Our people

How employees with careers in nursing are critical at Merck

Nurses' clinical expertise and patient experience provide valuable insight across our company

April 10, 2024

Nurses do vital work every day. The care they provide makes a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families. And that’s why employees with careers in nursing are critical at Merck.

Esther Smith-Howell, associate director, outcomes research, said her nursing background provides her with valuable experience she applies as a business scientist.

“I understand patients’ concerns and questions related to medications and care, their need for education and information, the social context that may affect their ability to access and pay for medications and care,” said Smith-Howell. “It helps me think holistically about research and patients.”

"Integrating the patient perspective into solving scientific research problems is critical for successful patient outcomes."

— Esther Smith-Howell, Ph.D., MSHP, R.N.

Associate director, outcomes research, health care delivery research

A sincere desire to help patients

From product safety and labeling to marketing, clinical operations and medical affairs, we employ hundreds of registered nurses in non-clinical positions.

“Nurses are a valuable resource to our company in terms of their real-world patient experience, clinical expertise and talent,” said Mary Elmer, executive director, patient innovation & engagement, and a nurse herself. “They bring important perspectives to help inform our business.”

That’s why Elmer, with now retired fellow nurse Jan Nissen, created the Merck Nurses Network, a voluntary group of nurses who work across functions and roles throughout the company. Their mission is to harness the collective knowledge of nurses to provide meaningful insight across the business, even beyond their day jobs.

“The network is a great way for peers to connect and share experiences and learnings, always with a focus on patients,” said Elmer.

"Nurses share a special bond. There's true camaraderie between us fueled by a sincere desire to help patients."

Mary Elmer, MSN, CRNP

Executive director, patient innovation & engagement

One of those members is Steve Morin, whose varied nursing experiences working directly with patients help inform his current role as director of regulatory policy. He’s served as a bone marrow transplant nurse in a hospital, research nurse in clinical trials, and nurse officer in the U.S. public health service, where he worked with a number of underserved populations from around the world.

“These experiences allowed me to see health from a global perspective, and I use that background now as I advocate for regulatory policies that will help improve patient outcomes.”

Steve Morin, MSHE, BSN
Director, regulatory policy

Nurses at Merck are critical to our work

The nurses’ diverse backgrounds and skillsets — surgical, oncology, primary care, pediatrics, among others — also allow for valuable insight overall and targeted support when needed in a specific area of focus.

Here are four ways employees use their nursing expertise to make clinical and non-clinical impact:

Drug delivery development

Providing input on early design models for our product teams to create user-friendly devices as well as easy-to-understand accompanying patient education materials.

Package design

Supporting human factor testing, which focuses on the interactions between people and the product, by providing perspective on the end-user experience of patients and the health care professionals who give our products to patients.

Communications materials

Providing personal and professional perspectives, including how patients and their families digest health information, cultural sensitivities, and other insights, so we deliver health literate information that is clear for people who use our products.

Clinical support

Mobilizing teams of nurses to assist our employee health department, including stepping away from their non-clinical day jobs to provide critical support and help prevent disruption in business activities.

Our colleagues share their thoughts on being nurses at Merck:

Senior corporate account executive

Director, patient innovation and engagement

Oncology sales representative, women’s health

Regional medical director, vaccines

Associate director, pharmacovigilance operations and global process enablement

Oncology sales representative

Associate director, patient innovation and engagement

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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

March 29, 2024

collage of photos of scientists working in labs

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 2,250 ongoing clinical trials, which include more than 1,600 trials evaluating combination regimens. We remain dedicated to discovering new ways to fight this disease and optimizing existing approaches — all while continuing to lead in supporting the next generation of cancer research,” said Healy.

Gloved hand handling a small laboratory device labeled

Learn more about our oncology pipeline

View pipeline

Health awareness

How we can strengthen vaccination programs and build vaccine confidence together

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

February 21, 2024

How we can strengthen vaccination programs and build vaccine confidence together

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, Merck

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, Merck

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.

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Innovation

Our Q4 and full-year 2023 earnings report

February 1, 2024

Merck’s (NYSE: MRK) 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 Merck. 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.”

Merck 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

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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

In 2017, Maria Angelica Rosario Marquez — or Angie, as she likes to be called — joined Merck 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 2023, an estimated 66,920 people were diagnosed with a head and neck cancer in the U.S. Some risk factors that can contribute to the development of head and neck cancers 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

When Angie developed bruxism (grinding, clenching, or gnashing of the teeth), she consulted her physician for evaluation. Angie 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 that included three chemotherapy sessions and 30 days of radiation on her neck and tongue.

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 Merck 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.’

colleagues standing behind large table with cake in the middle having a celebration

“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’s sense of taste has returned for the most part, and she’s enjoying chocolate once again.

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Sustainability

Inspiring innovation through diversity and inclusion

We recognize the importance of embedding a culture of inclusion and belonging at every level of our company

January 25, 2024

An inclusive workplace inspires innovation and is fundamental to our company’s success. Having an environment composed of people with different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences also helps us better understand the unique needs of the customers, health care providers and patients we serve.

“With inclusion as a foundation, we’re able to ignite the spark of creativity that leads to innovation and extraordinary outcomes.”

Nicole Stovall
Vice president, Global Diversity & Inclusion Center of Excellence

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

01.

Supporting a disability-inclusive 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-inclusive 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.

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.

Building a pipeline of the best talent

With our Skills-First approach to hiring, we’re shifting the ways we attract, develop and advance talent. For appropriate roles, this new approach increases the focus on skills instead of a four-year degree.

