XML 67 R57.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.22.2.2

Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 09, 2023 | Dec. 19, 2022 | Jun. 30, 2022 claim | Mar. 31, 2014 case | Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) case claim | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2020 claim
Legal Defense Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal defense costs reserve | $ |  |  |  |  | $ 230 | $ 230 |
Zetia antitrust litigation |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims | claim |  |  |  |  |  |  | 35
Zetia antitrust litigation | Pending Litigation |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, new claims filed | claim |  |  | 23 |  |  |  |
Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Zydus | Pending Litigation | Forecast |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, recovery from third party, bench trial period | 3 days |  |  |  |  |  |
Fosamax |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims |  |  |  |  | 3,450 |  |
Fosamax | Femur Fracture Litigation | Federal |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, claims dismissed |  |  |  | 650 |  |  |
Loss contingency, claims on appeal |  |  |  | 515 |  |  |
Januvia | Cases Company Agreed To Toll Statute Of Limitations |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims | claim |  |  |  |  | 50 |  |
Gardasil/Gardasil 9 | U.S. |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims |  |  |  |  | 65 |  |
Gardasil/Gardasil 9 | Non-US |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims |  |  |  |  | 15 |  |
Gardasil/Gardasil 9 | COLOMBIA |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |
Bridion | Patents |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, claims settled |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |
Bridion | Patents | Pending Litigation |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Bridion | Patents | Pending Litigation | Forecast |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, trial period |  | 1 day |  |  |  |  |
Januvia and Janumet | Patents |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, claims settled |  |  |  |  | 22 |  |

X
- Definition Loss Contingency, Claims on Appeal, Number + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mrk_LossContingencyClaimsonAppealNumber
Namespace Prefix: | mrk_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Loss Contingency, Recovery From Third Party, Bench Trial Period + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mrk_LossContingencyRecoveryFromThirdPartyBenchTrialPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | mrk_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Loss Contingency, Trial Period + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mrk_LossContingencyTrialPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | mrk_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Aggregate carrying amount of the estimated litigation liability for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationReserve
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of claims dismissed. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14557-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14435-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyClaimsDismissedNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of claims settled. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyClaimsSettledNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The total number of new claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyNewClaimsFiledNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis=mrk_LegalDefenseCostsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=mrk_ZetiaantitrustlitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=mrk_PatentInfringementLawsuitAgainstZydusWorldwideDMCCZydusPharmaceuticalsUSAIncAndCadilaHealthcareLtdMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementScenarioAxis=srt_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=mrk_FosamaxMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mrk_FemurFractureLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=mrk_FederalMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=mrk_JanuviaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mrk_CasesCompanyAgreedToTollStatuteOfLimitationsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=mrk_GardasilGardasil9Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=us-gaap_NonUsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_CO
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=mrk_BridionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=us-gaap_PatentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=mrk_JanuviaAndJanumetMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |