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Taking precise aim     When we find a molecule that holds promise of becoming a commercially viable medicine capable of bringing real value to patients, it receives significant Company resources. Vioxx and Cancidas are just two of our more recent drugs to spring from this approach. Vioxx is a blockbuster with global sales topping $2 billion in a mere 20 months. Cancidas, just launched in February 2001, may never be a blockbuster of this magnitude, but it is vitally needed by patients with life-threatening fungal infections.     How is our strategy working? “Our basic research laboratories are more productive by a substantial measure than ever before,” says Edward M. Scolnick, M.D., Merck Research Laboratories president and executive vice president, science and technology. “The number of compounds brought into development over the past three years far exceed the total in any preceding three-year period. And those compounds possess better qualities than any of their predecessors brought forward in a like time span because we have been able to analyze and test them in more detail.”     “We have the strongest scientific staff ever assembled in the pharmaceutical industry,” Dr. Scolnick says. “We have a full plate for 2001 in all aspects of R&D. But we always rise to the challenge, and I am sure we will continue to do so by discovering and developing medicines and vaccines that alleviate suffering and prevent human disease. The result of that behavior is a vibrant company delivering to shareholders the returns they expect with an ethic that always puts the patient first.” Our research pipeline shows excellent potential: Our strategy is to develop medicines with novel mechanisms of action that are highly potent, highly specific, safe, well tolerated and offer the convenience of once-daily dosing. We focus on medicines for diseases with large patient populations worldwide whose needs are not well served. Worldwide Marketing Application Filed Product Name Description Cancidas (launched in U.S. in early 2001) First in a new class of antifungal medicines. Approved for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis in patients who did not respond to or were intolerant of other antifungal therapies; being studied for use against Candida. Invanz Once-a-day injectable antibiotic for the initial empiric treatment of community-acquired and mixed infections. Late-stage research (Phase IIb and beyond) Etoricoxib Most selective COX-2 inhibitor known to be in development. Herpes zoster vaccine Herpes zoster (shingles) in adults. MK-869 Substance P antagonist for chemotherapy-induced emesis (vomiting). Singulair and Schering-Plough’s Claritin Allergic rhinitis. Zocor and Schering-Plough’s ezetimibe Lower elevated cholesterol. Substance P antagonist program Proof of principle confirmed for depression. Rotavirus vaccine Rotavirus-induced diarrhea and dehydration in children. Early-stage research KRP-297 Diabetes. Human papillomavirus vaccine Prevention of genital warts and cervical cancer. HIV vaccine HIV/AIDS. Merck Research Laboratories has more new compounds with novel mechanisms of action under development than at any time in the Company’s history. New team scans the scientific universe beyond Merck: This team combines the disciplines necessary to help Merck broaden and manage the external research process. Pictured, from left, are: Adam Schechter, Worldwide New Products Marketing; Joseph DiPrima, Patent Legal Group; John Mustillo, Financial Evaluation and Analysis; Bennett Shapiro, M.D., Worldwide Licensing and External Research; Richard Kender, Corporate Licensing and Development; Richard McGuire, Joint Venture and Research Legal area; and Lewis Mandel, Ph.D., External Scientific Affairs. Back to top

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