Key partners in our efforts include:

OneTen, a coalition of leading companies driving a Skills-First movement to unlock career opportunities for talent without four-year degrees.
Year Up, a nonprofit that offers economically disadvantaged youth six months of training followed by a six-month corporate internship.
Hiring Our Heroes, an organization that connects the military community to civilian employers and helps upskill service members in preparation for post-service careers.

03.

Economic inclusion and small business development

Economic inclusion creates a competitive advantage for our company and positively impacts the global community.

We create economic opportunities by procuring products and services from an array of small businesses ranging in different locations, ownership and specialties.

Key initiatives include:

Our Economic Inclusion Virtual Lab offers monthly opportunities for small business owners to engage with our supply chain professionals, prime suppliers and advocacy organizations.

04.

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 and inclusion, while highlighting our inclusive culture.

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

05.

Employee business resource groups (EBRGs)

With more than 25,000 members across 10 groups, our EBRGs play a critical role in driving an inclusive culture and supporting employee career growth. Each EBRG is open to all employees, and they reflect the communities in which we live and serve.

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Innovation

The Wall Street Journal names Merck among top 10 best-managed companies

We’re proud to be recognized for our strong performance and unwavering commitment to patients

January 11, 2024

Our company has been recognized for our leadership and strong performance powering the work we do for patients and everyone who depends on us. We were named No. 10 on The Wall Street Journal’s list of the 250 best-managed publicly traded U.S. companies in 2023, advancing 78 places from the previous year.

“This recognition reaffirms our strategic focus, innovation, hard work and collective, unwavering commitment to our purpose of saving and improving lives each and every day.”

— Rob Davis

Chairman and chief executive officer

“To make the list of The Wall Street Journal’s 250 best-managed companies is quite an honor,” Davis said, “and to be ranked in the top 10 is especially exciting and humbling.”

This year, nearly 800 companies were scored. Placement on the list is determined by a company’s strength in five components:

Customer satisfaction
Employee engagement and development
Innovation
Social responsibility
Financial strength

We placed first in customer satisfaction and were one of seven companies to score in the top 20% in each of the five components.

“Customer satisfaction is directly tied to the innovation we bring and the benefit we can deliver for patients,” Davis told The Wall Street Journal.

Top ranking for corporate citizenship

In addition to our Wall Street Journal recognition, we’re deeply honored to be ranked No. 1 on Newsweek’s 2024 list of America’s Most Responsible Companies. This marks our first time in the lead spot, a distinction that affirms our steadfast commitment to operating responsibly and doing good for people and the planet.

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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 5, 2024

Empowering others to speak up about HPV-related cancers_ Photo 1

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.”

“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.”

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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

December 5, 2023

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.

“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, Merck 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

Biopsy of the tumor

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.

Merck 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?

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Innovation

Harnessing innovative technology in drug discovery

Merck scientists explain how new technologies can accelerate the drug discovery process as we use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives

November 16, 2023

Our scientists are leveraging state-of-the-art capabilities to discover novel molecules that may lead to the medicines of tomorrow.

Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) scientists evaluate hundreds to thousands to up to billions of compounds to find a starting point for a new drug candidate. It all starts with identifying a target — usually a protein — that’s intrinsically associated with a particular disease and can be pharmacologically modulated. That’s where innovative tools like structure-based design, high-throughput screening and high-throughput experimentation, coupled with robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning can make a huge difference in progressing the work. And once a lead molecule is identified, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) as an emerging structural method can be used to understand and improve how a molecule interacts with the protein target.

Utilizing the latest technologies and diligent work by teams of highly skilled and experienced scientists can potentially accelerate the discovery of new medicines for patients in need.

“We have an incredibly creative, smart and hardworking workforce. It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of that and to have access to the resources necessary for making scientific breakthroughs.”

— Adam Weinglass

Executive director in quantitative biosciences

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How employees with careers in nursing are critical at Merck

"Integrating the patient perspective into solving scientific research problems is critical for successful patient outcomes."

A sincere desire to help patients

"Nurses share a special bond. There's true camaraderie between us fueled by a sincere desire to help patients."

“These experiences allowed me to see health from a global perspective, and I use that background now as I advocate for regulatory policies that will help improve patient outcomes.”

Nurses at Merck are critical to our work

Our colleagues share their thoughts on being nurses at Merck:

Careers

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

How we can strengthen vaccination programs and build vaccine confidence together

Collaborating to help increase health equity

“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.”

Combating vaccine hesitancy and building trust

“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.”

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

Continuing our work to improve vaccine access

“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.”

Our Q4 and full-year 2023 earnings report

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

It all started with pain in Angie’s tongue

The toll of Angie’s treatment for oral cancer

“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.”

Strong support and a welcome party from her work family

Inspiring innovation through diversity and inclusion

“With inclusion as a foundation, we’re able to ignite the spark of creativity that leads to innovation and extraordinary outcomes.”

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

Supporting a disability-inclusive workforce

Building a pipeline of the best talent

Economic inclusion and small business development

Celebrating global diversity and inclusion

Employee business resource groups (EBRGs)

The Wall Street Journal names Merck among top 10 best-managed companies

“This recognition reaffirms our strategic focus, innovation, hard work and collective, unwavering commitment to our purpose of saving and improving lives each and every day.”

Top ranking for corporate citizenship

Empowering others to speak up about HPV-related cancers

The impact of HPV-related cancers and diseases

“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.”

The importance of routine care

Biomarker testing may help inform treatment decisions in certain cancers

Advances in biomarker testing may help inform treatment decisions

“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.”

Key terms to know:

Biomarker testing after a cancer diagnosis

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

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

Discussing biomarker testing with a health care provider

Harnessing innovative technology in drug discovery

“We have an incredibly creative, smart and hardworking workforce. It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of that and to have access to the resources necessary for making scientific breakthroughs.”

Related links

Forward-looking statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA