100 years of Merz - with people as our focus

1908 - FOUNDATION on March 9th

The young pharmacist and chemist Friedrich Merz establishes his own pharmaceuticals production plant in Frankfurt. 10,000 Reichsmark, which he had received from his master pharmacist in Metz, Emile Losson, and his first inventions, a patent and an utility model protection, were the only starting capital the pharmacist and chemist needed.

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1909 - ECKENHEIMER LANDSTRASSE

The company expands and moves to a new location at Eckenheimer Landstraße 100, a former cigarette factory. Today the company headquarters still remain at this location.

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1911 - PATENTEX FIRST BIRTH CONTROL

At the beginning of the 20th century, an abundance of children often goes hand-in-hand with poverty, and this raises a number of social issues. Applauded by doctors and pharmacists but facing resistance from the German Empire and the church, Merz introduces the first topical contraceptive, Patentex, onto the market.

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1911 - SEROL

Serol, a grease-free, water-soluble and pH-neutral salve base creates new possibilities in treatments with salves. The active ingredients are better able to penetrate into the deeper layers of skin.

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1914 - MENTHOL CIGARETTES

A non-smoker, Merz invents the popular Refreshment Cigarettes, containing a mixture of Oriental tobaccos and added menthol.

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1920 - DIVERSIFICATION

In their hometown of Groß-Bieberau in the Odenwald, Friedrich Merz supports his brother Georg and the master wood turner, Justus Krell, in establishing a writing instruments company, Merz & Krell, which quickly develops into a flourishing business producing fountain pens and propelling pencils. Known today by the name Senator, the company is now an internationally leading manufacturer of writing instruments.

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1930 - FIRST ADDITIONAL SITES

The 1930's are characterized by rapid growth. New sites emerge in Berlin, Vienna, Zurich, London, and Newark, USA.

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March 22/23, 1944 - DESTRUCTION

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1953 - FIRST ANTI-WRINKLE PREPARATION

Placentubex, an anti-wrinkle preparation that firms and rejuvenates the skin, is presented by Friedrich Merz at the International Conference for Beauty Care. It is celebrated by experts as marking a turning point in the field of cosmetics, and the Neue Illustrierte magazine is also delighted: "The age-old dream of skin rejuvenation becomes reality with Placentubex to a degree which had previously not been thought possible".

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1964 - BEAUTY CARE FROM WITHIN

Friedrich Merz has developed Merz Spezial Dragees from 18 different active ingredients and a special yeast extract. Beauty care from within? Initially, pharmacists and chemists do not know how to classify the product in their range, but Friedrich Merz offers them a course of treatment with Merz Spezial Dragees lasting several months, and thus gains the best possible support for what is still felt to be an unusual product. "Can you eat beauty care?" The unanimous reply ever since has been a resounding "Yes!".

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1965 - TETESEPT Bath Medicine

In the 1960s, the tetesept brand established itself in the market. One of the first and most important products is the tetesept Cold Care Bath, the basis of which is formed by precious medicinal plants in the form of concentrated essential oils. Over the years, the product range is expanded, and before long it includes bath supplements, cold remedies, and also other health products, vitamin and mineral preparations and shower care products. Even today, the brand still combines the most modern scientific expertise with traditional natural medicine.

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1968 - FOAMING MASK

Another milestone in cosmetics: Friedrich Merz develops the Placentubex Foaming Mask for the woman on the go. In just a few minutes, the foam soaks in without a trace, taking the active ingredients with it deep into the skin - the ideal refresher between leaving the office and meeting your friends. "... I felt like I'd just been for a walk in the forest," writes one enthusiastic customer, and the actress Maria Schell is also impressed.

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1970er - NEW THERAPEUTIC METHODS

Within a short period of time, a string of new patents and innovations means success in the pharmaceuticals area: Compounds for the treatment of Parkinson's, for the reduction of elevated blood lipids, for hepatic encephalopathy and for the treatment of herpes make completely new therapeutic methods possible.

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2002 - ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA

With Memantine, Merz develops the first active compound worldwide for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's dementia. Severely ill patients can be treated with medical therapy that improves their cognitive abilities, simplifies their care, and delays relocation to a nursing home. Patients can - for a precious amount of time - beware their personal dignity.

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2005 - BOTULINUM TOXIN

Merz introduces the next generation of botulinum toxins onto the market. Xeomin, a type-A botulinum neurotoxin for the treatment of neurological movement dysfunctions, contains no complex proteins, is safe, and is highly effective.

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2005 - GREATER INTERNATIONALISATION

Merz is continuing to forge ahead with its strategy of focussed internationalisation. In 2005, Merz sets up a subsidiary company in Italy, and the market in Great Britain is opened up the following year with the takeover of Denfleet. This is followed by the founding of separate companies in France, Spain and Russia in the financial year 2006/2007.

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2007 - BLOCKBUSTER STATUS FOR MEMANTINE

The anti-dementia drug Memantine, which was developed by Merz, exceeds the sales mark of one billion dollars and achieves blockbuster status.
The Merz Group considerably increases their Group research and development expenditure. Merz upgrades its research activities at FIZ, the Frankfurter Innovationszentrum Biotechnologie (Frankfurt Biotechnology Innovation Center), in order to further expand its research infrastructure and scientific intercommunications.

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2008 - MERZ CELEBRATES ITS 100-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

The one-man operation from 1908 is today an internationally successful, research-based company with over 2000 employees around the world and proven expertise in the fields of neurology and psychiatry.

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2008 - CHALLENGE FOR EXCELLENCE AND OUTPERFORMANCE

In the future too, Merz should be a leader in its markets, of benefit to its patients, and reliable for its partners, as well as a secure employer. This is all summed up in our guiding principle: "Challenge for Excellence and Outperformance".

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