Who Owns Singulair?

• Parent Company: Merck & Co.
• Ownership Type: Wholly owned
• Company Type: Publicly Traded
• Stock Ticker: NYSE: MRK

• Founded: 1998
• Founders: Merck & Co. (internal development)

• Founded: 1668
• Headquarters: Rahway, New Jersey, USA
• Company Type: Publicly Traded
• Stock: NYSE: MRK
• Revenue: approximately $63.6 billion (FY2024)
• Employees: Approximately 72,000

Visit Merck & Co. website

• Headquarters: Rahway, New Jersey, USA
• Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Belgium, Germany, Ireland

Singulair operates under Merck & Co.'s comprehensive sustainability framework, implementing environmental initiatives and ethical practices across its pharmaceutical manufacturing operations. As one of Merck's important respiratory medications, Singulair benefits from the company's commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable business practices in the pharmaceutical industry.

Merck Sustainability Strategy: Singulair contributes to Merck's broader sustainability goals, including the company's Purpose for Progress impact framework. Merck published its 2024/2025 Impact Report showing how the company is creating measurable impact for people, communities, and the planet. The company's purpose serves as a compass guiding all operations, including Singulair manufacturing and distribution.

Environmental Sustainability Goals: Merck has committed to a net-zero target for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across global operations (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) by 2045, aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Singulair manufacturing facilities participate in these climate action goals, with the company working toward carbon neutrality by 2025 and transitioning to renewable energy sources.

Environmental Progress: In environmental sustainability, Merck made progress toward climate action goals and is developing the tools and processes needed to lower the company's carbon footprint. Singulair production benefits from these company-wide environmental initiatives that reduce the environmental impact of pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Sustainable Manufacturing Practices: Singulair manufacturing facilities in the United States, Belgium, Germany, and Ireland implement sustainable manufacturing practices. These facilities focus on reducing energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation while maintaining high quality standards for pharmaceutical production.

Supply Chain Ethics: Merck maintains ethical sourcing standards across its supply chain, including raw materials and components used in Singulair production. The company works with suppliers who meet environmental and social responsibility standards appropriate for the pharmaceutical industry.

Regulatory Compliance: Singulair manufacturing and distribution comply with stringent pharmaceutical regulations and environmental standards. The company implements comprehensive environmental management systems to minimize ecological impact while meeting regulatory requirements.

Product Accessibility: As part of Merck's commitment to expanding access to care, Singulair contributes to making essential asthma and allergy medications more accessible to patients worldwide, supporting social responsibility goals through improved healthcare access.

Transparency and Reporting: As part of Merck, Singulair benefits from the company's comprehensive ESG reporting and transparency practices, including detailed sustainability reporting through the Merck Sustainability Hub and Purpose for Progress Impact Report.

EcoVadis Recognition: Merck received platin status in 2025, stating the company is among the top 1% of companies assessed. The improvement to 83/100 score in 2025 is mostly triggered by Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement activities, benefiting all Merck products including Singulair.

Singulair has received significant recognition for its medical innovation and therapeutic breakthrough in treating asthma and allergies. These achievements reflect the brand's success in developing effective leukotriene receptor antagonists and its impact on respiratory disease treatment.

FDA Approval Achievements: Singulair has received recognition from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for multiple therapeutic indications. Most recently, Singulair won a new asthma indication that expands its approved uses, demonstrating continued innovation in respiratory treatment options.

Clinical Trial Success: The brand has been acknowledged for successful clinical trial results, including studies showing that a single Singulair tablet taken two hours before exercise prevented exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in some patients, with protection lasting up to 24 hours in some cases.

Medical Innovation Recognition: Singulair has been recognized as a breakthrough medication in asthma treatment, particularly for its mechanism of action blocking leukotriene receptors. The drug's ability to prevent and treat asthma symptoms has been acknowledged by medical professionals and respiratory specialists.

Therapeutic Excellence Awards: Singulair has received recognition from medical organizations and pharmaceutical industry associations for its therapeutic excellence and innovation in respiratory disease treatment.

Patient Impact Recognition: The brand has been acknowledged for significantly improving quality of life for asthma and allergy patients, particularly those with exercise-induced symptoms that were previously difficult to manage with traditional treatments.

Research and Development Achievement: Singulair's development and clinical success have been recognized as major achievements in pharmaceutical research and development, demonstrating Merck's ability to bring innovative respiratory treatments to market.

Global Market Leadership: Singulair has achieved recognition as a leading asthma and allergy medication worldwide, with its market position and therapeutic effectiveness acknowledged by healthcare professionals and patients globally.

Long-term Safety Profile Recognition: The brand has been recognized for maintaining a strong safety profile over decades of use, contributing to its trusted status among healthcare providers and patients for chronic respiratory condition management.

Singulair has faced significant controversies and safety concerns, particularly related to neuropsychiatric side effects and regulatory warnings. These issues have required substantial response from Merck and have affected the brand's reputation and market position.

Neuropsychiatric Side Effects Controversy (2024): In November 2024, U.S. government researchers found that Singulair (originally sold by Merck, now marketed by spinoff Organon) may be linked to serious mental health problems for some patients. This FDA research identified potential neuropsychiatric risks associated with the medication.

FDA Boxed Warning (2020): The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a new boxed warning for Singulair, alerting the public to the risk of neuropsychiatric events, depression, suicidal thoughts, and behavioral changes associated with the asthma and allergy drug. This warning was based on mounting evidence of mental health complications.

Molecular Link Discovery: FDA researchers found new evidence of a molecular link between montelukast (the active ingredient in Singulair) and neuropsychiatric problems. This scientific discovery provided the basis for the boxed warning and heightened regulatory scrutiny of the medication.

Singulair Lawsuits (2025): Numerous lawsuits have been filed against Merck by patients who experienced neuropsychiatric injuries due to Singulair use. These lawsuits allege that Merck was fully aware of the risk of neuropsychiatric problems but failed to provide adequate warnings to patients and healthcare providers.

Mental Health Impact: The controversy has highlighted serious mental health implications for Singulair users, with some patients experiencing depression, suicidal thoughts, and behavioral changes that persist even after discontinuation of the medication.

Regulatory Scrutiny: Singulair faces ongoing regulatory oversight from the FDA and other health agencies regarding its safety profile and appropriate warning requirements. The medication requires continuous monitoring and evaluation for potential safety concerns.

Patient Safety Concerns: The neuropsychiatric side effects have created significant patient safety concerns, requiring healthcare providers to carefully weigh the benefits and risks of Singulair treatment for individual patients.

Brand Reputation Damage: The safety concerns and lawsuits have damaged Singulair's reputation as a safe and trusted asthma medication, requiring Merck to implement comprehensive communication and safety improvement strategies.

Market Position Impact: The controversies have affected Singulair's market position and competitive landscape, particularly as Organon (the spinoff company) now markets the medication while Merck maintains some manufacturing and development responsibilities.