Merck has announced plans to “enhance transparency” by disclosing certain grants to the public, a company statement said.

The move follows an announcement from Eli Lilly on Sept. 24 that the company will disclose physician payments through an online registry in 2009. 

Although Merck has endorsed congressional legislation (known as the Physician Payments Sunshine Act) which would mandate physician payment disclosure, the company’s current plan will only reveal education grants—including accredited CME grants—to “patient organizations, medical professional societies and other organizations…by our Global Human Health division,” according to the statement. Grants will be posted to merck.com beginning in October.

Barring a legislative mandate, however, Merck will begin disclosing physician payments in 2009, and will expand grant disclosures made by two other divisions of the company, according to the statement. Additionally, Merck will continue to disclose results from registered trials of marketed products, regardless of outcome, the statement said.