Understanding blood cancers

How Merck is helping advance research with new approaches for people living with these challenging conditions

June 10, 2026

two scientists wearing lab coats and gloves working in a lab

Blood cancers develop when changes in DNA cause blood‑forming cells to grow abnormally. Instead of producing healthy blood cells that support the immune system and carry oxygen through the body, these altered cells multiply in an uncontrolled way. Over time, this can weaken the immune system and make it harder for the body to fight infection and perform essential functions.

Types of blood cancer: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma

The most common types of blood cancer are leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Together, they account for the majority of hematologic malignancies, with more than 190,000 new cases projected each year in the U.S.

Leukemia forms in the blood and bone marrow and is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. There are several types of leukemia, which include acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia.
Lymphoma develops in the lymphatic system, a network of organs, vessels and tissues that helps protect the body from infection. It is often classified as either Hodgkin lymphoma or non‑Hodgkin lymphoma, depending on the type of lymphocyte involved and specific cellular features.
Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma, forms in plasma cells found in the bone marrow. Unlike cancers that first appear in one location, myeloma can occur in multiple areas of the bone marrow at the same time.

Rare blood cancers: myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)

In addition to the previously listed more common blood cancers, there are rarer related blood cancers, such as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). About 20,000 new cases of MPNs and MDS are diagnosed each year in the U.S. MPNs occur when the bone marrow produces too many blood cells, while MDS develops when blood cells do not mature properly and are unable to become healthy cells. The main types of MPNs include essential thrombocythemia, primary myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera.

As the number of people affected by blood cancers and disorders continues to rise, scientists at Merck are exploring innovative strategies aimed at improving outcomes for patients living with these complex and challenging conditions. These approaches focus on enhancing the body’s response to cancer, targeting cancer cells more precisely and addressing pathways that drive cancer growth.

Merck is currently investigating several potential targets for hematologic malignancies across a broad range of different disease pathways, including:

3-D depiction of ROR1 protein on a malignant B-cell

Targeting ROR1, a protein that is overexpressed in multiple hematologic malignancies

3-D depiction of BTK and PLCy2 in the BCR signaling pathway

Evaluating the inhibition of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase to address common mechanisms of resistance for patients with certain hematologic malignancies

3-D depiction of LSD1 and transcription factors ahead of histone modification

Targeting lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), an enzyme that is potentially important for regulating the rapid reproduction of blood stem cells and the maturation of blood cells in the bone marrow

Evaluating the role of the BCR::ABL novel protein in preventing white blood cells from proliferating

3-D depiction of T-cell with TCR complex and B-cell tumor cell with CD19 protein

Researching T-cell engagement for certain types of leukemia and lymphoma

“Our team is building on our legacy in oncology to understand how various mechanisms and modalities could address blood cancers in innovative ways,” said Dr. Shweta Jain, vice president, oncology clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories.

“By exploring multiple potential novel mechanisms of action across a broad range of blood cancers and disorders, we hope to help address longstanding unmet needs for patients with hematologic malignancies.”

Dr. Shweta Jain

Through ongoing studies and clinical trials, Merck is working to advance clinical research for patients living with blood cancers and disorders. Learn more about Merck’s hematology research and clinical trials.

Innovation

Merck’s One Pipeline strategy: Purpose, patients and big bets on science

Our approach to drug development aims to bring together our own innovation with the best external science so we can more quickly help patients who are counting on us

June 8, 2026

At Merck, progressing novel medicines and vaccines through our pipeline means making purposeful, long-term bets on bold science — wherever it originates. We take a science-first, therapeutic-agnostic approach, evaluating where strong science, clear patient impact and long-term value come together to deliver differentiated approaches for patients.

Pursuing science at this global scale across modalities and stages of development goes beyond our company’s internal discovery alone. Through our One Pipeline approach, our team combines our deep internal research capabilities with disciplined business development and licensing efforts to identify, evaluate and invest in the most promising external science. We apply a deliberate, long-term lens to business development — making investments that align with who we are as a company and the role we play in improving global health.

What is Merck’s One Pipeline strategy?

One Pipeline is our unified research and drug development strategy — bringing together internal discovery and external innovation to ensure we advance high-potential science.

We engage across the innovation ecosystem spanning academia to biotech and established biopharma. From early-stage engagements and venture investments to licensing and late-stage research collaborations and acquisitions, our One Pipeline approach enables us to establish a diverse portfolio, regardless of origin or therapeutic area.

