MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG has appointed Dr Corinna Lenz as the new site manager of the Swiss research and development unit at Werthenstein BioPharma GmbH. Corinna Lenz is replacing Justin Pennington who occupied the role in a temporary capacity.

Werthenstein BioPharma GmbH plays a key role in the global provision of new innovative medicines. At the site in Schachen (Lucerne), more than 400 employees from around 15 countries develop and analyse new biotechnological active ingredients, test new medicines, conduct stability studies and package and supply medicines for clinical trials all around the world. Schachen is also home to one of MSD’s three forensic laboratories worldwide, which aim to quickly detect product manipulation and counterfeiting, thereby making an important contribution to patient safety.

Corinna Lenz has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, including five years at the Schachen site (owned by Schering-Plough at the time) where she held various positions in the Global Clinical Supply division. Before joining MSD, Corinna Lenz worked in several management positions, starting out as head of the Quality division and subsequently the Production division at Galderma/Nestlé Skin Health (Switzerland). Lenz has a Master’s in pharmaceutics and achieved a PhD in pharmaceutical technology from the University of Basel. She also holds an Executive Master in Consulting and Coaching for Change from the INSEAD business school.

About MSD in Switzerland

MSD Switzerland employs over 1000 people working in local, regional and global functions across four sites in the canton of Lucerne and one site in the canton of Zurich. Our business activities are subdivided in the two divisions, Human Health and Animal Health.

MSD Human Health covers a broad range of biopharmaceuticals. Our areas of research and development are focusing on Oncology and Immuno-Oncology as well as Vaccines to prevent diseases for children, young people, and adults against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Ebola, Hepatitis, Pneumococcus, Meningococcus, Measles, Rubella, Chickenpox and Herpes Zoster. In addition, MSD is conducting research in the area of infectious diseases to find new therapeutic approaches for antibiotic resistance, HIV/Aids and Hepatitis C. Further research focuses include immunology (auto-immune diseases) as well as cardiometabolic diseases and Diabetes. MSD has a long-lasting legacy in contributing to major public health challenges, such as River Blindness, Ebola and SARS-CoV-2.

MSD Animal Health develops and markets products for the prevention, treatment and control of disease in farm animals and pets. With the most innovative and largest product portfolio for animal health in Switzerland, MSD contributes substantially to animals’ wellbeing.

Our company has one of the largest clinical research programs worldwide. MSD Switzerland conducts 25 clinical trials per year for which the required medicines are manufactured at our research & development site in Schachen. The Schachen site operates since 2018 one of the three MSD forensic laboratories worldwide, investigating in manipulations and counterfeiting of MSD products – an important contribution to patient safety.

At the newly opened Zurich site “The Circle”, our company sets the focus on research & development, data management and the commercialization of our medicines and vaccines. The Zurich hub offers a state-of-the-art work environment where our empowered, culturally diverse and inclusive workforce focuses on scientific excellence to improve people’s health.

MSD Switzerland plays an active role in its community and supports a range of local and regional initiatives as for example MSD for mothers, the health congress “Trendtage Gesundheit Luzern”, and the Swiss City Marathon Lucerne.

Since 2013, MSD Switzerland has been continuously certified as a Top Employer and is pioneering a gender-neutral parental leave program for employees.

For more information www.msd.ch, de.msd-animal-health.ch
Follow-us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About MSD

For more than 125 years, MSD has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. MSD is a trade name of Merck & Co., Inc., with headquarters in Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, MSD continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals — including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases — as we aspire to be the premier researchintensive biopharmaceutical company in the world.

For more information, visit https://www.msd.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Media department MSD Switzerland
media.switzerland@merck.com | Tel. 058 618 30 30
Jean-Blaise Defago (Policy & Communications Director)

© 2021 MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG, Werftestrasse 4, 6005 Luzern. . All rights reserved.

CH-NON-01010, 02/2021

MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme announced on February 5, 2020, the spinoff of its women’s health, proven established brands and biosimilars businesses to a new independent company. The transaction is expected to be completed during Q2 of 2021. Organon & Co (Organon), the name of the new spin-off, has a strong brand value and is widely recognized among healthcare professionals for its commitment to patients and innovation. Organon is committed to global leadership and sustainable growth in women’s health, leveraging the full potential of established brands and the growing biosimilars business. MSD will remain the leading research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. MSD wants to strengthen its focus on key drivers in oncology, vaccines, acute care and animal health.

New Organon group to establish home base in Lucerne

Following the decision to create Organon as an independent patient-focused company, Organon has chosen the City of Lucerne as its Swiss base at Weystrasse. The Organon presence in Switzerland will include a wide range of local, regional and global functions including scientific, medical, commercial, administrative and more. This decision represents a significant commitment to the City and the Canton of Lucerne, recognizing the opportunities it offers as a growing environment for biopharmaceutical innovation and offering unparalleled opportunities. The Director of Economic Affairs, Fabian Peter, is pleased about the decision: “The establishment of Organon, as a new company, in Lucerne is an asset for our business and innovation location.”

About MSD in Switzerland

MSD Switzerland employs over 1000 people working in local, regional and global functions across four sites in the canton of Lucerne and one site in the canton of Zurich. Our business activities are subdivided in the two divisions, Human Health and Animal Health.

