Innovation

In our commitment to R&D, the numbers speak for themselves

We follow the science where we can make the greatest difference

March 7, 2024

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Our scientists are revolutionizing how we discover and develop medicines and vaccines to address unmet medical needs, focused on innovating in oncology, vaccines, infectious diseases, cardio-metabolic disorders, immunology and neuroscience

With a science-led but portfolio-driven approach to our pipeline, we’re harnessing new technologies to accelerate the drug discovery process as we use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve the lives of humans and animals around the world. And, we’re continuing to invest in research and discovery efforts, like breaking new ground in London and uniting research and manufacturing to help patients faster in Ireland.

Here’s a look at how we got there:

2023 by the numbers

Scientists pose in lab with crossed arms

$30.5 billion

Our research and development investment

Scientist working with chemicals

21,800

Employees driving our research activities

Scientist studies in lab

1,400+

Publications by our scientists in peer-reviewed journals

Woman listens intently to her doctor

100,000+

Patients enrolled in our clinical trials at more than 21,000+ sites worldwide

Child sits with doctor

50+

Countries around the world where we are conducting clinical trials

Scientist works with petri dish

330+

Late-stage clinical trials around the world

Woman speaking

2

New major acquisitions to broaden our reach

 

Man smiles in the workplace

76

Significant business development deals to enhance our pipeline

Woman MSD scientists in a lab
Our pipeline

We’re dedicated to translating breakthrough research into life-changing medicines and vaccines.

man and woman MSD scientists
Careers

Are you interested in a career in R&D? Join us to help address some of the world's most difficult challenges.

Health awareness

How we can strengthen vaccination programs and build vaccine confidence together

Two MSD leaders share how we’re working to help protect communities from vaccine-preventable illnesses

February 21, 2024

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Vaccines are one of the most significant public health achievements in modern history, playing a vital role in helping to prevent certain infectious diseases and protect communities across the globe.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic brought forth a new set of challenges in sustaining vaccination efforts for other preventable diseases — highlighting existing disparities and inequalities in access to health care and underscoring the urgent need for action.

In two op-eds for Devex, an independent news organization covering global development, Drew Otoo, Pharm.D., president of global vaccines, and Alfred Saah, M.D., executive director of scientific affairs, highlighted some of the ways we’re working to address these challenges at the global, national and local levels.

Collaborating to help increase health equity

Otoo said collaboration across sectors is key to building trust, enabling equity and establishing stronger, more resilient vaccination programs.

“Now more than ever, we have an opportunity to evaluate and strengthen our approach… Together, we can help create a more equitable future where vaccines are available to and accepted by all who can benefit from them.”

  • Drew Otoo, Pharm.D.
    President of global vaccines, MSD

Otoo shared examples of our work with local and global stakeholders to develop tailored approaches to improve vaccine confidence and supply vaccines for communities that might otherwise be without them:

  • Local organizations and community leaders have a deep understanding of the issues contributing to inequities and low routine vaccination rates in their communities, and they’re essential to identifying and executing solutions. We know this to be the case from our efforts through ImmUNITY Chicago, an initiative we helped catalyze with local stakeholders to address lower vaccination rates among neighborhoods in the Southwest Side of Chicago, predominantly among communities of color.
  • Strategic global collaborations are also critical to enabling stronger, more sustainable vaccination programs. We work with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance — a global alliance that has helped to vaccinate nearly half of the world’s children in low-income countries.

Combating vaccine hesitancy and building trust

Saah emphasized our commitment to addressing vaccine hesitancy (the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite the availability of vaccines) and building confidence at local, national and global levels.

“By understanding the knowledge gaps and prioritizing strategies that strengthen how we communicate…we can potentially combat vaccine hesitancy, improve vaccine confidence and make a difference in global public health.”

  • Alfred Saah, M.D.
    Executive director of scientific affairs, MSD

Despite the well-documented benefits of vaccines, hesitancy is a longstanding public health issue that can result in under-vaccination and global disease outbreaks. The reasons behind vaccine hesitancy are often connected to the 3Cs Model, defined by a World Health Organization strategic advisory group:

  • Complacency: The perception that vaccine-preventable diseases pose little risk to individuals.
  • Convenience: The degree to which vaccination services are accessible.
  • Confidence: The degree to which an individual believes vaccines work, are safe and effective and are part of a trustworthy public health and medical system.

Saah shared some of our efforts to improve vaccine confidence, which include:

  • Working with collaborators to reach the global population and engage communities through mediums that resonate, such as social media, and through messages that can be delivered by trusted community members.
  • Building capabilities for our colleagues in local markets to better understand the strengths and vulnerabilities of vaccination programs on a global and national scale.

Continuing our work to improve vaccine access

Despite the challenges ahead, both Saah and Otoo are optimistic about the future.

“Combating vaccine hesitancy is not an easy feat and has been a challenge our global society has faced for centuries,” wrote Saah. “However, these challenges bring new opportunities to improve our approach and be better advocates for ourselves, our families and our communities.”

“By going where the need exists and continuing to invest in innovative, strategic and diverse collaborations, I'm confident we'll find new ways to solve complex public health problems.”

— Drew Otoo

Learn more about how collaborations can help yield stronger vaccination programs.

Sustainability

Inspiring innovation through diversity and inclusion

When we bring together people from different backgrounds, the possibilities for invention are endless

February 1, 2024

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A diverse and inclusive workforce inspires innovation and is fundamental to our company’s success. Having an environment composed of people from different dimensions of diversity also helps us better understand the unique needs of the customers, health care providers and patients we serve.

Below are some of the ways we celebrate our diverse workforce and a culture of equity, empowerment, engagement and belonging:

01.

Supporting a disability-confident workforce

At our company, everyone should feel empowered to help deliver on our purpose of using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. This includes our colleagues who live with disabilities.

Our Global Disability Inclusion Strategy Council recognizes and values the importance of a disability-confident workforce and offers resources to ensure people with disabilities — including physical, neurological, mental, rare or any other forms of disabilities — are included and prepared to succeed in all areas of our business.

Mike Klobuchar

“My hope is for our company to be an example of what’s possible.”

  • Michael Klobuchar
    Executive vice president and chief strategy officer, and executive sponsor of the Global Disability Inclusion Strategy Council

Key programs and partnerships include:

  • CapABILITY in Action, a joint program launched with Accenture and run in partnership with workforce solutions company Rangam to attract, recruit and retain neurodivergent talent.
  • Valuable 500, a global partnership of 500 companies committed to accelerating disability inclusion through best practices such as digitally accessible technology, mental health awareness and more.

02.

Economic inclusion and business diversity

We’ve been championing business diversity and underrepresented entrepreneurs for nearly 40 years, recognizing that a diverse supply chain creates a competitive advantage for our company and positively impacts the global community.

We continue to exceed industry best practices by spending more than 10% of our purchase budget with minority-, women-, veteran-, LGBTQ+-, disability-owned and small business enterprises. And we’re continuing to push ourselves to do more: As a member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, we’ve made a long-term commitment to spend $4.4 billion with diverse suppliers and small businesses by 2030.

“We’re thinking broader and bolder, and we’ll continue enriching a global diverse business community, reaffirming our commitment to creating healthy and equitable outcomes for our business, patients and communities.”

  • Susanna Webber
    Senior vice president and chief procurement officer

03.

Celebrating global diversity and inclusion

Since 2015, we’ve celebrated Global Diversity & Inclusion Experience Month in September to foster meaningful discussions and learning around diversity, equity and inclusion, while highlighting diversity and inclusion–focused work and the people who make our company unique.

This monthlong celebration builds diversity and inclusion capabilities among the workforce and creates a platform for employees to speak up about their experiences.

Celeste Warren

“We’ve strengthened our commitment to making diversity and inclusion a central strategy to business growth.”

  • Celeste Warren
    Vice president, diversity & inclusion center of excellence

04.

Employee business resource groups (EBRGs)

With more than 21,500 members across 10 groups, our EBRGs play a critical role in driving an inclusive culture and supporting employee career growth. They represent diversity within our company and reflect the communities in which we live and serve.

“I’m proud of our long-standing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.”

  • Marcos Roberto da Costa
    Vice president, operational excellence, MMD, and executive sponsor for MSD’s EBRG supporting colleagues with disabilities and their allies

“It has made us a more innovative and agile company — one that’s better attuned to the needs of our employees, patients and customers.”

Innovation

Our Q4 and full-year 2023 earnings report

February 1, 2024

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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. ​

Download infographic

2023 Q4 EOY Earnings Infographic
Health awareness

‘Wonder Angie’ enlists her ‘super friends’ to fight oral cancer

After receiving an oral squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis, a head and neck cancer survivor finds hope by embracing science, prioritizing mental health and leaning on her work family

January 26, 2024

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In 2017, Maria Angelica Rosario Marquez — or Angie, as she likes to be called— joined MSD in Colombia as a clinical data specialist. She had lost her father the year before and was looking forward to starting a new chapter. The novelty of that first year, however, was short-lived, as her mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2018.

