Spring Break
Merck CEO speaks on health care
Josh Kurtz
Issue date: 5/30/08 Section: News
Richard Clark, chairman, president and chief executive officer of pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. Inc., spoke to Drexel students May 28 about public-private partnerships in global health.
In his speech, presented at the College of Engineering's second annual Dean's Distinguished Lecture, Clark spoke about Merck's work with underprivileged people in places such as Africa and Latin America.
"[Merck has a] responsibility to make sure that people who need the medicines get the medicines around the world," Clark said.
He added that this goal is a much bigger responsibility than "just making earnings per share."
According Clark, to accomplish these goals, public-private partnerships are imperative. Private partners who have helped with such projects include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the William J. Clinton Foundation, the United Nations and the United Nations Children's Fund, as well as governments and universities.
John Marx, a senior majoring in Chemical Engineering, said gained more insight into the role of partnerships in pharmaceuticals during the speech.
"[The program gave] great insight into the public-private partnerships. You don't hear it in the news," Marx said.
Students can also gain first-hand experience from Merck; according to Dean of the College of Engineering, Selçuk Güçeri, Merck is one of the larger employers of Drexel co-ops.
Clark said Merck and some universities have partnerships centered on health policies.
"[Universities] have expertise in that area. They work with us, local governments [to make sure policies are effective]," Clark said.
In addition to working with schools in places like the United States and Europe, Merck also works with colleges in underprivileged areas. Clark discussed Merck's development of Mectizan, a drug that combats river blindness, which was prevalent in regions of Africa and Latin America. Merck has been donating this drug since 1987. To effectively distribute the drug, Merck had to build infrastructure in the affected areas.
In his speech, presented at the College of Engineering's second annual Dean's Distinguished Lecture, Clark spoke about Merck's work with underprivileged people in places such as Africa and Latin America.
"[Merck has a] responsibility to make sure that people who need the medicines get the medicines around the world," Clark said.
He added that this goal is a much bigger responsibility than "just making earnings per share."
According Clark, to accomplish these goals, public-private partnerships are imperative. Private partners who have helped with such projects include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the William J. Clinton Foundation, the United Nations and the United Nations Children's Fund, as well as governments and universities.
John Marx, a senior majoring in Chemical Engineering, said gained more insight into the role of partnerships in pharmaceuticals during the speech.
"[The program gave] great insight into the public-private partnerships. You don't hear it in the news," Marx said.
Students can also gain first-hand experience from Merck; according to Dean of the College of Engineering, Selçuk Güçeri, Merck is one of the larger employers of Drexel co-ops.
Clark said Merck and some universities have partnerships centered on health policies.
"[Universities] have expertise in that area. They work with us, local governments [to make sure policies are effective]," Clark said.
In addition to working with schools in places like the United States and Europe, Merck also works with colleges in underprivileged areas. Clark discussed Merck's development of Mectizan, a drug that combats river blindness, which was prevalent in regions of Africa and Latin America. Merck has been donating this drug since 1987. To effectively distribute the drug, Merck had to build infrastructure in the affected areas.
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