How science and innovation fuel our efforts to help combat a rare but potentially deadly disease
April 11, 2024
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Patients inspire us to pursue the best science in our inventions and everything we do. Every innovation has the potential to help build a healthier, more hopeful future for people everywhere — which means taking on some of today’s global health challenges, including Ebola.
Leading the effort to combat Zaire ebolavirus
Our company is a health care leader in the fight against Zaire ebolavirus. Along with external collaborators from all sectors, our scientists are at the forefront of the response to outbreaks of this potentially deadly disease as we continue to help address this global health challenge. Zaire ebolavirus has had a devastating impact on the world and has proved itself to be a potentially deadly and contagious disease, with a survival rate of 50%. While there are six identified Ebola virus species, the Zaire ebolavirus strain has been the leading cause of outbreaks over the last 20 years.
Global public health preparedness against future Zaire ebolavirus outbreaks requires advanced planning, system readiness for rapid deployment and collaboration and partnership between public and private entities around the world. Our partnerships with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health partners around the globe are a crucial component of our commitment to helping save and improve lives.
“We take Zaire ebolavirus outbreaks very seriously and act with the utmost urgency to support response efforts,” said Paul Scott, clinical director, clinical research vaccines. “Our teams are dedicated to supporting the frontline workers whose brave actions are critical in outbreak response.”
In 2021, we established an agreement with UNICEF to create the world’s first global Ebola Zaire stockpile, the result of breakthrough innovation and collaboration with four leading international health and humanitarian organizations across the world. The global stockpile offers a critical, rapid-response tool.
“It has been our honor to collaborate with WHO, Gavi, UNICEF, the U.S. government and many others in supporting outbreak preparedness and response efforts,” said Andrew (Drew) Otoo, PharmD, president of global vaccines from 2022-2025 and current regional president, MSD. “Through these collaborations, we demonstrate what’s possible when partners come together to pursue a common purpose for patients.”
This level of collaboration continues to be needed for Zaire ebolavirus and other diseases. We remain committed to working in collaboration with global and local health partners to support current and future outbreak response efforts.
How MSD scientists are driving next-generation cancer research
Our scientists are accelerating research by looking to improve anti-tumor immune response, targeting specific cancer cells and helping inhibit cancer growth
April 4, 2024
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In recent decades, our improved understanding of cancer has illuminated that we cannot treat all cancers as one disease — scientists have classified hundreds of types and found a myriad of genetic drivers underlying them. This means, just as cancer isn’t one disease, there cannot be just one way to treat all cancers.
“We’ve witnessed dramatic progress in how we treat a wide range of cancers, and our work at MSD has been foundational in how we treat metastatic disease, or cancer that has spread.”
Dr. Jane Healy Vice president and head of oncology early development, MSD Research Laboratories
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. These advancements are helping to fuel the next generation of discoveries and drive progress in the way we care for people with all stages of cancer. We must push research forward that supports early discoveries and novel innovations to advance the future of cancer research,” Healy said.
Driving research toward treating certain cancers earlier
With the ultimate goal of providing patients with the greatest chance for survival, our researchers are building a broad clinical development program focused on treating certain cancers at earlier stages.
“Expanding our research efforts into earlier stages of disease remains a top priority,” said Healy. “We’re pursuing research where we have the greatest potential to make a significant impact in helping reduce the risk of recurrence and improving survival.”
A robust pipeline of diverse approaches to advanced and earlier stages of cancer
In addition to driving research in earlier stages of cancer, Healy and her colleagues are investigating multiple mechanisms and modalities that may have the potential to address cancer in innovative ways. Through our own research and external collaborations, we’ve developed a robust pipeline that encompasses diverse approaches to treating advanced and earlier stages of cancer across more than 20 novel mechanisms, including:
Boosting anti-tumor immune responses: Learnings from recent advancements in cancer care have informed a more focused approach to research. Now, we’re investigating foundational cancer treatments combined with negative immune regulators that play different roles in adjusting the immune response.
We’re also exploring individualized neoantigen therapies, a growing area of research focused on sharpening the immune response against a person’s own tumor by developing a therapy unique to their tumor’s mutation.
Tissue-specific targeting of chemotherapy to increase cancer cell sensitivity to immune responses: While chemotherapy remains an important treatment option, our scientists are exploring how antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), with novel chemotherapy-like payloads, can be used as a more targeted approach to deliver chemotherapy.
Similarly, we’re pursuing research that enhances the ability of T cells to recognize and attack tumors.