Angie spoke to her manager, and he encouraged her to put family first. She booked a ticket to Chile and was there to support her mother and sister during the illness and her mother’s passing.

Just five months later, 34-year-old Angie was diagnosed with head and neck cancer, specifically squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Head and neck cancer includes cancer of the oral cavity, throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx), nose (nasal cavity), sinuses (paranasal sinuses), and salivary glands. In 2020, nearly 932,000 people were diagnosed with a head and neck cancer globally. Some risk factors that may contribute to the development of head and neck cancer include tobacco use and alcohol consumption – but Angie’s disease was not linked to these typical risk factors.

It all started with pain in Angie’s tongue

Angie developed bruxism (grinding, clenching or gnashing of the teeth) and also noticed that she was continuously biting the same spot on her tongue while she was sleeping. She assumed it was due to stress caused by the devastation of losing both of her parents and her move to a new country without her family by her side. When the pain on the right side of her tongue increased to a point that made it difficult to eat or brush her teeth, her doctor decided to take a biopsy, and in March 2019, he informed her of the diagnosis.

“It was the most frightening thing I’ve ever felt in my life,” she said.

A week later, Angie had surgery to remove the right portion of her tongue, which contained the cancerous tissue, as well as 21 lymph nodes on the right side of her neck . A further analysis of the lymph nodes showed evidence of cancer, so her oncologist followed up with a treatment plan.

The toll of Angie’s treatment for oral cancer

Following her surgery and throughout treatment, Angie experienced a burning feeling in her mouth and throat, and it became extremely difficult for her to speak or eat – two of her favorite activities. Instead, she relied on a feeding tube for several months to receive her meals.

Though Angie was eventually able to resume eating normally, her sense of taste was impaired for a year after she finished treatment. The fact that chocolate, one of her favorite foods, tasted disgusting to her was heartbreaking.

“The doctor told me that he didn’t think I’d ever be able to speak well again. I told him that wasn’t an option because I love talking too much.”

— Angie Rosario

When Angie started to feel a deep depression, she prioritized her mental health and sought treatment from a psychologist, who taught her to focus on the present. Her psychologist encouraged her to visualize herself as a strong and healthy woman.

“I always say cancer was my teacher; It taught me how to live. If you have air in your lungs, you have everything you need,” Angie said.

Strong support and a welcome party from her work family

Angie is grateful for the science and research that helped play a part in her treatment. As of her last doctor’s visit, she remains healthy with no evidence of disease. Angie credits her work family at MSD for supporting her through much of her recovery. With the recent loss of her parents, her co-workers came to her aid with powerful emotional support that helped her through the toughest times. A lifelong collector of superhero toys, Angie came back to the office to find her desk covered in dolls, figurines and other gifts. Inspired by Angie’s courage, her colleagues even gave her a super-nickname: ‘Wonder Angie.’

Angie's desk filled with toys
Coworkers come together in conference room with treats

“I’m thankful for the science and medicine that helped save my life,” Angie said. “I can talk without pain, and that’s amazing. I can brush my teeth every day, and that’s amazing. I can eat, and that’s amazing.”

Angie has recovered her sense of taste for the most part, and can enjoy chocolate once again.

Health awareness

Update to supply issue regarding OncoTICE

We know how important it is to get medicines to the people who need them and providing those medicines is at the center of what we do

January 24, 2024

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In 2012, MSD unexpectedly became the sole manufacturer of OncoTICE® in many countries around the world. Increasing global demand has outpaced our current maximum manufacturing capabilities. In recognition of the medical need for this product, MSD continues to operate at maximum production capacity. Due to the increasing global demand, MSD has been experiencing a supply shortage for OncoTICE. 

In October 2020, we announced our plans to construct a new manufacturing facility in Durham, North Carolina, U.S., to significantly expand our production capacity for OncoTICE. This investment reaffirms our longstanding commitment to producing this medicine, and all our medicines, for patients who need them.

If patients have questions regarding OncoTICE, they should speak with their physicians. Additional information related to the shortage, current allocation practices, and our efforts to increase supply, including construction of a new manufacturing site, is below.

FAQs: supply & availability of OncoTICE

What is the cause of the shortages and backorders for OncoTICE?

Since 2012, when MSD unexpectedly became the sole manufacturer of OncoTICE in many countries around the world, increasing global demand has outpaced our current maximum manufacturing capabilities. While the company has many years of experience producing OncoTICE, this medicine has a lengthy and inherently complex manufacturing process.

Prior to 2012, additional manufacturers supplied the U.S. market with OncoTICE, with MSD providing 30-40% of overall U.S. supply. As other manufacturers exited the U.S. market in 2012, MSD became the sole supplier to the U.S. and increased production of OncoTICE to the full extent of MSD’s current manufacturing capacity. These efforts enabled MSD to double supply of OncoTICE to the U.S. market despite being the only manufacturer, in recognition of the medical need for this product.


Can you provide an update on the new facility?

MSD is working to complete this project and meet patient needs in as timely a manner as possible. While this commitment is an important step in making sure that adequate supply of OncoTICE is available, completing construction, inspection, and regulatory approvals of a manufacturing facility may take approximately five to six years in total.

Construction is well underway, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the new facility is on track to the previously announced timeline and will be completed by late 2025 to late 2026. Supply will gradually increase over time following local market review and approvals.

Once this new facility is fully operational, we expect to triple our current manufacturing capacity of OncoTICE. We anticipate that this will meet the needs of physicians and their patients for the foreseeable future. The investment in this new manufacturing facility reaffirms MSD’s longstanding commitment to producing this medicine for patients.


Can you please describe how the allocation process works outside the U.S.?

MSD allocates available supply among markets based on historical demand patterns. This process is designed to proportionally allocate OncoTICE to minimize disruption to patient care as much as possible.


Where can I find more information about the availability of OncoTICE??

Patients:
Patients should reach out to their physician, as they are in the best position to answer questions about the availability of the medicine in their practice, and can inquire about the quantity and timing of product availability with their supplier.

Health care professionals:
Health care professionals with questions regarding allocation should contact their wholesaler or distributor.


Health awareness

Finding joy after surviving cervical cancer twice

How one woman embraced life, marriage and motherhood despite her cervical cancer diagnosis and its return

January 11, 2024

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Several years ago, Christine Granado was living happily in New Jersey with her fiancé and then-9-year-old son, but she felt something wasn’t right.

In the span of a year, she lost three pregnancies. The first miscarriage came as a total shock. With the second, she felt confused. After the third, she was afraid something was terribly wrong. She decided to go for a routine checkup. While undergoing a series of tests ordered by her OB-GYN, she got surprising news: she was diagnosed with stage IIB squamous cell cervical cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. At just 28, Christine said she felt disbelief.

“How can I have cancer at this age?” she asked herself. “I remember peeking through my bangs, feeling like I was trying to hide behind them.”

Young women are at risk for cervical cancer, too

Granado wasn’t alone in asking herself that question. Cervical cancer is more likely to affect women under 45 globally than most other cancers. In 2020, it was estimated that about 604,127 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 341,831 women died from the disease. Screenings may help to detect cervical changes before they become cancerous. In several western countries where screenings are routinely conducted, the incidence rates of cervical cancer have decreased by 50% or more over the past 50 years.

Beginning her cancer treatment journey

Granado started treatment as soon as possible. She was prepared for physical side effects but was overwhelmed by the other changes that soon followed, including how she felt about losing her fertility. She and her partner discussed preserving her eggs but decided against it as doing so would have delayed her treatment.

Granado’s cancer went into remission for three years, and she found joy again: She and her fiancé got married and decided to have a baby via surrogate.

The shock of a recurring cancer diagnosis

Then, soon before her son was born, Granado started having unexplained chest pains. A CT scan found enlarged lymph nodes. She was diagnosed with metastatic cancer.

“When I got the recurrence diagnosis, I was devastated. It was hard to hear, but it motivated me to finish things, to contact a lawyer and get things in my kids’ names — to think about life after me,” she said. 

It also motivated her to continue with more treatments. During her second round of treatment, Granado was able to welcome her new son. When she saw him, she took him in her arms: “I bawled my eyes out.” 

A focus on mental health 

In addition to her son’s arrival, Granado said a focus on herself has sharpened her resolve to live her best life. When the cancer came back, she grieved for her life. She would cry and sleep all day. Her depression stopped her from enjoying precious time with her family.

“The most disabling thing I dealt with was the depression,” she said. “There were days when I would feel physically OK, but I’d still stay in bed all day.” Thankfully, Granado had the support of a psychologist and a psychiatrist who helped her feel well again. 

