Research Pipeline

Our pipeline encompasses candidates across a broad range of disease areas, from early-stage discovery through late-stage clinical development. We prioritize programs with the potential to make a meaningful difference for patients worldwide.

• Oncology and immuno-oncology
• Vaccines for infectious diseases
• Cardiovascular and metabolic disorders
• Neurosciences
• Infectious disease therapeutics

Discovery & Development

From target identification to regulatory submission, Merck's discovery and development process integrates cutting-edge technology with deep scientific expertise. Our teams work across disciplines to translate laboratory insights into therapies that can reach patients.

We collaborate with academic institutions, biotechnology partners, and research organizations to accelerate the pace of innovation while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety.

Merck's research and development pipeline represents a long-term commitment to advancing science across multiple therapeutic frontiers. Scientists work systematically from early discovery through late-stage clinical development, evaluating candidates for safety, efficacy, and potential impact on patient outcomes. Each phase of investigation builds on rigorous preclinical data before moving into human studies, where volunteers and patients contribute to the collective understanding of how new treatments perform. The pipeline is dynamic, with programs advancing, being refined, or discontinued based on emerging evidence. This disciplined approach ensures that resources are directed toward the most promising science, always with an emphasis on addressing serious unmet medical needs across diverse disease areas.

Collaboration lies at the heart of modern drug discovery, and Merck actively partners with academic institutions, research organizations, and biotechnology companies to accelerate innovation. These alliances bring together complementary expertise, from target identification and biomarker development to novel delivery technologies and manufacturing capabilities. By sharing knowledge and resources, researchers can explore a wider range of scientific questions and move promising candidates through the development process more efficiently. Such partnerships also help bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications, ensuring that breakthrough science translates into tangible benefits for patients who are waiting for better treatment options.

The company's research efforts extend beyond human medicine to include animal health, recognizing the interconnected nature of human and veterinary science. Insights gained from studying diseases in animals can inform human drug development, while innovations in human therapeutics often find applications in veterinary care. This integrated approach reflects a broader understanding of health that spans species. Across all areas of research, the focus remains on rigorous scientific standards, ethical conduct, and a deep commitment to improving lives. Every program in the pipeline begins with a question about how to better understand disease and ends with the hope of delivering meaningful therapeutic advances.

Views and Positions

Merck maintains clear positions on scientific and policy matters that shape the research environment. These views guide our approach to clinical trial transparency, data sharing, and ethical research practices.

For more on our corporate perspectives, visit the About Merck section, which covers our values, ethics, and commitment to responsible science.