Exhibit 99(b)

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                    Closing Remarks for Raymond V. Gilmartin
                 Chairman, President and CEO, Merck & Co., Inc.
                          2002 Annual Business Briefing
                                December 10, 2002


Again, thank you for coming to Merck today. To sum up, I would note the
following:

The market forces that are shaping this industry are leading to increased demand
for value from payers - are their employees and members getting the health
outcomes from their prescription drugs that are promised and are they getting
them at the right price? The competitive advantage is with those companies who
can deliver clinical benefit at a competitive price.

Our research is directed to areas where there is new knowledge about the pathway
of the disease, which increases significantly the probability that the medicines
we discover will be novel, will be important advances in patient care, and will
have proven clinical outcomes. Our focus on efficiency and productivity
throughout the entire company should allow us to price these advances
competitively and still protect our profitability.

Our long-term financial goal is top tier growth in earnings per share. Our
financial strategy is in alignment with our growth strategy and with the risk
profile of the pharmaceutical business. We have an exceptionally strong balance
sheet and cash flow to fully support our growth strategy and to provide returns
to our shareholders in the form of dividends and stock buyback.

The scientific forces that are shaping our industry offer great opportunity to
improve the productivity of drug discovery and to open up whole new approaches
with which to combat disease and to develop treatments that were previously
beyond our reach.

Merck has continued to invest in research, both inside and outside the company,
to add to the pipeline of new discoveries, but also, importantly, to increase
our research talent and capabilities. Our expanded outreach to excellent science
outside the company plays a key role, and our reputation for scientific
excellence is an advantage as we pursue external alliances.

We see no shortage of opportunities for new medicines. The flow of new
discoveries, industry wide, tends to be somewhat cyclical, but Merck is in the
beginning phase of a whole new cycle of product filings and launches between now
and 2006. We are resuming growth in 2003 and we believe we have the potential to
achieve our long-term growth goals.

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In our view, the FDA has not been, and is not now, an obstacle to the filing of
new molecular entities or their approval. The FDA will continue to be tough on
safety and efficacy, and they will continue to be vigilant about manufacturing
quality and sales and promotion practices.

Adding prescription drug coverage to Medicare will increase access to these
discoveries in the US and make them more affordable, but a greater allocation of
resources and a much greater commitment to the building of health care delivery
systems will be required to increase access to medicines in the developing
world.

As I said before, the environment I am describing today is one in which we see
more opportunity than threat, and to be clear, it's an environment that we are
strongly advocating through our public policy initiatives. Greater demand for
clinical benefit at the right price and a regulatory approach that supports and
rewards safety, efficacy, quality and responsible sales and promotion practices
serves the patient interest; serves the public interest; serves Merck's
interests; and serves your interests.


Merck's strategy of discovering drugs that provide significant clinical benefit
and bringing them to market in an efficient, responsible and ethical way
provides the maximum benefits for patients and creates the greatest value for
shareholders. In today's environment, the successful companies will be those who
have the best science and conduct themselves ethically and with integrity.

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