Abstract/Summary

This is a case study of the U.S. pharmaceuticals producer, Merck & Co. By 1940 this was one of the leading pharmaceutical producers in the United States, and went on to become one of the global industry leaders after the second world war. It was founded in 1891 as the U.S. subsidiary of a much larger German pharmaceuticals company, E. Merck of Darmstadt. The existing understanding of Merck & Co’s history emphasises how it was reacquired by the American branch of the Merck family after wartime sequestration, and that from then onwards it pursued a path of development separate from its former parent. This article revisits that history of the company and shows how the two Merck’s began to co operate and share technology and manufacturing know-how during the 1930s, something which was particularly to the advantage of Merck & Co.