In 1987 Merck started donating Mectizan, a human version of ivermectin. In 1994, Merck donated $55 million in products. In 1995, Mectizan represented half of the $90 million product donations at Merck. Since 1987, the Mectizan Donation Program has helped more than 7 million people in 34 countries. It is expected that future programs will prevent about 24 million people from going blind.
In addition, in 1994, Retired Merck Chairman Roy Vagelos and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter started a World Bank program to expand the distribution of Mectizan, donated by Merck. Jimmy Carter commented, "If there is any corporation in the country that has a heart, it is Merck, and the heartbeat is Roy Vagelos."
All Mectizan will be donated by Merck & Co., Inc. and funding for its distribution will be provided by the World Bank, the Inter American Bank, and a collection of Nongovernmental Development Organizations. Distribution of ivermectin and the global control effort will be overseen by the World Health Organization, the Mectizan Donation Program, the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, the Onchocerciasis Control Programme, and the Onchocerciasis Elimination Program for the Americas. Global Onchocerciasis control costs are expected to approximate $15 million per year for 10 years. This is just the cost of delivery and development of treatment programs. This does not include the cost of the drug. It is expected that after 10 years, Onchocerciasis will be completely eliminated in some areas and in other areas will no longer be a major health problem.
Statue of a child leading a blind man was commissioned by Merck for their corporate offices in New Jersey to symbolize Merck's donation of Mectizan.
