Major Accomplishments

Scientists who work in drug discovery can spend their entire careers working on thousands of compounds that never become new therapies. With the development of SINGULAIR^® (montelukast sodium), the Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research has earned its place as one of the world's leading research centres.

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From 1979 to 1993, Merck Frosst scientists focused on the leukotrienes, naturally produced substances that have a pivotal role in asthma. Their work resulted in the launch of SINGULAIR^® in Canada in 1998, a revolutionary once-a-day tablet for asthma for patients as young as six, and made the Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research a leader in leukotriene research.

Other successes for the Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research include the discovery of the cardiovascular drug BLOCADREN^® (timolol maleate tablets)(1974), the muscle relaxant FLEXERIL^® (cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride)(1978) and TIMOPTIC^® (timolol maleate ophthalmic solution) for glaucoma (1978). The Canadian site has also contributed significantly to the clinical development of FOSAMAX^® (alendronate sodium) for osteoporosis, MAXALT^® (rizatriptan benzoate) for migraine, AGGRASTAT^® (tirofiban hydrochloride) for unstable angina, CRIXIVAN^® (indinavir sulfate) for HIV/AIDS, COZAAR^® § (losartan potassium) for hypertension and ZOCOR^® (simvastatin) for lowering cholesterol.

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