[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by blueangel

"The history of Merck & Co., Inc. can be traced back to Darmstadt, Germany, in 1668 when an apothecarty named Frederic Jacob Merck opened a chemical firm...."http://www.msd.com.hk/about_us/e_history_of_merck.html

From the same link:

he history of Merck & Co., Inc. can be traced back to Darmstadt, Germany, in 1668 when an apothecarty named Frederic Jacob Merck opened a chemical firm. In 1891, George Merck began to establish his roots in the United States and set up Merck & Co., Inc. in New York, U.S.A. Originally started off as a fine chemicals suppliers, Merck & Co., Inc began its pharmaceutical research in the early 1930's.

They were in chemicals a lot longer than pharmaceuticals. The pharmaceutical research began in the 30's. Not that I know why this portion of whatever point you're trying to prove is relevant.