Eli Lilly vs Merck: Founders, CEOs and History
Eli Lilly was founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly and is led by David A. Ricks. Merck was founded in 1891 by George Merck and is led by Robert M. Davis.
Company facts
Founders
Eli Lilly
Colonel Eli Lilly
Following his military service and early experiences in the apothecary trade, Lilly worked in various pharmaceutical and business ventures, eventually amassing enough capital to strike out on his own.
Merck
George Merck
Merck & Co. possesses one of the most historic, ancestral founding stories in the entire history of modern medicine, tracing its corporate lineage directly back to a localized, ancient German pharmacy in the 17th century.
CEOs and their tenures
Eli Lilly
- Sidney Taurel1998–2008
Former Chair and CEO
Taurel's focus on targeted, personalized medicine anticipated the future direction of the pharmaceutical industry, shifting the company's research paradigm toward more precise and effective treatments.
Source - David A. Ricks2017–present
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Ricks's aggressive restructuring and cultural overhaul have been widely credited with revitalizing Eli Lilly's pipeline and driving a notable period of financial growth and market capitalization expansion.
Source
Merck
- P. Roy Vagelos1985–1994
Chairman and CEO
Turned Merck Research Laboratories into the engine behind Mevacor and Vasotec and launched the Mectizan Donation Program in 1987.
Source - Kenneth Frazier2011–2021
Chairman and CEO
Backed the broad Keytruda development program that made it Merck's dominant product and oversaw the 2021 Organon spin-off planning.
Source - Robert M. Davis2021–present
Chairman and CEO
Since 2025 has added Verona Pharma, Cidara Therapeutics and Terns Pharmaceuticals, launched Keytruda Qlex and won 2026 FDA approval for oral PCSK9 inhibitor Lipfendra, while guiding to $66.3 billion to $67.3 billion in 2026 sales.
Source
Timeline: Eli Lilly and Merck side by side
1876Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly Founded
Colonel Eli Lilly founds the company in Indianapolis.
1891Merck
American Subsidiary of E. Merck Established
George Merck establishes Merck & Co. As the U.S. Subsidiary of E. Merck of Darmstadt, Germany, initially focused on importing and distributing German-manufactured pharmaceutical and chemical products for the American market.
1917Merck
WWI Seizure Creates Independent American Corporation
The U.S. Government seizes Merck & Co.'s assets under the Trading with the Enemy Act following American entry into World War I, appointing an Alien Property Custodian to manage German-owned U.S. Businesses.
1923Eli Lilly
Insulin Commercialization
Lilly helps commercialize insulin at industrial scale, shaping its long-term diabetes identity.
1950Eli Lilly
Antibiotic Expansion
The company expands through antibiotics and broader prescription medicines.
1953Merck
Merger with Sharp & Dohme Adds Vaccine Capability
Merck completes its merger with Sharp & Dohme, a Philadelphia-based pharmaceutical company with particular strength in vaccines and biological products.
1981Merck
World's First Recombinant DNA Vaccine Hepatitis B
Merck receives FDA approval for the world's first recombinant DNA vaccine the Merck Hepatitis B vaccine developed by Maurice Hilleman and his team using yeast-expressed recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen.
1982Eli Lilly
Humulin Approved
Lilly introduces Humulin, one of the first recombinant DNA human insulin products.
1987Merck
Mevacor Approved First Commercially Available Statin
The FDA approves Lovastatin, marketed as Mevacor the first HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) to reach commercial availability anywhere in the world.
2004Merck
Vioxx Withdrawal A Defining Moment in Drug Safety
Merck voluntarily withdraws Vioxx (rofecoxib) from global markets after clinical trial data in the APPROVe colorectal polyp prevention study reveal that patients taking the drug have approximately double the risk of serious cardiovascular events compared with…
2006Merck
Gardasil Approved First HPV Cancer Prevention Vaccine
The FDA approves Gardasil, Merck's quadrivalent HPV vaccine, becoming the first vaccine approved to prevent cancer by targeting human papillomavirus strains responsible for most cervical cancers globally.
2009Merck
Merger with Schering-Plough Creates Modern Merck
Merck completes its $41.1 billion merger with Schering-Plough Corporation, acquiring key products including Remicade (shared commercialization rights), Nasonex, and the foundation of the immuno-oncology antibody program that would eventually produce Keytruda.
