<PAGE>
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 25, 2001
                                                   Registration No. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                MERCK & CO., INC.
               (Exact Name of Issuer As Specified in Its Charter)
                                  P.O. BOX 100
                    WHITEHOUSE STATION, NEW JERSEY 08889-0100
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

NEW JERSEY                                                            22-1109110
(State of Incorporation)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                  2001 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                CELIA A. COLBERT
              Vice President, Secretary & Assistant General Counsel
                                MERCK & CO., INC.
                                  P.O. Box 100
                    Whitehouse Station, New Jersey 08889-0100
                                 (908) 423-1000
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)


          If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to
   be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
                 Securities Act of 1933, other than securities
    offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans,
                          check the following box. [X]

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     Title of Securities to be         Amount to be         Proposed maximum         Proposed maximum         Amount of
            Registered                  Registered*        offering price per       aggregate offering     registration fee
                                                                share**                   price**
<S>                                    <C>                 <C>                      <C>                    <C>
           Common Stock
    (Par Value $0.01 per share)       450,000 shares             $65.53                  $29,488,500           $7,372.13
</TABLE>

*    Estimated maximum number of shares of Common Stock of Merck & Co., Inc.
     issuable during the next five years of operation of the Plan.

**   The price stated above is estimated solely for the purpose of determining
     the registration fee and is based on the average of the high and low market
     prices of the stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange listed
     issues on October 19, 2001.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.     INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

           The following documents filed by the registrant (Exchange Act File
No. 1-3305) with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated herein
by reference and made a part hereof:

(a)  Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 23, 2001, for the fiscal year
     ended December 31, 2000;

(b)  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on May 10, 2001, for the quarter ended
     March 31, 2001;

(c)  Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 11, 2001;

(d)  Form 10-K/A filed on June 20, 2001, amending the registrant's Annual Report
     on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000;

(e)  Form 11-K filed on June 22, 2001 for the fiscal year ended December 31,
     2000;

(f)  Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 19, 2001;

(g)  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 10, 2001, for the quarter
     ended June 30, 2001;

(h)  Proxy Statement filed on March 22, 2001 for the Annual Meeting of
     Stockholders held on April 24, 2001; and

(i)  The descriptions of the Common Stock of the registrant set forth in the
     registrant's Registration Statements pursuant to Section 12 of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act"), and any amendment or
     report filed for the purpose of updating such description.


                                       2
<PAGE>
           All documents filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13, 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date hereof and prior to the termination of
the offering of the securities offered hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated
by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. An Exhibit Index can be found on page 13 of this Registration
Statement.

ITEM 4.    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

           Not applicable.

ITEM 5.    INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

           The validity of the Common Stock and interests in the plan will be
passed upon for the Company by Celia A. Colbert, Vice President, Secretary &
Assistant General Counsel of the Company.

ITEM 6.    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

           The New Jersey Business Corporation Act provides that a New Jersey
corporation has the power to indemnify a director or officer against his or her
expenses and liabilities in connection with any proceeding involving the
director or officer by reason of his or her being or having been such a director
or officer, other than a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, if
such a director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he or she
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation; and with respect to any criminal proceeding, such director or
officer had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

           The indemnification and advancement of expenses shall not exclude any
other rights, including the right to be indemnified against liabilities and
expenses incurred in proceedings by or in the right of the corporation, to which
a director or officer may be entitled under a certificate of incorporation,
bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders, or otherwise; provided that no
indemnification shall be made to or on behalf of a director or officer if a
judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer
establishes that his or her acts or omissions (a) were in breach of his or her
duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (b) were not in


                                       3
<PAGE>
good faith or involved in a knowing violation of law or (c) resulted in receipt
by the director or officer of an improper personal benefit.

           The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that, to
the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of New Jersey, directors
and officers of the Company shall not be personally liable to the Company or its
stockholders for damages for breach of any duty owed to the Company or its
stockholders, except that a director or officer shall not be relieved from
liability for any breach of duty based upon an act or omission (a) in breach of
such person's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (b) not in
good faith or involving a knowing violation of law or (c) resulting in receipt
by such person of an improper personal benefit.

           The By-Laws of the Company provide that a former, present or future
director, officer or employee of the Company or the legal representative of any
such director, officer or employee shall be indemnified by the Company:

           (a) against reasonable costs, disbursements and counsel fees paid or
incurred where such person has been successful in the defense on the merits or
otherwise of any pending, threatened or completed civil, criminal,
administrative or arbitrative action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therein
and any inquiry or investigation which could lead to such action, suit or
proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, brought by
reason of such person's being or having been such director, officer or employee,
and

           (b) with respect to the defense of any such action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation for which indemnification is not made under (a) above,
against reasonable costs, disbursements (which shall include amounts paid in
satisfaction of settlements, judgments, fines and penalties, exclusive, however,
of any amount paid or payable to the Company) and counsel fees if such person
acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and in connection with any
criminal proceedings such person also had no reasonable cause to believe the
conduct was unlawful, with the determination as to whether the applicable
standard of conduct was met to be made by a majority of the members of the Board
of Directors (sitting as a Committee of the Board) who were not parties to such
inquiry, investigation, action, suit or proceeding or by any one or more


                                       4
<PAGE>
disinterested counsel to whom the question may be referred by the Board of
Directors; provided, however, in connection with any proceeding by or in the
right of the Company, no indemnification shall be provided as to any person
adjudged by any court to be liable to the Company except as and to the extent
determined by such court.

           The Company enters into indemnification agreements with its directors
and officers and enters into insurance agreements on its own behalf. The
indemnification agreements provide that the Company agrees to hold harmless and
indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized or
permitted by the Business Corporation Act of the State of New Jersey, or any
other applicable law, or by any amendment thereof or other statutory provisions
authorizing or permitting such indemnification that is adopted after the date
hereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company agrees to
hold harmless and indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law against any and all expenses, judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by its directors and
officers in connection with the defense of any present or future threatened,
pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact
that they were, are, shall be or shall have been a director or officer of the
Company, or are or were serving, shall serve or shall have served, at the
request of the Company, as director or officer of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.

ITEM 7.    EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

           Not applicable.


                                       5
<PAGE>
ITEM 8.    EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION                               METHOD OF FILING
------                                  -----------                               ----------------
<S>                       <C>   <C>                                    <C>
    4(a)                  --    Restated Certificate of                Incorporated by reference to Form
                                Incorporation of the registrant        10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended
                                (September 1, 2000)                    September 30, 2000

    4(b)                  --    By-Laws of the registrant (as          Incorporated by reference to Form
                                amended effective February 25, 1997)   10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended
                                                                       March 31, 1997

      5                   --    Opinion and Consent of Celia A.        Filed with this Registration Statement
                                Colbert, Vice President, Secretary &
                                Assistant General Counsel of
                                registrant

     23                   --    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP         Included at Page 12 of this Registration
                                                                       Statement

     24                   --    Certified Resolution of Board of       Filed with this Registration Statement
                                Directors and Power of Attorney
</TABLE>


                                       6
<PAGE>
ITEM 9.    UNDERTAKINGS

           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

1.   (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
the registration statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement.

     (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

2.       That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
         Act of 1933 (the "Act"), each filing of the registrant's annual report
         pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
         annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
         of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration
         statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating
         to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
         at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
         thereof.

3.       Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
         Act of 1933 ("the Act") may be permitted to directors, officers and
         controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing
         provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the
         opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification
         is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore,
         unenforceable. In the


                                       7
<PAGE>
         event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
         than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
         director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
         successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
         such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
         securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion
         of its counsel, the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
         submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
         indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act
         and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                       8
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the
requirements for filing on Form S-8, and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunder duly
authorized, in the Town of Whitehouse Station and the State of New Jersey on the
25th day of October, 2001.

