Products in the Ethicals division comprise prescription drugs developed or in-licensed by Merck. The product portfolio includes preparations for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, preparations from the therapeutic area of women's health & feeding tubes and devices

In December 2003, Erbitux™ (cetuximab), the first product from Merck’s Oncology pipeline, gained marketing approval in Switzerland and the UK launch followed in June 2004. Merck thus now offers a  targeted therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer to patients no longer responding to standard chemotherapy with irinotecan.

Central to Merck's worldwide business in pharmaceuticals are drugs from the CardioMetabolic Care business area. Merck’s family of products offers a comprehensive range of therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases - especially heart failure, hypertension, lipid management and angina – these being some of the most frequent causes of death in industrial countries.

Another focal point is the development of drugs for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Merck is among the global market leaders for oral antidiabetics for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

The launch of Niaspan in 2003/2004, a drug to treat mixed lipid disorders, offers patients another treatment option.