Cervical cancer won’t stop her from living her best life 

Granado has been able to complete a master’s degree in health leadership, and her family has a new border collie named Harry. Even everyday activities like going to the hardware store and winding down with a book mean so much more now. She appreciates the small details, like watching TV with her son on the couch.

“Life has been amazingly boring,” she says. “In a good way.” 

Granado said she hopes her story will inspire women and give them hope that there’s so much life to be lived — including the boring moments — in the face of a cancer diagnosis.

Health awareness

Empowering others to speak up about HPV-related cancers

The impact of Gina’s diagnosis inspired her to help others prioritize their health

January 9, 2024

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After 20 years of normal cervical screenings,* Gina Esposito was confident her next routine screening wouldn’t be any different. So, when she was diagnosed with human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cervical precancer at 47 years old, she was surprised.

“The sinking feeling I had when I received my diagnosis was intense because I wasn’t expecting it,” she said.

*A cervical screening, often referred to as a pap test or pap smear, looks for precancers or cell changes that might become cervical cancer if not treated appropriately.

The impact of HPV-related cancers and diseases

More than 80% of cervical cancers are associated with HPV. For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it could cause certain cancers and diseases.

After her diagnosis, Esposito underwent a procedure to remove the abnormal cells from her cervix. When a follow-up test showed that there were still some abnormal cells present, she consulted with a doctor and decided to get a hysterectomy.

At first, she felt embarrassed by her diagnosis. As she started to share her story, she noticed that others felt ashamed to speak about HPV-related cancers and diseases. She knew something had to change.

“I have a newfound responsibility to take the stigma away, to say ‘the shame has to go away,’ whether you’re a woman or a man,” Esposito said.

Throughout her experience, she says her daughter has been a source of strength.

“You don’t want your child to be without you or to experience the loss of a parent. You want to be around for all of their milestones and they want you around,” Esposito said. “So, she keeps me motivated because there’s an expectation that mom’s going to be around.”

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“I try to be a positive disruptor in this space and normalize it so that people go for early screenings and routine screenings and that they get treatment if they need it.”

— Gina Esposito

The importance of routine care

In some ways, Esposito considers herself lucky. Her commitment to prioritizing routine care helped her catch her disease early.

“I’m so glad I took the time to go to my screening – it helped catch my disease early,” she said.

Esposito is working to ensure her daughter also prioritizes getting routine care and understands the value of prioritizing her health, especially as she approaches adulthood.

“She knows you need to own your own health because no one else is going to do it for you,” she said. Esposito encourages colleagues across our company to prioritize their health, too.

Esposito plans to continue helping men and women feel comfortable discussing HPV-related disease and get the preventative care they need.

“When I talk with others, I focus on what happened to me so they can use it as an example,” Esposito said. “I get people emailing me, texting me, going, ‘I’m going to make my appointment today.’ And if we can have one person that we get early, then my job is done.”

Health awareness

Biomarker testing may help inform treatment decisions in certain cancers

An oncologist explains why cancer biomarkers may provide more precise information about a person's cancer

January 4, 2024

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Over the past 20+ years, there’s been an evolution in how we think about cancer. Cancer biomarkers — substances produced by tumor cells that reflect unique features of a tumor — can change the approach to certain cancers.

Advances in biomarker testing may help inform treatment decisions

It wasn’t long ago when conversations were about simply “breast cancer” or “lung cancer.” Now, physicians can get a lot more precise.

Dr. Scott Pruitt

“We’ve come to understand that two people with the same type of cancer may have differences in the specific changes in the genes, proteins and other substances that may allow cancer cells to grow and spread.”

  • Dr. Scott Pruitt
    Associate vice president, early-stage development, clinical oncology, MSD Research Laboratories

“The field of breast cancer research was arguably the first to realize that there are multiple cancer subtypes and that biomarker testing could help inform therapy,” said Pruitt.

In the treatment of breast cancer, understanding various tumor biomarkers and pairing that understanding to help guide selection of relevant medicines has helped physicians evaluate potential treatment approaches. And the same is true in lung cancer where understanding tumor biomarkers has been used to help guide therapy aimed at targeting certain genetic mutations.

Biomarkers may help us understand a cancer better and how to approach it. That’s why biomarker testing may be an important next step after a cancer diagnosis.