                                             MERCK & CO., INC.

                                        By:                     *
                                             ---------------------------------
                                             Raymond V. Gilmartin
                                             Chairman of the Board, President
                                             & Chief Executive Officer



                                        By:  /s/ Celia A. Colbert
                                             ---------------------------------
                                             Celia A. Colbert
                                             Vice President, Secretary &
                                             Assistant General Counsel
                                             (Attorney-in-Fact)




------------------
*    Celia A. Colbert, by signing her name hereto, does hereby sign this
     document pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by the person named,
     filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to this
     document, on behalf of such person on the date stated.


                                       9
<PAGE>
         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        SIGNATURES                            TITLE                         DATE
        ----------                            -----                         ----
<S>                              <C>                                   <C>
               *
-------------------------
Raymond V. Gilmartin          Chairman of the Board, President &    October 25, 2001
                              Chief Executive Officer; Principal
                              Executive Officer; Director

               *
-------------------------
Judy C. Lewent                Executive Vice President & Chief      October 25, 2001
                              Financial Officer; Principal
                              Financial Officer

               *
-------------------------
Richard C. Henriques, Jr.     Vice President, Controller;           October 25, 2001
                              Principal Accounting Officer

               *
-------------------------
Lawrence A. Bossidy                         Director                October 25, 2001

               *
-------------------------
William G. Bowen                            Director                October 25, 2001

               *
-------------------------
Johnnetta B. Cole                           Director                October 25, 2001

               *
-------------------------
Niall FitzGerald                            Director                October 25, 2001
</TABLE>

------------------
*    Celia A. Colbert, by signing her name hereto, does hereby sign this
     document pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by the persons named,
     filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to this
     document, on behalf of such persons, all in the capacities and on the date
     stated, such persons including a majority of the directors of the Company.


                                       10
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                     <C>                     <C>
               *
---------------------------
William B. Harrison, Jr.                Director                October 25, 2001

               *
---------------------------
William N. Kelley                       Director                October 25, 2001

               *
---------------------------
Heidi G. Miller                         Director                October 25, 2001

               *
---------------------------
Edward M. Scolnick                      Director                October 25, 2001

               *
---------------------------
Thomas E. Shenk                         Director                October 25, 2001

               *
---------------------------
Anne M. Tatlock                         Director                October 25, 2001


---------------------------
Samuel O. Thier                         Director
</TABLE>

------------------
*    Celia A. Colbert, by signing her name hereto, does hereby sign this
     document pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by the persons named,
     filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to this
     document, on behalf of such persons, all in the capacities and on the date
     stated, such persons including a majority of the directors of the Company.


                                       11
<PAGE>
                                                                      EXHIBIT 23

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

         As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference in this Form S-8 Registration Statement of our report
dated January 23, 2001 included in and incorporated by reference in Merck & Co.,
Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000,
as amended by Form 10-K/A dated June 20, 2001, and to all references to our firm
included in or made a part of this Registration Statement.

                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

New York, New York
October 25, 2001


                                       12
<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION                              METHOD OF FILING
  ------                                  -----------                              ----------------
<S>                       <C>   <C>                                    <C>
    4(a)                  --    Restated Certificate of                Incorporated by reference to Form
                                Incorporation of the registrant        10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended
                                (September 1, 2000)                    September 30, 2000

    4(b)                  --    By-Laws of the registrant (as          Incorporated by reference to Form
                                amended effective February 25, 1997)   10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended
                                                                       March 31, 1997

      5                   --    Opinion and Consent of Celia A.        Filed with this Registration Statement
                                Colbert, Vice President, Secretary &
                                Assistant General Counsel of
                                registrant

     23                   --    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP         Included at Page 12 of this Registration
                                                                       Statement

     24                   --    Certified Resolution of Board of       Filed with this Registration Statement
                                Directors and Power of Attorney
</TABLE>