Research and collaboration enable our One Pipeline approach

“Our One Pipeline strategy starts with a simple question: where do we see the greatest scientific potential, and how can we advance it for patients?” said Dr. Dean Li, president of Merck Research Laboratories (MRL). “We evaluate opportunities without bias, applying the same rigor and urgency to advance the strongest ideas wherever they come from.”

To achieve this, MRL works in lockstep with our business development and licensing (BD&L) team. “I want to emphasize how integrated BD&L is with MRL. This is hand in glove,” Li said.

How business development augments our pipeline

As one of the industry’s top investors in research and development, Merck’s scientific external innovation strategy is fueled by significant investment and disciplined decision-making and business development activity. We have a legacy of successful collaborations and are among the most active dealmakers in the biopharma industry.

Since 2021, we’ve invested over $65 billion into business development, spanning a wide range of technologies, capabilities and candidates across multiple therapeutic areas and phases of development. This sustained breadth of investment reflects our focused, science-driven approach to identifying and pursuing external innovation to strengthen and expand our pipeline.

Collaborations are critical to advancing breakthrough science

Central to our One Pipeline strategy is our philosophy of matching internal scientific rigor with strategic external investment.

“Everything here starts with scientific conviction,” said Sunil Patel, senior vice president and head of corporate development and business development and licensing. “Whether we’re advancing internal programs or collaborating externally, we focus on high-quality science — even when the path is challenging — because that’s how we deliver real-world impact for patients and society.”

Creating a sustainable innovation engine

After each business development deal, we work to ensure the external science effectively transitions into our pipeline and portfolio. By applying our clinical, regulatory and manufacturing expertise, we work to accelerate each program with speed and rigor — supporting a steady flow of novel candidates for patients depending on us to deliver the next breakthrough.

“Business development is core to our growth strategy,” said Rob Davis, chairman and chief executive officer. “At Merck, we are committed to delivering on our purpose to save and improve lives and continue to identify and secure opportunities where compelling science and value creation align.”

Where is Merck’s business development and licensing team located?

Recognizing that innovation can happen anywhere, the BD&L team scours the globe to bring in transformative science and leading‑edge technologies. They work alongside scientists within our research network and are strategically located in epicenters of innovation, including:

Boston, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
London
Rahway, New Jersey
Shanghai
South San Francisco, California
Tokyo
West Point, Pennsylvania

Innovation

What are individualized neoantigen therapies?

How scientists are harnessing the specific mutations of each person’s cancer to evaluate therapies that would be tailored to their own tumor

May 20, 2026

3D depiction of individualized neoantigen therapy

Over the past decade, immunotherapy has transformed our understanding of how the immune system can be used to help fight certain types of cancer. As the treatment of cancer continues to evolve, researchers are focusing on more individualized approaches.

This includes a new area of research into individualized neoantigen therapies, which leverage information from a patient’s tumor biopsy to help develop a therapy tailored to that person’s tumor mutations.

To help improve outcomes for people living with cancer, our scientists, in collaboration with Moderna, are exploring this innovative approach designed to train the immune system to recognize and fight cancer.

What makes each person’s cancer different — and why does it matter?

Cancer develops when the body’s own cells undergo mutations that create abnormal proteins in cancer cells, known as neoantigens. These mutations are not found in normal cells and are specific to each person’s tumor. That helps explain why people diagnosed with the same type of cancer — and treated in similar ways — could respond differently.

What if the immune system can be trained to recognize each person’s cancer?

To explore the idea of one medicine for one patient, we’re evaluating individualized neoantigen therapies as a potential way to help train the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells unique to each individual.

Merck scientists, with colleagues at Moderna, are studying this approach to deepen our understanding of how mutations vary across different cancers — insights that could help advance more personalized approaches to cancer care.

How are individualized neoantigen therapies designed to work?

To predict each patient’s mix of neoantigens, or tumor mutations, scientists analyze the genetic code of a person’s tumor cells.
The analysis helps predict which neoantigens are most likely to appear on the surface of cancer cells and which may be the most promising targets for a personalized therapy.
This tailoring could potentially allow an individualized neoantigen therapy to effectively train the immune system to find and kill specific cancer cells.
Because healthy cells don’t have cancer neoantigens on their surface, this approach may also help avoid harming healthy tissue.