Key terms to know:

  • Biomarker: a measurable indicator of a biological state or condition found in blood or tissues.
  • Biomarker testing: medical tests to look for measurable indicators (genes, proteins and other substances) that may provide information about a biological state or condition.
  • Biopsy: the removal of cells or tissue for examination.
  • Genetic testing: medical tests to look for certain mutations in a person’s genes that may be a sign of a disease or condition.

Biomarker testing after a cancer diagnosis

blood test vial

Blood test

microscope

Biopsy of the tumor

Testing for proteins and/or genes to look for known biomarkers icon

Testing for proteins and/or genes to look for known biomarkers

Biomarker testing and genetic testing may enable detailed characterization of some cancers

Some biomarker tests can find inherited genetic changes that you may have been born with that may increase your risk of cancer or other diseases. Genetic testing might help determine if you have certain mutations (for example, the BRCA gene) which could help inform treatment options.

MSD has been at the forefront of research to advance the understanding of biomarkers for certain cancers.

"We're fully invested in leveraging biomarker data to help inform cancer care."

— Dr. Scott Pruitt

“Across our oncology studies in every phase of development, we continue to incorporate multiple biomarker approaches to more fully understand biology as well as identify new targets of interest,” Pruitt said.

Discussing biomarker testing with a health care provider

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, it’s important to ask your doctor about biomarker testing. Start with these questions which may help you prepare for conversations with your doctor:

  • Is biomarker testing appropriate for the type of cancer that I have?
  • If there’s a chance my cancer was caused by an inherited risk factor, should I undergo further testing?
Health awareness

The impact of RSV: a father’s story and call for prevention

When his own daughters became sick, one colleague saw firsthand the need to protect kids from RSV

December 14, 2023

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Frederik Tack, an MSD employee and devoted father, has spent over a decade working in infectious diseases. So, when his daughters both contracted respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections, the impact of his work hit especially close to home.

RSV is a contagious, widespread seasonal infection that is similar to the flu. While people infected with RSV are usually contagious for about three to eight days, infants can continue to spread the virus even after they stop showing symptoms for up to one month.

“Being quite familiar with infectious diseases, I knew the basics of RSV and that almost all children contract it at least once before they’re 2 years old,” said Tack, executive director for our company in France.

"For most healthy children, RSV is like a cold, but for some it can become complicated. And unfortunately, my family witnessed these complications firsthand."

Frederik Tack

Executive director, France

Tack’s eldest daughter, Oriane, developed RSV and bronchiolitis at just 1 year old, leading to dehydration and a brief hospital stay for one night. A few years later, his second daughter, Anora, contracted the virus twice and experienced even more severe complications, including pneumonia that required a week-long stay in the hospital. Fortunately, Tack’s daughters both recovered following their hospital visits and have not experienced any long-term effects of the virus.

baby sleeping

“As you can imagine, it was a pretty stressful time,” he said. “After experiencing it myself, my hope is that other parents won’t have to go through such an uncertain and frightening experience.”

The impact of RSV on infants and families

Grateful that his daughters are now healthy and fully recovered, Tack is acutely aware of the near- and long-term complications many other children may face with RSV. RSV can impact both children and adults but is particularly threatening for infants, who may not be able to fight the virus on their own. It can potentially lead to more serious respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

“In the first years that followed, we often held our breath, hoping those experiences with RSV wouldn’t repeat themselves or provoke long-term complications of other respiratory conditions,” Tack said.

A closer look at RSV

— RSV is contagious and can be spread through virus droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through direct contact with the virus, like kissing the face of a child with RSV.

— The virus can cause cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose, fever, coughing and wheezing.

— It’s a leading cause of infant hospitalizations globally.

~3.6M

Estimated hospitalizations globally each year in children under 5 years old*

~101K

Estimated deaths caused by RSV globally each year in children under 5 years old*

~95%

An estimated >95% of RSV infections and >97% of RSV-related deaths globally occur in resource-limited countries*

*Data based on 2019 estimates.

There’s a widespread need for protection for both healthy and high-risk infants from RSV globally, including in resource-limited countries where RSV represents a substantial burden of disease. And during RSV season, the impact can be even greater. RSV can put a significant strain on the health care system, but most importantly, it impacts families who want to help protect their children and keep them healthy.

Tack said he takes great pride in being part of a company with over 130 years of innovative work dedicated to reducing the devastating toll of certain infectious diseases around the world.

“Nobody wants to see their children suffering with little that you can do to help them,” said Tack.

“I’m inspired by the ongoing commitment and dedication within the public health space to help address these diseases through scientific innovations.”

— Frederik Tack