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Getting medicines to the people
While Merck’s mission focuses on the search for new therapies and demonstrating their value to our customers, we realize that if people do not have access to our medicines, then we have not fully succeeded. That is why we are making our voice heard around the globe to ensure that all people have access to the vital medicines and vaccines they need. In the United States we are actively working to encourage the government and legislators to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare. We also support action through legislation that would give all elderly Americans access to affordable prescription drug coverage through the federal government’s Medicare program in a way that preserves competition and promotes choice.
In Europe we are advocating market reforms that will foster innovation and competitiveness and will help to achieve the goal of completing a single market for pharmaceuticals in the 15 member states of the European Union. In the developing world, Merck took a step to spur access to HIV medicines by significantly lowering prices for Crixivan and Stocrin in countries where lowered prices could contribute to greater availability. At the new price levels, Merck will make no profit on these medicines in the poorest countries and the most hard hit by the HIV epidemic. In addition, we are building partnerships to try to stem the tide of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that affects about 28 million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone.
To those partnerships we bring some 15 years’ experience fighting river blindness with our donation program for our medicine, Mectizan. We are particularly hopeful about one novel partnership with the Republic of Botswana and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Under the African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnership, The Merck Company Foundation is contributing $50 million, which will be used to fund HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs and provide staff and support services to the government of Botswana for these efforts. In addition, Merck is donating its antiretroviral medicines for treatment programs that the government of Botswana decides to implement. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is also committing $50 million over five years to help Botswana strengthen its primary health care system.
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Fosamax – proven ability to build bone strength: Holly White’s friends in Phoenix, Ariz., refer to the 83-year-old’s car as her “wings” because she’s one of thousands of “snowbirds” who descend on this desert city to escape colder northern climates. Ms. White takes Fosamax Once Weekly to treat her osteoporosis. She is convinced that one reason she can still make the long trek from Iowa to Arizona each year is because the medicine reduces her chance of suffering osteoporotic hip or spine fractures that have afflicted so many of her friends. Fosamax, available in a convenient once-weekly dose, remains the world’s leading nonhormonal medicine for the treatment of osteoporosis. Global sales in 2001 were $1.8 billion, up 38 percent over 2000. The Company expects sales to continue to grow in 2002 as more people are diagnosed.
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Strong today, stronger tomorrow
In all that we do, we try to do the right things to assure Merck’s success over the long term. That straightforward approach helps us remain an industry leader. In 2001, Merck experienced a solid year. Revenues rose steadily, buoyed by powerful performances from our five key drug products, despite a challenging environment for Vioxx and our other products. In addition, Merck-Medco strengthened its position as the leading pharmacy benefits management company in the world. (See Merck-Medco story above.) Thanks to a global laboratory and the broad reach of MRL, we boast the strongest drug and vaccine pipeline in our history. And, we are hopeful that through our commitment to science and access, we can bring our finest achievements to everyone.
As we move toward our new generation of breakthroughs, we look forward to the future with confidence. |
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