“Building on our past learnings from cancer trials involving the immune system, we’re investigating a new approach to individualized cancer care based on each patient’s specific tumor mutations. No two individualized neoantigen therapies will be alike, because no two cancers are the same.”

Dr. Vassiliki Karantza
AVP, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories

Clinical studies are ongoing to explore the safety and effectiveness of individualized neoantigen therapies when combined with other cancer treatments. There are currently no U.S. FDA-approved individualized neoantigen therapies.

Learn more about our work in oncology.

Innovation

Immunology Q&A: Experts discuss how science is advancing disease research

Merck R&D teams are exploring how emerging therapies and precision medicine are shaping the future of immune-mediated disease research

April 30, 2026

With a deep and growing understanding of human biology, there’s been an emergence of innovative medicines and new modalities that aim to change the way researchers approach treatment for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Here at Merck, we’re advancing our growing capabilities in immunology with a talented team of scientists and clinical researchers as we aim to advance patient care. We sat down with two immunology experts from Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) to find out how their teams are fostering innovations that have the potential to help people with autoimmune diseases.

Over the past decade, what scientific developments have most shaped how you and your team discover new targets for immune-mediated diseases?

Dr. Marc Levesque, vice president, immunology discovery and Cambridge site head, MRL: The past decade has been transformative for the field of immunology research. Technologies like oral macrocyclic peptides and CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell) therapies have opened new possibilities in research.

Critically, the integration of patient-derived data into early-stage research has allowed us to evaluate disease mechanisms with greater accuracy. Integrating these new tools not only enhances our understanding of immune-mediated diseases but also enables the discovery of novel targets and biomarkers that could lead to more precise treatments.

Which advances have most changed the way we approach immune-mediated diseases — and where do gaps remain?

Dr. Aileen Pangan, vice president and therapeutic area head, immunology clinical research, MRL: Our understanding of disease mechanisms has grown dramatically, leading to the identification of new therapeutic targets. These advances have improved treatment outcomes for many patients. Yet, significant gaps remain, particularly in achieving and maintaining clinical remission for patients.

One of the reasons lies in the fact that treatment of these patients still involves a trial-and-error approach. We’re investing in efforts to bring precision medicine to immunology. If we could identify the right therapy for each patient, we could help manage disease manifestations sooner and potentially improve long-term outcomes.

How are these advances shaping Merck’s R&D strategy?

Levesque: Our goal is to alleviate the burden of immune-mediated diseases by discovering and developing innovative, targeted therapies. Our strategy involves tackling multiple pathways involved in these complex diseases.

For example, promising areas of research include bispecific antibodies which can be used to target more than one disease mechanism at a time and new modalities that enable oral administration.

What roles do artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics play in the evolution of immunology research?

Levesque: AI and data analytics are accelerating how we identify new drug targets and tailor therapies. These tools allow us to process vast amounts of biological data quickly, revealing patterns and insights that would be difficult to detect otherwise. This can help support the development of precision medicine, with the goal of tailoring to the unique genetic and biological makeup of each patient, while also speeding up the discovery process for new drug targets. AI also facilitates the design of drugs and their testing in pre-clinical studies.

four scientists working in our Boston lab

How does the patient experience factor into your approach to clinical research?

Pangan: Understanding the unique patient experience for each autoimmune disorder we work on can help in the development of innovative therapies that more directly address patient needs. Currently, many patients will cycle through multiple treatments before finding an option that works for them, while others experience a delay in initiating advanced therapies.

Our approach to research and development in this space takes into account the challenges and barriers patients experience when trying to achieve their treatment goals, which may differ depending on the autoimmune or immune-mediated inflammatory disease. These considerations inform how we pursue modalities and targets that have the potential to provide more options and support a more personalized care plan. By doing so, we aim to help more patients reach their treatment goals.

In your opinion, as we look five to 10 years ahead, what scientific advancements could fundamentally change how we treat immune-mediated inflammatory diseases?

Levesque: In the coming years, I believe scientific advancements may lead to improvements in durable remission. Personalized medicine based on individual genetic profiles and disease characteristics has the potential to fundamentally change how physicians and care teams approach treatment plans for patients. It also has the potential to shorten the time to symptom resolution by helping to select the most suitable therapy for patients. Overall, our goal is to help address patient challenges and provide more treatment options.

Learn more about our research and commitment to immunology.

Innovation

Our Q1 2026 financial results

April 30, 2026

Merck’s (NYSE: MRK) Q1 2026 results reflect continued strength in oncology and animal health, plus increasing contributions from launches. Our company announced Q1 worldwide sales of $16.3 billion.

“We are moving with speed to transform our portfolio to one with a diversified set of growth drivers across a broad set of therapeutic areas,” said Rob Davis, chairman and CEO. “During the first quarter, we continued to strengthen our pipeline with science-led business development, including our planned acquisition of Terns. We also achieved several important milestones, such as our most recent approval in HIV, marking a new chapter in our research and longstanding commitment to people living with HIV. I am pleased with our progress and excited for what’s ahead, as we enter a particularly robust period of Phase 3 data readouts and deliver on the promise of our pipeline for patients.”

Merck anticipates full-year 2026 worldwide sales to be between $65.8 billion and $67.0 billion.

Take a look at the infographic below for more details on Q1 2026 results.

Listen to the earnings call

Read the press release

Download the infographic

Discover more stories

Understanding blood cancers

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): A personal journey

Merck’s One Pipeline strategy: Purpose, patients and big bets on science

View all stories

Innovation

How Merck 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 20, 2026

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 Merck 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, Merck 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 2,800 trials that will evaluate patients in 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.

Gloved hand handling a small laboratory device labeled

Learn more about our oncology pipeline

View pipeline

Innovation

Rob Davis on strengthening our pipeline through business development

Merck’s chairman and CEO spoke with the Financial Times about dealmaking, pipeline expansion and delivering for patients

April 14, 2026

Robert M. Davis, Chairman and chief executive officer, Merck

In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Merck Chairman and CEO Rob Davis shared how, when it comes to investing in our pipeline of innovative medicines and vaccines, we always put patients first.

This mindset drives our approach to advancing the best internal and external science where we see science and value align and is fueling the evolution of the strongest and deepest pipeline in our company’s history.

The outlet noted that Davis has led our company through a period of significant dealmaking, with one outcome being that we currently have 22 medicines in the final stages of clinical trials compared to 15 in 2023. “We have as rich a Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 pipeline as we’ve ever had in this company,” Davis said. He also expressed the importance of moving with focus and urgency, as well as discipline, to rapidly progress the next wave of innovation. “The earlier we bet, the more conviction my scientists have to have,” he said.

As we continue to complement our internal innovation and discovery efforts with patient-focused business development to drive impact for all who depend on us, we remain committed to delivering on our purpose of using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world.

Discover more stories

New grants to help improve global access to care

This red chair is a reminder that patients can’t wait

5 ways we’re transforming artificial intelligence into impact

View all stories

Innovation

Expert Q&A: The role of real-world evidence in lung cancer detection

Shuvayu Sen, Ph.D., shared how our real-world evidence research uses data to analyze patient journeys and risk prediction models for early lung cancer detection

March 23, 2026

In the fight against lung cancer, early detection can be critical. While some countries have previously rolled out national lung cancer screening programs, in many cases, participation was low. This reality is one of the drivers behind Mission Lung Cancer, our collective effort to break down the barriers that stand in the way of early detection of lung cancer.

At the heart of our commitment to early lung cancer detection is one of our powerful contributions: scientific insights. Our real-world evidence (RWE) research uses patient-level data to analyze patient journeys and risk prediction models. This enables us to better understand diagnostic pathways and identify opportunities that may help facilitate early detection and diagnosis of lung cancer.

We spoke with Shuvayu Sen, Ph.D., vice president and head of oncology value and implementation outcomes research, about the importance of using RWE.

What is RWE and why does it matter?

Sen: RWE is generated through the analysis of real-world data or health information routinely collected from sources such as electronic health records (EHR), registries and insurance claims. Alongside data from clinical trials, real-world data matters because it may provide contextual insights that are not possible in a controlled setting.

How is your team using RWE in lung cancer research?

Sen: Our applicable areas of research include continuing to address smoking as the leading risk factor for lung cancer while identifying additional contributing risk factors — pinpointing moments to engage at-risk individuals and building explainable risk prediction models, including for non-small cell lung cancer. Our research on the patient journey can help show where delays in care may occur, such as low screening uptake, missed follow-ups on imaging or coordination gaps between care teams.

What have you learned from RWE in lung cancer?

Photo of Merck colleagues Shuvayu Sen and Melissa Santorelli walking in the office — Sen (left) with colleague Melissa Santorelli, Ph.D., MPH, at our global headquarters.

Sen: As part of our analysis of one institution’s EHR database, we identified underutilization of low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans as an unmet need in the diagnostic pathway. Our research also showed potential for electronic medical record data to help identify patients who may be at risk of developing lung cancer. Looking ahead, we aim to explore options that could support earlier detection by leveraging this data. These insights point to potentially meaningful opportunities across the oncology ecosystem and beyond.

How else are we helping to advance research in this space?

Sen: We believe it’s critical to advance this work through research outside our company, as shared insights and investigator-led research are equally essential to accelerating innovation. That’s why we expanded our Merck Investigator Studies Program (MISP) to support independent research.

The MISP program evaluates tools and methods for lung cancer risk assessment and explores new technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI) and digital diagnostics, with the goal of improving early detection and diagnosis of lung cancer.

Together, our real-world evidence and MISP-supported research have the potential to reshape how and when lung cancer may be detected.

Learn more about Mission Lung Cancer.

Discover more stories

Understanding blood cancers

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): A personal journey

Merck’s One Pipeline strategy: Purpose, patients and big bets on science

View all stories

Innovation

Our AI model KERMT is helping to advance drug discovery

Our scientists harness AI and machine learning in small molecule lead optimization

March 19, 2026

illustration of people in lab coats looks at shapes and objects floating

In the lead optimization phase, scientists fine-tune early molecules in the hopes of finding a molecule that might one day become a medicine.

Traditionally, this stage takes months, and most drug candidates never make it to clinical testing. But advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), including our new AI foundation model KERMT, could help change that.

What is KERMT and how is it transforming small molecule research?

Developed in collaboration with Nvidia, KERMT, pronounced “Kermit” and short for Kinetic GROVER Multi-Task, is a deep-learning computer model trained on more than 11 million molecules. It learns from patterns in vast amounts of chemical data with the goal of helping scientists better predict how a molecule will behave in the body, potentially spotting issues much earlier and reducing the need for months of lab work.

KERMT isn’t just helping our researchers; as an open-source model, its code is available to the whole scientific community.

How AI models can impact drug development timelines

In a recent interview with Healthcare Brew, Senior Director of Data Science Alan Cheng said AI is already “speeding up the early stages of drug development dramatically.”

“AI is sometimes cutting timelines by 30% or more, improving drug candidate quality and reducing costs,” Cheng said. “This is a very meaningful acceleration. While clinical trials remain lengthy, our models are enabling faster identification of disease targets and optimized compounds, which should increase probability of success and shorten preclinical phases.”

Open-source AI for the scientific community

AI/ML is evolving at an incredible pace: access to relevant data is growing, computing power is expanding and deep-learning algorithms are rapidly improving. Advances like KERMT can give teams a powerful new way to make better informed decisions and focus their time on the most promising drug candidates.

These changes have the potential to create unprecedented opportunities to speed and strengthen the discovery of new drugs — with the goal of bringing safer, more effective medicines to patients faster.

KERMT is available on Nvidia accelerated computing and software, including platforms like Nvidia BioNeMo and Clara Open Models.

Watch to learn more about how Merck is using AI/ML for small molecule lead optimization

Discover more stories

Understanding blood cancers

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): A personal journey

Merck’s One Pipeline strategy: Purpose, patients and big bets on science

View all stories

Innovation

We’re teaming up with Eisai to help fight cancer

How we're leveraging each other’s unique strengths to help advance cancer research

March 12, 2026

scientists wearing masks working in a lab

Combining two ambitious research teams to form a united front to help people with cancer

It’s sometimes said that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That’s why in 2018 we teamed up with Eisai, a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, to work together to advance cancer research.

“Combining Merck’s leadership in oncology with Eisai’s strengths in small molecules allows us to advance combination approaches that have the potential to help more people living with challenging cancers,” said Dr. Gregory Lubiniecki, vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories.

“There’s still an unmet need for many patients with cancer. These patients and their families are in need of more treatment options, and this remains at the forefront of our collaborative efforts.”

Dr. Takashi Owa
Head of external innovation, Deep Human Biology Learning (DHBL), Eisai Co., Ltd.

Together, we’re striving to drive cancer science forward, and this shared vision has led to multiple clinical trials investigating the companies’ combination treatment options in various tumor types.

Through this comprehensive approach, we’ve been expanding our clinical research to help as many cancer patients as possible.

Why did you decide to go into oncology research?

