Merck's Four Divisions

The Merck Group operates within four divisions. The Merck Serono division develops, manufactures and markets prescription drugs to treat cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, infertility and selected metabolic disorders. About 60% of these drugs are biologics, making the division a substantial biopharmaceuticals provider in Europe. In the second quarter of 2012, Merck Serono contributed 56% to Group sales.

The Consumer Health division manufactures and markets prescription-free drugs primarily addressing health themes such as mobility, women’s and children’s health, cough and cold as well as everyday health protection. The division’s contribution to Group sales was 4% in the second quarter of 2012.

In Performance Materials, Merck holds number one market positions for liquid crystal mixtures used in liquid crystal displays (LCD) as well as for special effect pigments used for decorative applications in e. g. automotive coatings and the cosmetics industry. This division generated 16% of Group sales in the second quarter of 2012.

Finally, the Merck Millipore division is the number three global supplier of tools for the life science industry, marketing and developing solutions to support the academic, pharma, biopharma and chemical industries to increase productivity in laboratories as well as to ensure quality and lower costs in production. Reflecting the industry-specific needs of its customers, Merck Millipore has three business units: Bioscience and Lab Solutions, which primarily serve the needs of researchers and laboratories, and Process Solutions, which supplies products used primarily for clinical and commercial-scale drug production. In the second quarter of 2012, the division contributed 24% to sales of the Merck Group.

Merck Group | Sales by division – Q2 2012