Millions of women around the world are diagnosed with cancer every year. Breast, cervical, ovarian and endometrial cancers accounted for nearly one in five new cancer cases and 1.3 million deaths globally in 2022. Research suggests that some of the deaths from these cancers may be avoided through a combination of effective public health policies, earlier detection and timely medical care.
At Merck, we recognize the importance of working with organizations committed to closing gaps in care for people who need it most. That’s why we’re expanding our partnership with City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) with a five-year, $10 million investment to improve cancer care for women in 15 cities around the world through community-led collaboration.
What is City Cancer Challenge?
C/Can is an international non‑profit organization that brings together public and private partners at the city level to design, plan and implement practical solutions to help address gaps in cancer care. The organization leverages the unique value of cities as enablers in a health system’s response to cancer. C/Can works with municipal leaders, health authorities, clinicians and patient groups in cities across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), reaching over 764,000 patients with opportunities for improved quality of care.
Supporting the Thriving Cities, Healthy Women initiative
Merck has been a partner of C/Can since the organization’s founding in 2019. Building on this work, we’re investing in its new “Thriving Cities, Healthy Women” initiative to help close gaps in access to cancer screening and care for women in LMICs across Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe.
“Too many women are diagnosed too late, receive care too late or never receive care at all. That’s not inevitable — it’s fixable. Prioritizing women and health does not only benefit women and their families, it can also be a powerful lever for stronger health systems, economic resilience and social progress.”
Isabel Mestres CEO, City Cancer Challenge
By 2030, the partnership aims to:
Reach
>300K
Reach more than 300,000 women with cancer through improved access to care
Train
>2K
Train more than 2,000 health professionals through capacity building and mentorship
Benefit
>11M
Benefit more than 11 million women through influencing policy, replication and scale-up of patient initiatives
“People should be able to access timely cancer care — no matter where they live. By partnering with City Cancer Challenge, we’re working city by city to strengthen local systems so more women can be diagnosed earlier and get the care they need close to home.”
Kalahn Taylor‑Clark, Ph.D., MPH Vice president and head of social impact and sustainability, Merck
How we’re closing the cancer care gap
Women often navigate cancer with unique responsibilities and pressures. Socioeconomic barriers, geography, caregiving demands and other factors can stand in the way of early detection and timely diagnosis. In many settings, women experience delayed referrals, unclear diagnostic pathways and long waits to access care — all of which may lead to worse outcomes.
“By investing in the health of women, we invest in stronger families, resilient communities and more productive societies.”
Jenelle Krishnamoorthy, Ph.D. Senior vice president and head of global policy and public affairs, Merck
Through our partnership with C/Can, participating cities will work toward measurable, sustainable improvements in women’s cancer care to:
Expand access to screening, as early detection may impact outcomes
Reduce the time from suspicion of cancer to confirmed diagnosis or rule-out
Increase the number of women initiating cancer care plans soon after diagnosis
Merck for Mothers: Expanding access to quality maternal care
More than a decade of strategic partnerships, private sector innovation and data-driven impact are helping create a world where no woman has to die while giving life
May 11, 2026
Share this article
According to the latest available data from 2023 from the World Health Organization, a maternal death occurs almost every two minutes. Nearly 95% of all maternal deaths occur in low- and lower-middle income countries, and most could have been prevented.
If we don’t do more, mothers, daughters and granddaughters will continue to lose their lives. And their loss will impact many.
The birth of Merck for Mothers
In response to this crisis, our company created Merck for Mothers, a global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life.
“By helping address one of the oldest and most preventable global health tragedies, we believe Merck for Mothers will have an important impact on society,” said Ken Frazier, Merck’s then-chairman and CEO, as he introduced this program at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2011.
Merck for Mothers began its mission by joining the UN and collaborators around the globe to apply its scientific and business expertise to help save women’s lives, aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 births by 2030. Achieving this goal would save the lives of approximately 1.4 million women between 2016 and 2030.
A sustainable model to make a difference for generations
Focused on advancing high-quality maternity care, harnessing innovations for maternal health and catalyzing solutions that respond to local needs, Merck for Mothers aims to make a difference for women, families and their communities now and in the future.
Women around the world die during pregnancy and childbirth for a variety of reasons, including a lack of medical supplies or inadequate health care services to address complications. Other times, it’s due to delays in seeking care or difficulties getting to a medical facility. Sometimes, women can’t afford to pay for health services. And often, women do not have information about the warning signs of potential complications or access to contraceptives to help them make their own decisions about whether or not to become pregnant.
Merck for Mothers takes a holistic approach to addressing the many factors that impact maternal health. It collaborates across sectors — working with governments, nongovernmental organizations, patient groups, professional associations, entrepreneurs, UN agencies, research institutions, businesses and even other pharmaceutical companies. The initiative also supports innovations across digital, finance, products and policy, and strives to leverage the private sector for public good. Engaging local stakeholders in designing, implementing and evaluating solutions plays an important role in creating sustainable improvements.
"We believe investing in maternal health care is a pathway to better health and stronger health systems for all."
Jacquelyn Caglia
Head of Merck for Mothers
“Working closely with our collaborators, we’re taking a holisitic approach to address the factors that impact maternal health, reflecting our company’s commitment to expanding access to health around the world,” said Jacquelyn Caglia, head of Merck for Mothers. “The impact we’ve made reflects our team’s dedication and the incredible efforts of community-based organizations globally. There’s still much to be done, which is why we’re focused on building on our learnings and scaling our impact.”
Making an impact and the ripple effect
Merck for Mothers has supported 295 programs alongside 210 grantees and collaborators across 75 global sites to find, test, scale and sustain solutions to reduce maternal mortality.
167M+
More than 167 million people impacted with access to strengthened health systems
39M+
More than 39 million people reached through programs supporting safe, high quality, respectful care
952K+
More than 952,000 providers with improved training
“Behind every number is a person reached via Merck for Mothers who had a safer pregnancy, a healthier birth or access to care she might not otherwise have received. That’s what drives us,” said Kalahn Taylor-Clark, vice president and head of social impact and sustainability, Merck.
And, research shows that investing in maternal health can have a ripple effect. Better maternal health care is a pathway to a lifetime of benefits, both for a woman’s own health and prosperity as well as that of her children, family, community and nation.
Infants are 15 times more likely to survive
Children are 10 times more likely to finish school
Millions of dollars are contributed by women to the economy
“When we invest in maternal health, the benefits ripple far beyond the delivery room. Women’s health is prioritized, newborns are more likely to survive, children are more likely to stay in school and women make invaluable contributions to their communities and the workforce. Health systems get stronger. Economies grow. We call this the ‘Mom Effect’,” said Taylor-Clark.
And, that’s an important impact on society for generations to come.
Merck for Mothers and PATH collaborate to identify game-changing technologies
Spearheaded by top scientists from Merck for Mothers and the global nonprofit, PATH, this unique alliance evaluated promising technologies that address the two leading causes of maternal mortality — post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) and preeclampsia — as well as family planning. This collaboration surfaced the ideas of focusing on a heat-stable uterotonic (carbetocin) to address excessive bleeding during childbirth and optimizing magnesium sulfate administration for pregnant women with preeclampsia – two initiatives that we continue to fund today.
2012
Merck for Mothers joins new global partnership — Saving Mothers, Giving Life
This public-private partnership focuses on helping mothers during labor, delivery and the first 24 hours following birth, when an estimated two-thirds of maternal deaths and almost half of infant deaths occur. With a pledge of more than $200 million, the partnership began with programs in Uganda and Zambia, where maternal mortality rates are disproportionately high.
2013
Merck for Mothers launches $10 million initiative in India
This initiative to improve access to maternal health services will reach nearly 500,000 pregnant women in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand — all areas with high rates of maternal deaths.
Global health, development and business leaders announce new innovative financing partnership
This partnership leverages private sector funding to speed up delivery and access to life-saving health supplies, such as contraceptives, bed nets, and medicines to those in need. Through Pledge Guarantee for Health (PGH), this new financing mechanism helps increase the impact of each dollar of donor funding and ultimately improve health care access and outcomes for the millions who are helped by foreign aid.
Through the partnership, Merck and other private sector suppliers step up to provide up-front price discounts to aid recipients who utilize PGH to purchase their life-saving health supplies.
Merck for Mothers launches programs in the U.S.
The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. has nearly doubled since 1990. More than 50,000 women a year — one every 10 minutes — nearly die from severe complications they experience during pregnancy or childbirth. With an initial commitment of $6 million, these programs aim to enhance community care initiatives for high-risk women before, during and after childbirth; implement standard approaches to address obstetric emergencies; and strengthen data collection and reviews to better understand why maternal deaths occur and how to improve practices and patient care.
2014
Merck, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and WHO announce collaboration to prevent excessive bleeding in women after childbirth
Merck, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and WHO collaborate to advance a new, proprietary formulation of carbetocin to prevent excessive bleeding in women after childbirth. A primary benefit of carbetocin is its ability to remain stable at room temperature, even in hot and tropical climates, unlike oxytocin, the standard medicine administered for the prevention of PPH. Oxytocin is temperature-sensitive and requires sustained cold distribution and storage, which is difficult to achieve in many of these areas of high maternal mortality.
2015
Merck for Mothers explores digital technologies to mobilize maternal health
Merck for Mothers commits resources to invent or enhance existing solutions to tackle some of the most critical obstacles standing in the way of delivering quality maternity care and contraceptive services in low- and middle-income countries. This commitment leads to a new wave of smart, innovative apps and digital platforms – like the Safe Delivery App, mDoc, Project iDeliver, AskNivi, MomCare, Together for Her Health, among others.
Merck and Merck for Mothers help advance a new set of UN global goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are formally adopted at the 70th UNGA. They represent the international community’s aspirations for improving the lives of the world’s poorest people by 2030.
Merck for Mothers has now reached 5 million women worldwide through its programs
2016
Employees across the globe join the fight to end maternal mortality
Employee volunteers participate in activities such as assembling post-natal kits for soon-to-be mothers in Uganda as a means of encouraging them to seek care to support healthy pregnancies and deliveries. The kits include essential supplies to aid the health and safety of a mother and newborn after birth. This activity, among others, become annual events where employees can help amplify our impact.
Merck for Mothers’ collaborators complete their first maternity waiting home in Zambia
Maternity waiting homes — residences located near health facilities where pregnant women can stay before they go into labor — can make all the difference for pregnant women in rural Zambia, where the distance between home and a health facility can be a matter of life and death.
2017
Merck for Mothers teams up with stakeholders across India to launch Manyata
Merck for Mothers, Jhpiego India and the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India partnered to launch Manyata – an ambitious agenda to improve quality of maternity and newborn care services in private facilities by training doctors, nursing and administrative staff on essential clinical, facility and patient care protocols in India.
Merck for Mothers commits $10 million and business expertise to the Global Financing Facility
In support of the UN Secretary-General’s Every Woman Every Child strategy to improve maternal and child health in low- and lower-middle-income countries, the goal is to prevent an estimated 3.8 million maternal deaths, 101 million child deaths and 21 million stillbirths by 2030. Merck is the first private sector investor and helped bring other private sector investors to the table.
Merck for Mothers launches the world’s first maternal and newborn health development bond with public and private sector collaborators
The UtkrishtDevelopment Impact Bond leverages private investor capital to incentivize private maternity providers in Rajasthan, India to improve the quality of care they deliver. Interventions will reach up to 600,000 pregnant women with improved care during delivery and could lead up to 10,000 lives being saved over a five-year period.
2018
Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Merck announce completion of carbetocin clinical trial, the largest clinical trial ever conducted in postpartum hemorrhage
The trial of heat-stable carbetocin showed it to be as safe and effective as oxytocin in preventing postpartum hemorrhage, the largest direct cause of maternal death. The trial included nearly 30,000 women from 10 countries.
“This has the potential to change the paradigm in how we save more mothers from dying during childbirth,” said Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, Merck’s then-chief patient officer.
Merck announces new U.S. initiative — Safer Childbirth Cities
Through this initiative, Merck for Mothers will provide grants to help cities with poor maternal health outcomes develop and implement creative, multi-sector solutions to save women’s lives and improve maternal health.
Merck for Mothers publishes first research compendium to advance collective understanding of maternal mortality
The research compendium, Evidence for Impact, collates actionable and real-time evidence about what works and what doesn’t to expand knowledge that will help encourage greater investment in women’s health. Merck for Mothers publishes a second compendium in 2020.
2019
Merck for Mothers has now reached 10 million women worldwide through its programs
The MOMs (Maternal Outcomes Matters) Initiative launched
A partnership between Merck for Mothers, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Credit Suisse and USAID to stimulate, advance and scale innovations that contribute to a healthy pregnancy and safe childbirth. It will invest $50M in local businesses that are working to improve maternal health in regions of the world where high rates of women are dying from pregnancy and childbirth. (Photo credit: LifeBank)
2020
Merck for Mothers provides funding to help support the CDC’s new maternal health communication campaign, Hear Her
Hear Her brings attention to maternal mortality and provides support to pregnant and postpartum women to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.
Merck commits $3M to address maternal health needs during COVID-19 pandemic
2021
Merck announces fifth round of global grants to tackle maternal mortality and access to health worldwide
Merck for Mothers supports the corporate grant program which enables Merck offices around the world to aid nongovernmental organizations that are improving maternal health. The program responds to local women’s needs, focusing on how resources can increase health equity in maternity care and support.
Merck announces additional $150M investment through 2025 to help end maternal mortality inequities, building on the $500M commitment made in 2011
This investment comes at a pivotal time for the global health community as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to stretch health systems, disrupting networks of care that support healthy pregnancies and safe childbirth.
2022
Merck for Mothers launches Strengthening Systems for Safer Childbirth Coalitions
This global initiative is supporting locally driven solutions with coalitions across India, Kenya, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The coalitions lead activities to improve access to high-quality maternal health care.
Merck for Mothers debuts new report examining how transformational impact can be made in maternal health
The report highlights six social investments whose solutions have demonstrated transformational impact on maternal health in different contexts — each with funding from Merck for Mothers. Learn more about the report.
Merck for Mothers supports organizations in Latin America
With a sixth round of global grants, Merck for Mothers supports organizations in Latin America, where wide disparities in maternal health outcomes persist. Through the grants, we aim to reach 135,000 women throughout Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Mexico.
Merck for Mothers has reached more than 30 million women around the world
Through programs promoting safe, high-quality, respectful care, Merck for Mothers has now reached more than 30 million women, surpassing its goal of reaching 25 million women by 2025. Learn more
New grants help women in southeastern Europe
Latest round of global grants supports UNICEF through innovative projects designed to meet the unique local needs of women in Bulgaria and Serbia. Learn more
2025
Expanding community-led solutions across the United States
Merck for Mothers published a four-part article series published in Health Affairs — Healthy Mothers, Healthy Futures: Improving Maternal Health in America — spotlighting the systemic challenges and proven solutions driving change across the country.
Five years of the Kenneth C. Frazier Award for Maternal Health Equity
Merck for Mothers marked the occasion by honoring organizations making extraordinary contributions to maternal health equity. Learn more
Improving maternal health across Asia
New report highlights strides that have been made in maternal health across Asia Pacific, China and Japan. Learn more
2026
New grants advance community-led maternal health solutions
As part of our company’s social impact strategy, Merck for Mothers announced a new round of grants supporting community-led maternal health solutions in communities where access to quality care remains most limited. Learn more
New report highlights impact of strengthening systems for safer childbirth
A new report detailed how six community-led coalitions across India, Kenya, Nigeria and Sierra Leone expanded access to quality maternal health services for more than 2.7 million people. Learn more
We believe solutions to end maternal mortality and improve the quality of maternity care should be rooted in women’s voices and experiences
Strategic partnerships, private sector innovation and data-driven impact
Our work continues in order to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life
Know your risk for bladder cancer — and don’t ignore the signs
Awareness gaps can impact recognition and diagnosis of bladder cancer
May 4, 2026
Share this article
When bladder cancer is found early, before it spreads beyond the bladder, patients have more treatment options. That’s why we’re focused on getting to the heart of what people need to hear. Especially those at risk of bladder cancer.
“Too many patients don’t recognize the warning signs for bladder cancer or feel comfortable talking about them. Breaking that silence is just as important as developing new treatments — because awareness is the first step toward helping to save lives.”
Dr. M. Catherine Pietanza Vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories
Bladder cancer risk is not largely based on family genetics
Some people inherit certain genes from their parents that can increase their risk of bladder cancer. But bladder cancer doesn’t often run in families, and inherited genes are not thought to be a major cause of this disease. Most gene changes linked to bladder cancer develop during a person’s life, rather than having been inherited.
Don’t ignore blood in your urine or changes in your urinary habits — talk to your doctor right away
Bladder cancer can often be found early because it can cause symptoms that lead a person to see a healthcare provider. Blood in your urine is usually the first sign, before pain or other symptoms appear. In most cases, blood in the urine doesn’t mean you have bladder cancer, but it’s important to see your doctor to rule out other causes like a bladder or kidney stone, an infection or kidney disease.
Be aware of your risks for bladder cancer
Knowing and avoiding the risk factors that are within your control may help lower your risk of bladder cancer. Among risk factors for bladder cancer, smoking is highest on the list — causing about half of all bladder cancers. Exposure to other chemicals can also raise risk over time, including industrial chemicals used in making rubber, leather, textiles and paint products, as well as in printing companies. People who work as painters, firefighters, hairdressers and truck drivers can similarly be exposed to certain chemicals and fumes that might increase their risk of bladder cancer.
Some risk factors can’t be controlled, but you may be able to help lower your risk of bladder cancer by not smoking, practicing good work safety practices, limiting exposure to toxins (like arsenic), staying well hydrated and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Know your individual risk factors and talk to your doctor to see if you are at high risk for bladder cancer. If you have risk factors that strongly increase your risk of bladder cancer, and you’ve noticed certain changes in your urine, your doctor may recommend tests to look for bladder cancer.
“Our goal is to reach patients sooner — before the disease advances, before options narrow.”
Dr. M. Catherine Pietanza
When bladder cancer is found early, there are more treatment options. In later stages of bladder cancer, removing the bladder may need to be part of the treatment plan.
This is where our focus begins: breaking the silence and encouraging people to talk to their doctor right away if they notice any possible symptoms.
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
Share this article
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 tailoringto 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.
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.
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.
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
Share this article
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.
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.
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
Share this article
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?
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.
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
Share this article
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.
Merck is supporting community-led efforts to improve sustainable access to health care through $10 million in new grants
March 19, 2026
Share this article
We’re working to boost people’s access to health around the world with a series of new global grants — from strengthening dengue prevention in Southeast Asia to improving maternal health outcomes in Tanzania, and more.
We recently awarded the grants, totaling more than $10 million, to 44 non‑governmental organizations across 32 countries. The projects will support community‑led efforts to improve sustainable access to high‑quality health care (view the full list of grant recipients). These investments will help:
Expand care in underserved communities
Support screening, prevention and treatment efforts
Train health care workers
Close gaps in care through education, care navigation and digital tools
“By investing in community-led efforts, we aim to help more people gain sustainable access to essential health services while closing gaps in care.”
Kalahn Taylor-Clark, Ph.D., MPH VP and head of social impact and sustainability
Social impact and sustainability grantees
The grants are awarded through two programs created to improve access to health globally: Solutions for Healthy Communities and Merck for Mothers. We developed Solutions for Healthy Communities based on the belief that local organizations are best positioned to create meaningful, lasting change for their communities. Merck for Mothers is our global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life.
Some examples of projects we’re excited to support starting in 2026 include:
Patient education and navigation for uninsured community members in the U.S.: Community Volunteers in Medicine (Pennsylvania) will provide care navigation, preventive health education, referrals and coordinated follow‑up for approximately 30 uninsured patients per month following hospital or emergency department discharge. The program aims to reach more than 5,500 individuals and train 100 health care workers to help address care gaps affecting an estimated 35,000 uninsured community members.
Strengthening dengue outbreak response in Southeast Asia: Asia Dengue Voice and Action Ltd. will deploy a digital platform to provide health care workers with real‑time data and improved access to public health resources, enabling faster and more targeted dengue prevention and response across high‑risk communities.
Targeted interventions to improve maternal health outcomes in Tanzania: Pathfinder will expand access to high‑quality maternal health care across 60 facilities in Morogoro, a region with one of Tanzania’s highest maternal mortality ratios (>75 per 100,000 live births). Using a hub‑and‑spoke model, digital tools, and partnership with local government, the initiative will strengthen service delivery, referrals, supervision, data use and the provider–client experience.
Improving continuity of maternal care for vulnerable women in Romania: UNICEF will equip community nurses with standardized digital tools to monitor pregnancies and coordinate care by adding a dedicated pre‑ and postnatal module to the Aplicația Medicală Comunitară platform. This approach will help address gaps in maternal care for rural populations facing provider shortages and fragmented referral pathways.
“By empowering women to seek care sooner and educating frontline health care workers about cancer, lives can be saved and families will thrive,” said Jennifer Dent, president and CEO of BIO Ventures for Global Health, one of this year’s recipients. The organization is working to improve breast and cervical cancer outcomes in Nigeria and Kenya by strengthening the community health workforce, empowering communities with health knowledge and communicating project impacts to inform policy and practice.
Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA
This website of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.
The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).
No Duty to Update
The information contained in this website was current as of the date presented. The company assumes no duty to update the information to reflect subsequent developments. Consequently, the company will not update the information contained in the website and investors should not rely upon the information as current or accurate after the presentation date.