“My decision was very personal,” said Owa. “At the age of six, my grandmother passed away from gastric cancer. I couldn’t fully process what had happened to her at that young age. It wasn’t until I entered junior high school that I began to understand the toll cancer had taken on her, which motivated me to learn about cancer and find my passion in cancer research.”

Lubiniecki’s experience was also very personal.

“Watching my mother recover from breast cancer while I was in high school exposed me to the challenges patients face when battling cancer. These experiences inspired me to ultimately pursue oncology,” he said. “Oncology clinical research offers an opportunity to impact the practice of medicine greatly.”

Looking to the future

“I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together in our pursuit to investigate additional options for patients across a broad range of cancer types through our robust clinical research,” said Lubiniecki.

Owa is optimistic about the progress the two teams have made together. “We’ve already seen encouraging anti-tumor activity in several difficult-to-treat cancers, which has led to multiple milestones to date,” he said. “As we continue to enhance our knowledge and scientific evidence through our ongoing clinical research efforts, together, we aim to give patients and their families hope.”

Lubiniecki believes that collaborations are important to continuing to advance cancer research and improve the outcomes of people with cancer.

“A collaborative approach is key to advancing science and making strides in drug discovery and development.”

Dr. Gregory Lubiniecki
Vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories

“Working with others driven by the same patient-centric goals can yield innovations and is imperative to continued progress in improving patient care,” said Lubiniecki. “I’m thrilled to be a part of this collaboration as we continue to advance and expand our clinical research.”

Discover more stories

Understanding blood cancers

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): A personal journey

Merck’s One Pipeline strategy: Purpose, patients and big bets on science

View all stories

Understanding blood cancers

Types of blood cancer: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma

Rare blood cancers: myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)

“By exploring multiple potential novel mechanisms of action across a broad range of blood cancers and disorders, we hope to help address longstanding unmet needs for patients with hematologic malignancies.”

Merck’s One Pipeline strategy: Purpose, patients and big bets on science

What is Merck’s One Pipeline strategy?

Research and collaboration enable our One Pipeline approach

How business development augments our pipeline

Collaborations are critical to advancing breakthrough science

Creating a sustainable innovation engine

Where is Merck’s business development and licensing team located?

What are individualized neoantigen therapies?

What makes each person’s cancer different — and why does it matter?

What if the immune system can be trained to recognize each person’s cancer?

How are individualized neoantigen therapies designed to work?

“Building on our past learnings from cancer trials involving the immune system, we’re investigating a new approach to individualized cancer care based on each patient’s specific tumor mutations. No two individualized neoantigen therapies will be alike, because no two cancers are the same.”

Immunology Q&A: Experts discuss how science is advancing disease research

Over the past decade, what scientific developments have most shaped how you and your team discover new targets for immune-mediated diseases?

Which advances have most changed the way we approach immune-mediated diseases — and where do gaps remain?

How are these advances shaping Merck’s R&D strategy?

What roles do artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics play in the evolution of immunology research?

How does the patient experience factor into your approach to clinical research?

In your opinion, as we look five to 10 years ahead, what scientific advancements could fundamentally change how we treat immune-mediated inflammatory diseases?

Our Q1 2026 financial results

How Merck scientists are driving next-generation cancer research

“We’ve witnessed dramatic progress in how we treat a wide range of cancers, and our work at Merck has been foundational in how we treat metastatic disease, or cancer that has spread.”

Driving research toward treating certain cancers earlier

A robust pipeline of diverse approaches to advanced and earlier stages of cancer

"We're committed to investing in novel research where scientific opportunity and medical need converge. "

Learn more about our oncology pipeline

Rob Davis on strengthening our pipeline through business development

Expert Q&A: The role of real-world evidence in lung cancer detection

What is RWE and why does it matter?

How is your team using RWE in lung cancer research?

What have you learned from RWE in lung cancer?

How else are we helping to advance research in this space?

Our AI model KERMT is helping to advance drug discovery

What is KERMT and how is it transforming small molecule research?

How AI models can impact drug development timelines

Open-source AI for the scientific community

Watch to learn more about how Merck is using AI/ML for small molecule lead optimization

We’re teaming up with Eisai to help fight cancer

Combining two ambitious research teams to form a united front to help people with cancer

“There’s still an unmet need for many patients with cancer. These patients and their families are in need of more treatment options, and this remains at the forefront of our collaborative efforts.”

Why did you decide to go into oncology research?

Looking to the future

“A collaborative approach is key to advancing science and making strides in drug discovery and development.”

Related links

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA