 million in 2011 and € 2.0 million in 2012. For this, they received bonuses totaling € 1.1 million in 2011 and € 0.8 million in 2012. Around 70% of the suggestions for improvement related to production areas; the remaining 30% comprised suggestions pertaining to analysis, technology and logistics. The suggestions helped significantly in many instances to optimize production [...]
Chemical and pharmaceutical companies are legally required to perform animal tests when developing new drugs; this is also required for the product safety of biological preparations as well as for chemicals in connection with the REACH regulation. Animal testing provides crucial information on product efficacy and safety. Therefore, international law requires it to be performed prior to testing the effect of new drugs in humans, or prior to marketing chemicals on a large scale. Animal testing may only be conducted if there are no recognized alternative methods available; otherwise, the alternative methods must be utilized. Animal testing is, however, still [...]
[...] that resources such as energy, water and raw materials are utilized as efficiently as possible. Process safety is a key prerequisite here. Through the EDISON program, we implement Group-wide measures to achieve our climate protection goals. Climate protection We strive for operational efficiency and therefore use raw materials, energy and water economically. Resource consumption Water is used in production primarily for cooling, for process water, or for exhaust air purification. Water protection The prevention and proper disposal of waste is an important task. Waste management We have defined high standards for plant and process safety worldwide. Process safety [...]
