Creating a new world in Minecraft for students to explore
Periodic Odyssey
November 8, 2021
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Our passion for invention isn’t limited to the health care industry and the patients we serve; it drives us to inspire the next generation of inventors. So, we created a new approach to science-based learning.
Periodic Odyssey is a new world in Minecraft where students explore, search for and find elements from the periodic table and unlock the power of science with special in-game rewards.
Using the game’s traditional pickaxe and custom element-inspired skins, players will explore our completely unique, immersive Minecraft map to hunt for all naturally-occurring elements.
After bringing the elements back to the science lab, they’ll see the fruits of their labor, amassing the collection of found elements, unlocking sections of the lab by doing so, and being rewarded with special tools to help with their search as the rarer elements become more challenging to find. It all adds up to make screen time into learning time, and to spark inspiration in budding scientists.
This new map will be available in both Minecraft: Education Edition, for use in classrooms, and Minecraft, open to all players all over the world.
Our hope is that we can foster an interest in the sciences among young people that will lead to a future full of invention.
"Periodic Odyssey has the potential to increase student familiarity with both those elements (and symbols) met in a typical school curriculum as well as those, such as the rare earth elements, that are integral to modern life."
Ken Frazier named Chief Executive’s 2021 CEO of the Year
Our executive chairman of the board and former CEO joins a list of legendary executives for his long record of leadership
October 27, 2021
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“I don’t think you can do anything important if you’re not willing to take a stand and be criticized.”
Ken Frazier
Executive chairman of the board and former CEO of Merck
This bold and determined mindset complemented with strong leadership is what led Chief Executive magazine’s CEO of the Year Selection Committee to name Ken Frazier 2021 CEO of the Year.
By receiving this honor, Frazier joins a list of legendary executives, including Bill Gates, Brian Moynihan, Michael Dell and his fellow Merck CEO Roy Vagelos, among others.
Frazier was selected by an independent committee of distinguished peer CEOs, who recognize his leadership at Merck driving transformation and growth to help produce powerful results for patients, stakeholders and society.
Inside Ken Frazier’s long game
In the fall 2021 issue of Chief Executive magazine, the feature “Inside Ken Frazier’s Long Game” tells the inspiring story of how a man from working-class Philadelphia made his way to become CEO of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The article profiles Frazier’s transformational leadership inside and outside of our company, from refocusing the company on research to his years of commitment to racial equality and social justice issues.
“Ken is a remarkable leader with the vision and determination to do what’s right for society while delivering long-term value for shareholders. His leadership at a time when society needed him most has been exemplary,” said Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America and Chief Executive’s 2020 CEO of the Year.
Frazier speaks to the importance of research and development and how he made that his long-term focus during his time as CEO. He reiterates the value of seeking out the right scientific talent and creating an environment to enable breakthrough research and trusting that those discoveries will help make a difference in the world.
“My job is to create an environment where I say science is what we’re all about. It’s what we invest in. It’s what we value. And we’ll hire the best scientists and create an environment where they can do what they’re going to do.”
Ken Frazier
He touches on our company’s early COVID-19 efforts and what we’re doing now, as well as his efforts to address issues surrounding racial equality in the U.S., including signing on as co-chair of the OneTen coalition.
2021 CEO of the Year celebration
Chief Executive magazine honored Frazier on Oct. 26 at the CEO of the Year celebration in New York, alongside 2020 CEO of the Year winner Brian Moynihan.
“A great CEO delivers for shareholders and society. I couldn’t think of anyone who defines that more than Ken,” said Moynihan.
The event was followed by a panel where Frazier and Moynihan discussed lessons in leadership.
“I’ve had the privilege of leading a company that is led by very purpose-driven people,” said Frazier. “What I’ve learned is how important it is for companies to be purposeful and to think about the welfare of your people all the time. My job is to reinforce that every chance I get.”
Looking ahead
When asked if he’s optimistic about the future, Frazier told the magazine, “I am optimistic. Because I believe all of us have agency. As long as we believe in what this country stands for, we can make a difference. It’s all about CEOs deciding that they are going to lead their companies in a way that not only creates a fair return for their shareholders but creates a fair return for our society.”
Mitos y realidades sobre la enfermedad neumocócica
Analizamos posibles percepciones erróneas sobre la enfermedad neumocócica y su impacto en niños y adultos.
September 9, 2021
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Enfermedad neumocócica se llama a cualquier infección causada por una bacteria llamada Streptococcus pneumoniae, también conocida como neumococo. Las infecciones neumocócicas pueden incluir infecciones del oído y la nariz, neumonía e infecciones del torrente sanguíneo (bacteriemia).
Mito: La enfermedad neumocócica no es grave.
Realidad: La infección neumocócica contribuye a la muerte y a la enfermedad en todo el mundo.
La neumonía neumocócica, por ejemplo, es una de las principales causas infecciosas de muerte en niños pequeños alrededor del mundo. Como otro ejemplo, cada año en los EE. UU., la neumonía neumocócica causa un estimado de 150.000 hospitalizaciones.
Mito: La enfermedad neumocócica siempre es neumonía.
Realidad: La neumonía neumocócica (cuando se limita a los pulmones) y la neumonía bacteriémica (neumonía con bacteriemia) son solo dos tipos de enfermedades causadas por bacterias neumocócicas.
Además de las enfermedades más comunes, como la sinusitis e infecciones del oído medio, los casos más graves de enfermedad neumocócica ocurren cuando la bacteria neumocócica invade partes del cuerpo que normalmente no tienen gérmenes, como el torrente sanguíneo en el caso de la bacteriemia. Esto se llama enfermedad neumocócica “invasiva”.
Además, la meningitis neumocócica es una infección rara pero grave de la membrana que cubre el cerebro y la médula espinal. Esto puede provocar complicaciones a largo plazo, como daño cerebral, pérdida de la audición y convulsiones.
Mito: Hay solo una cepa de bacteria que causa la enfermedad neumocócica.
Realidad: Existen numerosos tipo únicos de bacterias neumocócicas, denominados serotipos.
Los tipos de bacteria se diferencian dediversasmaneras: algunos son más prevalentes en un país que en otro, otros es más probable que causen ciertos tipos de enfermedades neumocócicas, y otros es más probable que sean responsables de los casos más graves.
Mito: La enfermedad neumocócica afecta a todas las personas por igual.
Realidad: Cualquier persona puede contraer la enfermedad neumocócica, pero algunas personas corren más riesgo.
Si bien los adultos y los niños sanos pueden padecer de la enfermedad neumocócica, las personas con más riesgo incluyen niños de menos de 2 años de edad, adultos mayores de más de 65 años y personas con ciertas afecciones crónicas, como enfermedades del corazón, diabetes u enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC).
Mito: La COVID-19 y la neumonía neumocócica son lo mismo.
Realidad: La neumonía es una infección pulmonar que puede ser el resultado de una serie de causas, incluidos virus, bacterias y hongos.
Aunque la causa de la neumonía no siempre es la bacteria neumocócica, esta es una causa frecuente. A la neumonía neumocócica la causa una bacteria llamada Streptococcus pneumoniae, mientras que a la COVID-19 la causa un virus llamado SARS-CoV-2. Son distintas enfermedades, pero la neumonía neumocócica y la COVID-19 sí comparten ciertos factores de riesgo, incluidos la edad avanzada y ciertas afecciones médicas preexistentes.
Podcast: How to bridge diversity gaps in cancer clinical trials
Luther Clark talks with Lazarex Cancer Foundation's Dana Dornsife and Marya Shegog about increasing access among historically underrepresented communities
May 17, 2021
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Diversity in cancer clinical trials is essential to show if potential treatments are safe and work well for people of all different communities. That’s why it’s crucial to break down barriers and increase participation in cancer clinical trials among historically underrepresented communities.
In this podcast, Luther Clark, Merck’s deputy chief patient officer, speaks with the Lazarex Cancer Foundation’s founder and CEO, Dana Dornsife, and its health equity and diversity coordinator, Marya Shegog, about the work they’ve been doing — and the work that still needs to be done — to foster health equity through cancer clinical trials.
Our commitment to HIV treatments and prevention through the years
We continue to work at the forefront of the fight against HIV
March 15, 2021
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HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) continues to be a major public health threat. The virus can lead to AIDS.
Since 1985, our company has been engaged in research and development (R&D) efforts in the prevention and treatment of HIV. Over the years, our scientists have made significant discoveries that changed the way HIV is treated. Here are some historical moments highlighting this effort:
In 1982, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first used the term “AIDS,” or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, to describe the clinical syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
In the mid-1980s, Merck launched its HIV research program in response to what it perceived as a potential epidemic. Our scientists were among the first to discover and develop medicines for the treatment of HIV.
We were the first to publish the crystal structure of HIV protease, which is an enzyme which is essential for virus infectivity.
In 1992, Merck joined other pharmaceutical companies to create the Inter-Company Collaboration for AIDS Drug Development to research HIV treatments. By 1993, we were undertaking the biggest research program in our history, deploying more scientists to investigate AIDS than any other disease and testing tens of thousands of compounds.
The HIV/AIDS community continued to speak out for action. In 1995, Linda Distlerath, former executive director, Public Policy and Merck Research Laboratories Public Affairs, spent time reading letters sent from thousands of AIDS patients and activists urging Merck to produce a treatment for the disease quickly.
After years of study and development, Merck developed one of the first protease inhibitors. In 1995, prior to FDA approval, in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, patients and HIV advocacy groups, Merck offered a program that made its new HIV treatment available at no cost to selective patients before it was commercially available.
In 1996, the HIV treatment received FDA approval in a record-setting 42 days. It was an important early achievement in making HIV a survivable infection.
In 2012, The NAMES Project Foundation – with support from Merck – launched Call My Name national tour to bring attention to the distressing trajectory of the HIV epidemic in the Black communities in the U.S. The tour included creating new panels for the AIDS memorial quilt and educational workshops in 10 high-prevalence cities.
In 2021, we entered into an agreement with Gilead to work together in the global HIV community in the fight against HIV.
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