                                       13
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MERCK & CO INC", "cik": "0000064978", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "221109110", "state-of-incorporation": "NJ", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-72206", "film-number": "1766249"}, "business-address": {"street1": "ONE MERCK DR", "street2": "P O BOX 100", "city": "WHITEHOUSE STATION", "state": "NJ", "zip": "08889-0100", "phone": "9084234044"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "ONE MERCK DR", "street2": "PO BOX 100 WS3AB-05", "city": "WHITEHOUSE STATION", "state": "NJ", "zip": "08889-0100"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 25, 2001
                                                   Registration No. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                MERCK & CO., INC.
               (Exact Name of Issuer As Specified in Its Charter)
                                  P.O. BOX 100
                    WHITEHOUSE STATION, NEW JERSEY 08889-0100
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

NEW JERSEY                                                            22-1109110
(State of Incorporation)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                  2001 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                CELIA A. COLBERT
              Vice President, Secretary & Assistant General Counsel
                                MERCK & CO., INC.
                                  P.O. Box 100
                    Whitehouse Station, New Jersey 08889-0100
                                 (908) 423-1000
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)

          If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to
   be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
                 Securities Act of 1933, other than securities
    offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans,
                          check the following box. [X]

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities to be         Amount to be         Proposed maximum         Proposed maximum         Amount of
            Registered                  Registered*        offering price per       aggregate offering     registration fee
                                                                share**                   price**
Common Stock
    (Par Value $0.01 per share)       450,000 shares             $65.53                  $29,488,500           $7,372.13
*    Estimated maximum number of shares of Common Stock of Merck & Co., Inc.
     issuable during the next five years of operation of the Plan.

**   The price stated above is estimated solely for the purpose of determining
     the registration fee and is based on the average of the high and low market
     prices of the stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange listed
     issues on October 19, 2001.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.     INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

           The following documents filed by the registrant (Exchange Act File
No. 1-3305) with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated herein
by reference and made a part hereof:

(a)  Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 23, 2001, for the fiscal year
     ended December 31, 2000;

(b)  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on May 10, 2001, for the quarter ended
     March 31, 2001;

(c)  Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 11, 2001;

(d)  Form 10-K/A filed on June 20, 2001, amending the registrant's Annual Report
     on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000;

(e)  Form 11-K filed on June 22, 2001 for the fiscal year ended December 31,
     2000;

(f)  Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 19, 2001;

(g)  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 10, 2001, for the quarter
     ended June 30, 2001;

(h)  Proxy Statement filed on March 22, 2001 for the Annual Meeting of
     Stockholders held on April 24, 2001; and

(i)  The descriptions of the Common Stock of the registrant set forth in the
     registrant's Registration Statements pursuant to Section 12 of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act"), and any amendment or
     report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

                                       2
All documents filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13, 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date hereof and prior to the termination of
the offering of the securities offered hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated
by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. An Exhibit Index can be found on page 13 of this Registration
Statement.

ITEM 4.    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

           Not applicable.

ITEM 5.    INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

           The validity of the Common Stock and interests in the plan will be
passed upon for the Company by Celia A. Colbert, Vice President, Secretary &
Assistant General Counsel of the Company.

ITEM 6.    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

           The New Jersey Business Corporation Act provides that a New Jersey
corporation has the power to indemnify a director or officer against his or her
expenses and liabilities in connection with any proceeding involving the
director or officer by reason of his or her being or having been such a director
or officer, other than a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, if
such a director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he or she
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation; and with respect to any criminal proceeding, such director or
officer had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

           The indemnification and advancement of expenses shall not exclude any
other rights, including the right to be indemnified against liabilities and
expenses incurred in proceedings by or in the right of the corporation, to which
a director or officer may be entitled under a certificate of incorporation,
bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders, or otherwise; provided that no
indemnification shall be made to or on behalf of a director or officer if a
judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer
establishes that his or her acts or omissions (a) were in breach of his or her
duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (b) were not in

                                       3
good faith or involved in a knowing violation of law or (c) resulted in receipt
by the director or officer of an improper personal benefit.