Impacting pathways that can drive cancer growth: We’ve identified opportunities for the direct targeting of cancer cell vulnerabilities and transcription factors that were previously considered untreatable. By designing therapeutic candidates that inhibit or degrade proteins and genes implicated in cancer pathways, we’re evaluating new ways to help address rare and difficult-to-treat cancers that currently have limited treatment options.
"We're committed to investing in novel research where scientific opportunity and medical need converge."
— Jane Healy
“These key areas of research are the cornerstones of our broad and diverse pipeline, with more than 2,250 ongoing clinical trials, which include more than 1,600 trials evaluating combination regimens. We remain dedicated to discovering new ways to fight this disease and optimizing existing approaches — all while continuing to lead in supporting the next generation of cancer research,” said Healy.
MSD’s Q4 and full-year 2023 results reflect sustained growth across oncology and vaccines. Our company announced Q4 worldwide sales of $14.6 billion, an increase of 6% from Q4 2022. Full-year 2023 worldwide sales were $60.1 billion, an increase of 1% from full-year 2022.
“2023 was another very strong year for MSD. I am extremely pleased by the progress we’ve made to develop and deliver transformative therapies and vaccines that will help save and improve lives around the world. We reached more than 500 million people with our medicines last year alone, over half of which were donations, including through our program to treat river blindness,” said Rob Davis, chairman and chief executive officer. “We also made investments of approximately $30 billion in research and development in our ongoing effort to discover, develop and collaborate to propel the next generation of impactful innovations. As we move forward, I’m confident that our strong momentum will continue, underpinned by the unwavering dedication of our talented global team.”
MSD anticipates full-year 2024 worldwide sales to be between $62.7 billion and $64.2 billion.
Take a look at the infographic below for more details on Q4 and full-year 2023 results.
Harnessing innovative technology in drug discovery
MSD scientists explain how new technologies can accelerate the drug discovery process as we use the power of leading edge science to save and improve lives
November 16, 2023
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Our scientists are leveraging state-of-the-art capabilities to discover novel molecules that may lead to the medicines of tomorrow.
MSD Research Laboratories (MRL) scientists evaluate hundreds to thousands to up to billions of compounds to find a starting point for a new drug candidate. It all starts with identifying a target — usually a protein — that’s intrinsically associated with a particular disease and can be pharmacologically modulated. That’s where innovative tools like structure-based design, high-throughput screening and high-throughput experimentation, coupled with robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning can make a huge difference in progressing the work. And once a lead molecule is identified, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) as an emerging structural method can be used to understand and improve how a molecule interacts with the protein target.
Utilizing the latest technologies and diligent work by teams of highly skilled and experienced scientists can potentially accelerate the discovery of new medicines for patients in need.
“We have an incredibly creative, smart and hardworking workforce. It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of that and to have access to the resources necessary for making scientific breakthroughs.”
We’re accelerating our global efforts and capabilities with our new London Discovery Research Centre and U.K. headquarters
November 10, 2023
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Using the power of leading-edge science to help save and improve lives means tapping into scientific talent around the world. That’s why we’re proud to break ground on our new London Discovery Research Centre and U.K. headquarters.
The high-profile site — located opposite King’s Cross Station in the heart of London’s Knowledge Quarter, an impressive cluster of academic, scientific and technological institutions — will be an impactful addition to our growing network of research facilities.
“Our talented discovery scientists in London are an integral part of our global research network.”
Dean Li President of MSD Research Laboratories
“Patients around the world are waiting for innovations that will help confront the tremendous burden of disease they face, and the kind of world-class scientific exploration this facility will enable is how we accelerate those innovations,” Li added.
Slated to open in 2027, the 270,000-square-foot, 10-story facility will bring together all our U.K. colleagues to help drive medical advances against some of today’s greatest health challenges.
“With the benefit of London’s thriving life sciences ecosystem and Knowledge Quarter right on our doorstep, I’m excited about the collaboration opportunities, building toward an exciting new chapter, and what this represents for employees and our partnership with the local community and beyond,” said Ben Lucas, managing director, U.K. and Ireland.
MSD’s Q3 2023 results reflect sustained growth, particularly in oncology and vaccines. Our company announced Q3 worldwide sales of $16.0 billion, an increase of 7% from Q3 2022.
“Our strong results this quarter reflect our talented team’s commitment to bringing forward important innovation and pursuing breakthroughs for all those who count on us,” said Rob Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, MSD. “We continue to push the boundaries of science, making disciplined investments to augment our diverse pipeline and applying our expertise to accelerate potentially transformative treatments to address patient needs — including through our recently announced collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo. I am proud of our progress as we continue to execute at the highest level and work to generate strong and sustainable value, today and well into the future.”