2014Merck
Keytruda Approved The Beginning of the Immunotherapy Era
The FDA grants accelerated approval to Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for advanced melanoma in September 2014, making it the first PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor to receive FDA clearance.
2017Eli Lilly
David Ricks Becomes CEO
David A. Ricks becomes Chair, President, and CEO.
2021Merck
Acceleron Pharma Acquired for $11.5 Billion Winrevair Pipeline
Merck completes its acquisition of Acceleron Pharma for approximately $11.5 billion, securing sotatercept a first-in-class activin signaling inhibitor in Phase 3 development for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
2022Eli Lilly
Mounjaro Approved
Mounjaro receives U.S. approval for type 2 diabetes, beginning a major growth cycle.
2023Eli Lilly
Zepbound Approved
Zepbound receives U.S. approval for chronic weight management.
2023Merck
Prometheus Biosciences Acquired for $10.8 Billion
Merck acquires Prometheus Biosciences for approximately $10.8 billion, adding tulisokibart an anti-TL1A antibody that demonstrated remarkable Phase 2 remission rates in Crohn's disease that substantially exceeded existing biologic benchmarks.
2024Merck
Winrevair Approved; Keytruda Reaches $29.5 Billion in Annual Sales
FDA approval of Winrevair (sotatercept) for pulmonary arterial hypertension in March 2024 marks the launch of Merck's most important new commercial product in a decade.
2025Eli Lilly
Revenue Reaches $65.179B
Lilly reports $65.179B in 2025 revenue and $20.640B in net income.
2025Eli Lilly
First $1 Trillion Drugmaker
Lilly's market value crosses $1 trillion on November 21, 2025, a first for a healthcare company.
2025Merck
Sales Reach $65.011B
Merck reported $65.011B in FY2025 worldwide sales, $18.254B in net income attributable to Merck, $31.7B in Keytruda/Keytruda Qlex sales, and about 75,000 employees.
2026Eli Lilly
Foundayo Approved
FDA approves Foundayo (orforglipron), Lilly's oral GLP-1 pill for obesity, on April 1, 2026.
2026Merck
Cidara and Terns Deals Close; Lipfendra Approved
Merck completed the roughly $9.2 billion Cidara Therapeutics acquisition in January 2026 and the roughly $6.7 billion Terns Pharmaceuticals acquisition in the second quarter, won FDA approval for once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor Lipfendra (enlicitide), and rais…
Acquisitions
Eli Lilly
- Morphic Holding2024$3.2B
- POINT Biopharma2023$1.4B
- Prevail Therapeutics2021$1B
- Loxo Oncology2019$8B
Merck
- Cidara Therapeutics2026$9.2B
- Terns Pharmaceuticals2026$6.7B
- Verona Pharma2025$10B
- Prometheus Biosciences2023$10.8B
- Acceleron Pharma2021$11.5B
- Schering-Plough Corporation2009$41B
Questions about Eli Lilly vs Merck
Who is the CEO of Eli Lilly and Company and Merck & Co., Inc.?
Eli Lilly and Company is led by David A. Ricks and Merck & Co., Inc. is led by Robert M. Davis. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Eli Lilly and Company founded vs Merck & Co., Inc.?
Eli Lilly and Company was founded in 1876 — 15 years before Merck & Co., Inc., which was founded in 1891. Eli Lilly and Company's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Merck & Co., Inc..
How many employees does Eli Lilly and Company have compared to Merck & Co., Inc.?
Eli Lilly and Company employs approximately 50,000 people, while Merck & Co., Inc. employs approximately 75,000. Merck & Co., Inc. has the larger workforce at 75,000 employees, compared to Eli Lilly and Company's 50,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Eli Lilly and Company and Merck & Co., Inc. headquartered?
Both Eli Lilly and Company and Merck & Co., Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Eli Lilly and Company and Merck & Co., Inc.?
Eli Lilly and Company was founded by Colonel Eli Lilly. Merck & Co., Inc. was founded by George Merck.
Which company has a longer operating history — Eli Lilly and Company or Merck & Co., Inc.?
Eli Lilly and Company has been operating for approximately 150 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Merck & Co., Inc. has been in operation for around 135 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Eli Lilly vs Merck overview