           The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that, to
the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of New Jersey, directors
and officers of the Company shall not be personally liable to the Company or its
stockholders for damages for breach of any duty owed to the Company or its
stockholders, except that a director or officer shall not be relieved from
liability for any breach of duty based upon an act or omission (a) in breach of
such person's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (b) not in
good faith or involving a knowing violation of law or (c) resulting in receipt
by such person of an improper personal benefit.

           The By-Laws of the Company provide that a former, present or future
director, officer or employee of the Company or the legal representative of any
such director, officer or employee shall be indemnified by the Company:

           (a) against reasonable costs, disbursements and counsel fees paid or
incurred where such person has been successful in the defense on the merits or
otherwise of any pending, threatened or completed civil, criminal,
administrative or arbitrative action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therein
and any inquiry or investigation which could lead to such action, suit or
proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, brought by
reason of such person's being or having been such director, officer or employee,
and

           (b) with respect to the defense of any such action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation for which indemnification is not made under (a) above,
against reasonable costs, disbursements (which shall include amounts paid in
satisfaction of settlements, judgments, fines and penalties, exclusive, however,
of any amount paid or payable to the Company) and counsel fees if such person
acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and in connection with any
criminal proceedings such person also had no reasonable cause to believe the
conduct was unlawful, with the determination as to whether the applicable
standard of conduct was met to be made by a majority of the members of the Board
of Directors (sitting as a Committee of the Board) who were not parties to such
inquiry, investigation, action, suit or proceeding or by any one or more

                                       4
disinterested counsel to whom the question may be referred by the Board of
Directors; provided, however, in connection with any proceeding by or in the
right of the Company, no indemnification shall be provided as to any person
adjudged by any court to be liable to the Company except as and to the extent
determined by such court.

           The Company enters into indemnification agreements with its directors
and officers and enters into insurance agreements on its own behalf. The
indemnification agreements provide that the Company agrees to hold harmless and
indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized or
permitted by the Business Corporation Act of the State of New Jersey, or any
other applicable law, or by any amendment thereof or other statutory provisions
authorizing or permitting such indemnification that is adopted after the date
hereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company agrees to
hold harmless and indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law against any and all expenses, judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by its directors and
officers in connection with the defense of any present or future threatened,
pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact
that they were, are, shall be or shall have been a director or officer of the
Company, or are or were serving, shall serve or shall have served, at the
request of the Company, as director or officer of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.

ITEM 7.    EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

           Not applicable.

                                       5
ITEM 8.    EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION                               METHOD OF FILING
------                                  -----------                               ----------------
4(a)                  --    Restated Certificate of                Incorporated by reference to Form
                                Incorporation of the registrant        10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended
                                (September 1, 2000)                    September 30, 2000

    4(b)                  --    By-Laws of the registrant (as          Incorporated by reference to Form
                                amended effective February 25, 1997)   10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended
                                                                       March 31, 1997

      5                   --    Opinion and Consent of Celia A.        Filed with this Registration Statement
                                Colbert, Vice President, Secretary &
                                Assistant General Counsel of
                                registrant

     23                   --    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP         Included at Page 12 of this Registration
                                                                       Statement

     24                   --    Certified Resolution of Board of       Filed with this Registration Statement
                                Directors and Power of Attorney
6
ITEM 9.    UNDERTAKINGS

           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

1.   (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
the registration statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement.

     (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

2.       That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
         Act of 1933 (the "Act"), each filing of the registrant's annual report
         pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
         annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
         of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration
         statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating
         to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
         at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
         thereof.