MSD anticipates full-year 2023 worldwide sales to be between $59.7 billion and $60.2 billion.
Take a look at the infographic below for more details on Q3 2023 results.
MSD’s legacy of antimicrobial innovation and action
Delivering on our commitment to fight infectious diseases for more than a century
October 12, 2023
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For more than 100 years, MSD has contributed to the discovery and development of novel medicines and vaccines to fight infectious diseases. With the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), we’ve focused on stopping the increasing threat of AMR.
1930s
MSD Research Laboratories played a central role in the development of sulfas, the first synthetic antimicrobial.
1940s
In collaboration with Rutgers University, we developed streptomycin, the first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis. We also helped to develop one of the first methods for mass production of penicillin.
1950s & 1960s
We developed multiple novel methods to prevent infectious diseases, including pediatric vaccines.
1970s & 1980s
We received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for two vaccines, as well as three antibiotics that treat a variety of bacterial infections.
1990s & 2000s
MSD received U.S. FDA approval for two antifungals, as well as licenses for two vaccines.
2002
With resistance to antibiotics developing faster through people, animals and the environment, we launched one of the world’s largest and longest-running antimicrobial resistance surveillance studies. Called the Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART), the program enables researchers to monitor and identify trends in the development of AMR.
2010s
We launched an Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Investigator Initiated Studies program, supporting investigator-based, peer-reviewed research supporting the implementation of AMS principles across the globe, with over 20% of studies occurring in low-and middle-income countries.
2016
We created the MSD Exploratory Science Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focusing on the earliest stages of research into the underlying biology of human disease.
2016-2017
We supported the first United Nations high-level meeting on AMR and subsequent political declaration in 2016, which set policy action on AMR in motion.
As a next step, we joined the newly founded AMR Industry Alliance – a network of over 100 pharmaceutical industry partners working to provide sustainable solutions to help curb antimicrobial resistance.
2020
MSD, along with a group of more than 20 leading biopharmaceutical companies, launched the AMR Action Fund to bring 2-4 new antibiotics to patients by the end of the decade.
2020s
Our staff have championed government actions to create supportive markets for antimicrobial innovation, including the PASTEUR Act in the U.S., inclusion of transferable exclusivity extensions in the EU pharmaceutical strategy, and other incentives around the world.
By collaborating with policymakers, MSD aims to improve appropriate antibiotic use globally.
Going forward
In recognition of our leadership in both human and animal health, MSD represents industry in the One Health Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, which advocates for a One Health approach to help ensure antibiotics remain an important tool in improving and maintaining human and animal health.
MSD’s Q2 2023 results reflect sustained underlying growth. Our company announced Q2 worldwide sales of $15.0 billion, an increase of 3% from Q2 2022.
“We continue to make great progress as we advance our broad and deep pipeline, raise the bar of innovation, and bring forward leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world,” said Rob Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, MSD. “We delivered robust underlying growth during the second quarter and are well positioned to achieve strong full-year results. I’m proud of our talented, diverse and dedicated global team that continues to focus on creating value for patients and all our stakeholders now and well into the future.”
MSD anticipates full-year 2023 worldwide sales to be between $58.6 billion and $59.6 billion.
Take a look at the infographic below for more details on Q2 2023 results.
Listen as specialists from MSD discuss what they’re most excited about in researching potential treatments for neurologic disorders
July 13, 2023
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Our scientists are revolutionizing how we discover and develop treatments to address unmet medical needs in a number of areas, including neuroscience.
“It’s sort of like the final frontier,” said Joe Herring, scientific AVP, clinical research, in our new podcast. “You’re going off into space to try to figure out how to do very difficult things.”
For more, listen in as Herring sits down with MSD clinical research team senior principal scientists Yuki Mukai and Ari Merola as well as business development director Paige Lacatena to explore today’s breakthroughs and challenges in the field of neuroscience.
MSD’s Q1 2023 results reflect continued strong underlying performance across key growth drivers, particularly in oncology and vaccines. Our company announced Q1 worldwide sales of $14.5 billion.
“Inspired by our commitment to bring bold science forward to address critical unmet patient needs, we began 2023 with significant advancements across our innovative pipeline,” said Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, MSD. “Our first-quarter results are a reflection of the focused execution of our science-led strategy, strong performance across our key growth drivers, continued momentum commercially and operationally, and — most importantly — the collective and dedicated efforts of our colleagues around the world. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, and we will continue to move with speed and agility to deliver value for patients and shareholders, now and well into the future.”
MSD anticipates full-year 2023 worldwide sales to be between $57.7 billion and $58.9 billion.
Take a look at the infographic below for more details on Q1 2023 results.
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