Responsibility
Active at the Luzerner Stadtlauf
Exercise brings people together and promotes good health. As a sponsor of the 2025 Luzerner Stadtlauf (Lucerne City Run), we enabled 1,100 children to take part in the popular school run free of charge and were also at the starting line ourselves – with over 300 MSD employees and their families.
Luzerner Stadtlauf – more than just sport
Running not only strengthens the body – it also brings people together. We were able to experience this first-hand at the Luzerner Stadtlauf 2025. For over 45 years, it has been one of the most popular fun runs in Switzerland. Every year, it takes over 14,000 runners through the historic old town of Lucerne and attracts more than 25,000 spectators.
The team runs for primary schools are particularly popular. This year, MSD Switzerland covered the entry fees for 1,100 children in grades 3 to 6, enabling many of them to take part in the school run for free for the first time.
„Supporting the Luzerner Stadtlauf is a wonderful opportunity for us to show our commitment to the region and make a positive contribution to health, sport, and young people.“
Dimitri Gitas, Managing Director MSD Switzerland
Our MSD team was at the starting line
Whether young or old, over 300 MSD employees and their families laced up their running shoes and took part in various categories – whether in the company run, individual races, or together as a team. It was fun for the whole family and a successful team event!
48th Luzerner Stadtlauf – Saturday, April 25, 2026
The Luzerner Stadtlauf is a running event with distances ranging from 660 m to 7.0 km and is open to individual runners, company groups, families, school classes, and children. The 48th Luzerner Stadtlauf will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Additional information: https://www.luzernerstadtlauf.ch/
CH-NON-02963, 04/2025
Responsibility
What we do to support Lung Cancer Awareness Month
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. A month dedicated to those affected and to raising public awareness about the causes, early detection and prevention of the disease. Did you know lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide? At MSD, we are committed to fighting lung cancer and improving cancer care. Learn how we support Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
In Switzerland around 4,800 people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year and about 3,300 die from it. Almost all new patients are over 50 years of age at the time of diagnosis. Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms until they have spread. Therefore, they are often diagnosed at a late stage. If the cancer has already spread outside the lungs, the prognosis for patients is very poor. But because of new effective treatments, this is changing. Many people think a lung cancer diagnosis is a death sentence. However, over the past decade, new advancements have been made, which have led to more survivors and more hope for those facing the disease.
“At MSD, we show solidarity for those affected and continue to push for progress in cancer care.”
Despite how common lung cancer is, there are still many misconceptions about the disease. That’s why we support various initiatives to raise awareness!
Website for lung cancer patients
The website on the MSD Patient Portal provides detailed information on the main types of lung cancer, diagnosis and treatment options, answers to the most frequent questions and information on where patients can get advice and support.
In addition, lung cancer patients can download various checklists with questions to help them prepare for their next doctor’s appointment.
Visit the MSD Patient Portal (in German, French, Italian)
Public event about lung cancer
As part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, we would like to draw attention to the topic of lung cancer, raise awareness of the disease and highlight the importance of early detection.
In this respect, we are co-sponsoring a public event on November 2, 2023 in Zurich.
You are cordially invited to attend.
Find out more (in German)
Online lung check
In many cases, lung cancer is only discovered at an advanced stage. This may be because the signs and symptoms are also typical of other diseases and are not immediately associated with lung cancer.
Do you know the symptoms of lung cancer? Do you have symptoms that you should have checked out by a doctor?
Take the online lung check! (in German, French and Italian)
About our clinical research in Oncology
Did you know that MSD operates one of the world’s largest and fastest growing clinical research programs in oncology? It currently includes more than 1,600 clinical trials. Switzerland is part of this research program. Our team currently coordinates 34 clinical trials in different tumor types (as of 10/2023). MSD is also one of the leading companies in the research of vaccines against preventable diseases, such as cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers. In Switzerland, we collaborate with various partners to advance innovative solutions in cancer treatment. In recent years, we have made an important contribution to improving treatment options for cancer patients.
Find out more about our work here.
CH-NON-01949, 10/2023
Our commitment
Pulmonary hypertension
Every single life motivates us, day after day, to give our best.
Pulmonary hypertension is a chronic disease that can be life-threatening if left untreated. At MSD, we are committed to people who are affected by this disease.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic disease characterised by increased blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation. It may lead to a significant impairment of physical capacity and can be life-threatening if left untreated. There are various treatment options that aim to alleviate symptoms, stop progression of the disease and maintain the highest possible quality of life.
Find out more
Our commitment in the area of pulmonary hypertension
For over
5
years committed to improving the lives of patients in Switzerland
In the year
2013
introduction of the first soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator for PH in Switzerland
Active since
2016
in longstanding partnerships and projects
Our partnerships and projects
Collaboration with the Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Pulmonale Hypertonie [Swiss Society for Pulmonary Hypertension] (SGPH)
The SGPH is panel of experts that for more than 20 years has bundled all findings about pulmonary hypertension into one efficient network. We have supported the SGPH for years in different projects and initiatives.
Cooperation with patient organisations
We have been involved for years in collaborative partnerships with patient organisations and the Swiss PH Society for people with pulmonary hypertension.
Continuing education events and conferences
MSD regularly takes part in the conference of the Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Pneumologie [Swiss Society for Pulmonology] (SGP) and supports continuing education events for physicians in order to help clarify pulmonary hypertension and its treatment.
For almost 130 years, we have conducted research worldwide to contribute to better health for our society with our medications and vaccines, for today and future generations. In Switzerland, MSD is currently conducting 42 clinical studies in different areas of therapy (as of 10/2023).
Find out more
Information and education
Especially in November, during Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month, and on 5 May, World Pulmonary Hypertension Day, we raise awareness of the disease and the importance of early detection among the general public.
"The sooner pulmonary hypertension is diagnosed and treated, the sooner a patient can benefit from an improvement in the quality of his or her life. With our commitment, we wish to contribute to the clarification and early detection of the disease".
Claudia Kimmich
Senior Customer Engagement Specialist Pulmonary Hypertension, MSD Schweiz
CH-NON-01417, 09/2023