3.       Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
         Act of 1933 ("the Act") may be permitted to directors, officers and
         controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing
         provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the
         opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification
         is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore,
         unenforceable. In the

                                       7
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
         than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
         director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
         successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
         such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
         securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion
         of its counsel, the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
         submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
         indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act
         and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       8
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the
requirements for filing on Form S-8, and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunder duly
authorized, in the Town of Whitehouse Station and the State of New Jersey on the
25th day of October, 2001.

                                             MERCK & CO., INC.

                                        By:                     *
                                             ---------------------------------
                                             Raymond V. Gilmartin
                                             Chairman of the Board, President
                                             & Chief Executive Officer

                                        By:  /s/ Celia A. Colbert
                                             ---------------------------------
                                             Celia A. Colbert
                                             Vice President, Secretary &
                                             Assistant General Counsel
                                             (Attorney-in-Fact)

------------------
*    Celia A. Colbert, by signing her name hereto, does hereby sign this
     document pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by the person named,
     filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to this
     document, on behalf of such person on the date stated.

                                       9
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
SIGNATURES                            TITLE                         DATE
        ----------                            -----                         ----
*
-------------------------
Raymond V. Gilmartin          Chairman of the Board, President &    October 25, 2001
                              Chief Executive Officer; Principal
                              Executive Officer; Director

               *
-------------------------
Judy C. Lewent                Executive Vice President & Chief      October 25, 2001
                              Financial Officer; Principal
                              Financial Officer

               *
-------------------------
Richard C. Henriques, Jr.     Vice President, Controller;           October 25, 2001
                              Principal Accounting Officer

               *
-------------------------
Lawrence A. Bossidy                         Director                October 25, 2001

               *
-------------------------
William G. Bowen                            Director                October 25, 2001

               *
-------------------------
Johnnetta B. Cole                           Director                October 25, 2001

               *
-------------------------
Niall FitzGerald                            Director                October 25, 2001
------------------
*    Celia A. Colbert, by signing her name hereto, does hereby sign this
     document pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by the persons named,
     filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to this
     document, on behalf of such persons, all in the capacities and on the date
     stated, such persons including a majority of the directors of the Company.

                                       10
*
---------------------------
William B. Harrison, Jr.                Director                October 25, 2001

               *
---------------------------
William N. Kelley                       Director                October 25, 2001

               *
---------------------------
Heidi G. Miller                         Director                October 25, 2001

               *
---------------------------
Edward M. Scolnick                      Director                October 25, 2001

               *
---------------------------
Thomas E. Shenk                         Director                October 25, 2001

               *
---------------------------
Anne M. Tatlock                         Director                October 25, 2001

---------------------------
Samuel O. Thier                         Director
------------------
*    Celia A. Colbert, by signing her name hereto, does hereby sign this
     document pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by the persons named,
     filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to this
     document, on behalf of such persons, all in the capacities and on the date
     stated, such persons including a majority of the directors of the Company.

                                       11
EXHIBIT 23

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

         As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference in this Form S-8 Registration Statement of our report
dated January 23, 2001 included in and incorporated by reference in Merck & Co.,
Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000,
as amended by Form 10-K/A dated June 20, 2001, and to all references to our firm
included in or made a part of this Registration Statement.

                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

New York, New York
October 25, 2001

                                       12
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
  NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION                              METHOD OF FILING
  ------                                  -----------                              ----------------
4(a)                  --    Restated Certificate of                Incorporated by reference to Form
                                Incorporation of the registrant        10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended
                                (September 1, 2000)                    September 30, 2000

    4(b)                  --    By-Laws of the registrant (as          Incorporated by reference to Form
                                amended effective February 25, 1997)   10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended
                                                                       March 31, 1997

      5                   --    Opinion and Consent of Celia A.        Filed with this Registration Statement
                                Colbert, Vice President, Secretary &
                                Assistant General Counsel of
                                registrant

     23                   --    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP         Included at Page 12 of this Registration
                                                                       Statement

     24                   --    Certified Resolution of Board of       Filed with this Registration Statement
                                Directors and Power of Attorney
13