Research
We run to, not from, the world’s biggest health challenges.
The journey to invention and discovery is guided by science – and inspired by patients
We conduct research to find innovative solutions to complex health problems. Our research focuses on respiratory diseases, immunology, infectious diseases, diabetes and endocrinology, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases and vaccine development. A total of 72,000 employees (2023) in over 140 countries, including 950 in Austria, work at MSD to solve health challenges through medical innovation. Of these, almost 21,800 are directly involved in research and development. In 2023, we will have enrolled more than 100,000 patients in our clinical trials at more than 21,000 sites worldwide. In addition, $30.5 billion of our global sales were invested in research and development in 2023, making us one of the largest research based companies in the world.
Our work in numbers
people employed in research and development
patients in our clinical trials at more than 21,000 sites
invested in R&D in 2023
Counterfeit medicines pose a threat to public health worldwide. Many counterfeit medicines contain the wrong dose of the active ingredient or no active ingredient at all. In some cases, they also contain substances that are harmful to health. We therefore take action worldwide to combat counterfeit medicines and support criminal and civil sanctions against counterfeiters.
Our Centre for Observational and Real-World Evidence (CORE) is dedicated to the science of understanding how our medicines work and perform in the real world. We believe that data generated in everyday clinical practice is an important complement to our rigorous clinical trial programme. It allows us to bring insights from clinical practice back into our research laboratories to better understand our existing medicines and to support the discovery and development of future therapies.
AT-NON-02533, created August 2024