Exhibit 99

[MERCK LOGO]                                             News Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:   Greg Reaves                    Investor Contact: Mark Stejbach
                  908/423-6022                                     908/423-5185

                  Christine Fanelle
                  267/305-3203

           MERCK PLANS TO EXPAND ARCOXIA(TM) U.S. NEW DRUG APPLICATION
            TO INCLUDE NEW EFFICACY DATA; WITHDRAWS ORIGINAL U.S. NDA

        COMPANY CONFIRMS 2002 EPS GUIDANCE AND PROVIDES INITIAL GUIDANCE
                               FOR FIRST QUARTER

         WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., March 15, 2002 -- Merck & Co., Inc. today
announced plans to submit an expanded New Drug Application (NDA) for
Arcoxia(TM)(etoricoxib) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order
to include new efficacy data that will better position the product to compete
successfully in the coxib class, where there already are three entrants.
Accordingly, Merck announced the withdrawal of the original U.S. NDA for the
investigational medicine.
         Merck is submitting the additional efficacy data to support a new
indication for ankylosing spondylitis, which is a chronic, inflammatory disorder
primarily involving the spine. Merck also is seeking indications for
osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic pain, acute pain, dysmenorrhea
(menstrual pain) and acute gouty arthritis. Merck believes the new data, along
with the data previously submitted, will provide a fuller picture of the
product's efficacy and safety and will position it more favorably for approval
in the United States. The regulatory process for Arcoxia outside the United
States continues uninterrupted.
         Merck also announced today that it continues to anticipate earnings per
share (EPS) for 2002, on an as-reported basis, to be at the same level as 2001
results. The 2002 as-reported EPS will be affected by the benefit from the
implementation of FAS 142 regarding goodwill amortization, most of which relates
to Merck's 1993 acquisition of Merck-Medco, and the timing of the completion of
the previously announced separation of Merck-Medco. The Company also reiterated
that it would be reasonable to anticipate an EPS growth rate in the second half
of 2002 moderately better than the growth rate in the first half of 2002. Merck
also confirmed that it expects to deliver double-digit EPS growth in 2003.

                                    - more -

ARCOXIA (TM) IS THE MERCK TRADEMARK FOR ETORICOXIB.



         Merck's 2002 sales guidance for its coxib franchise of $2.8 billion to
$3.1 billion remains unchanged from guidance provided earlier this year.
         In addition, Merck provided initial guidance for its first quarter 2002
EPS. Merck is comfortable with a range of first quarter 2002 EPS estimates of
$0.69 to $0.72.
         Merck & Co., Inc. is a leading research-driven pharmaceutical products
and services company. Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a
broad range of innovative products to improve human and animal health, directly
and through its joint ventures. Merck-Medco manages pharmacy benefits for
employers, insurers and other plan sponsors, encouraging the appropriate use of
medicines and providing disease management programs.
         This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term
is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. No
forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ
materially from those projected. We undertake no obligation to publicly update
any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this document should be
evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect our businesses,
particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements in Item 1 of our Form
10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2000, and in our periodic reports on Form 10-Q
and Form 8-K (if any) which we incorporate by reference.

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