A globally operating venture with German roots, the healthcare company’s business model encompasses medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, consumer health and animal products. In 2009, Merck and Schering-Plough merged to form a new company that has grown to become the second-largest healthcare player in the world. Both Merck and Schering-Plough have a good track record in terms of healthcare innovation – the discovery of vitamin B1 and the first measles vaccine are just two inventions on their list of merits, along with a host of products developed to improve animal health, such as vaccines and antibiotics.