MSD Human Health covers a broad range of biopharmaceuticals. Our areas of research and development are focusing on Oncology and Immuno-Oncology as well as Vaccines to prevent diseases for children, young people, and adults against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Ebola, Hepatitis, Pneumococcus, Meningococcus, Measles, Rubella, Chickenpox and Herpes Zoster. In addition, MSD is conducting research in the area of infectious diseases to find new therapeutic approaches for antibiotic resistance, HIV/Aids and Hepatitis C. Further research focuses include immunology (auto-immune diseases) as well as cardiometabolic diseases and Diabetes. MSD has a long-lasting legacy in contributing to major public health challenges, such as River Blindness, Ebola and SARS-CoV-2.

MSD Animal Health develops and markets products for the prevention, treatment and control of disease in farm animals and pets. With the most innovative and largest product portfolio for animal health in Switzerland, MSD contributes substantially to animals’ wellbeing.

Our company has one of the largest clinical research programs worldwide. MSD Switzerland conducts 25 clinical trials per year for which the required medicines are manufactured at our research & development site in Schachen. The Schachen site operates since 2018 one of the three MSD forensic laboratories worldwide, investigating in manipulations and counterfeiting of MSD products – an important contribution to patient safety.

At the newly opened Zurich site “The Circle”, our company sets the focus on research & development, data management and the commercialization of our medicines and vaccines. The Zurich hub offers a state-of-the-art work environment where our empowered, culturally diverse and inclusive workforce focuses on scientific excellence to improve people’s health.

MSD Switzerland plays an active role in its community and supports a range of local and regional initiatives as for example MSD for mothers, the health congress “Trendtage Gesundheit Luzern”, and the Swiss City Marathon Lucerne.

Since 2013, MSD Switzerland has been continuously certified as a Top Employer and is pioneering a gender-neutral parental leave program for employees.

For more information www.msd.ch, de.msd-animal-health.ch
Follow-us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About MSD

For more than 125 years, MSD has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. MSD is a trade name of Merck & Co., Inc., with headquarters in Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, MSD continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals — including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases — as we aspire to be the premier researchintensive biopharmaceutical company in the world.

For more information, visit https://www.msd.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Media department MSD Switzerland
media.switzerland@merck.com | Tel. 058 618 30 30
Jean-Blaise Defago (Policy & Communications Director)

© 2021 MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG, Werftestrasse 4, 6005 Luzern. . All rights reserved.

CH-NON-01000, 01/2021

The MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) group is implementing a new policy allowing more flexibility for home office. In future, each employee will be free to determine how much or how often they work remotely.

The introduction of this policy derives from the company-wide initiative to create New Ways of Working, launched in 2018. A prime goal of New Ways of Working is to reimagine the workplace to enhance collaboration, networking, employee experience and their ability to respond quickly to changing business needs. The new «Work From Home Policy» introduces a high degree of flexibility to offer employees the possibility to select their workplace according to their preferences and business requirements while maintaining the best possible work-life balance.

Since March, most MSD Switzerland employees worked from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The experience proved to be a real-time stress test for both, management culture and communications infrastructure.

Ans Heirman, Managing Director MSD Switzerland, elaborates, “Everyone has had to adapt to and adopt new ways of working to ensure our medicines and vaccines continued to reach those who needed them. Our collaborative skills and our communications channels stood the test. I think we have renewed confidence in our ability to get the job done – wherever we are and at any time. That said, we now have a better understanding of the advantages and limitations of remote working which ensures we can use this option more productively in the future and offering our employees the best possible solution for them.”

The new working from home policy is therefore just one strand in the on-going New Ways of Working process to develop a work environment that is as dynamic and diverse as the work itself and that allows all employees to fulfil their potential.

About MSD in Switzerland

MSD Switzerland employs over 1000 people working in local, regional and global functions across four sites in the canton of Lucerne and one site in the canton of Zurich.
Our business activities are subdivided in the two divisions, Human Health and Animal Health.

MSD Human Health covers a broad range of biopharmaceuticals. Our areas of research and development are focusing on Oncology and Immuno-Oncology as well as Vaccines to prevent diseases for children, young people, and adults against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Ebola, Hepatitis, Pneumococcus, Meningococcus, Measles, Rubella, Chickenpox and Herpes Zoster. In addition, MSD is conducting research in the area of infectious diseases to find new therapeutic approaches for antibiotic resistance, HIV/Aids and Hepatitis C. Further research focuses include immunology (auto-immune diseases) as well as cardio-metabolic diseases and Diabetes. MSD has a long-lasting legacy in contributing to major public health challenges, such as River Blindness, Ebola and SARS-CoV-2.

MSD Animal Health develops and markets products for the prevention, treatment and control of disease in farm animals and pets. With the most innovative and largest product portfolio for animal health in Switzerland, MSD contributes substantially to animals’ well-being.

Our company has one of the largest clinical research programs worldwide. MSD Switzerland conducts 25 clinical trials per year for which the required medicines are manufactured at our research & development site in Schachen. The Schachen site operates since 2018 one of the three MSD forensic laboratories worldwide, investigating in manipulations and counterfeiting of MSD products – an important contribution to patient safety.

At the newly opened Zurich site “The Circle”, our company sets the focus on research & development, data management and the commercialization of our medicines and vaccines. The Zurich hub offers a state-of-the-art work environment where our empowered, culturally diverse and inclusive workforce focuses on scientific excellence to improve people’s health.

MSD Switzerland plays an active role in its community and supports a range of local and regional initiatives as for example MSD for mothers, the health congress “Trendtage Gesundheit Luzern”, and the Swiss City Marathon Lucerne.
Since 2013, MSD Switzerland has been continuously certified as a Top Employer and is pioneering a gender-neutral parental leave program for employees.

For more information www.msd.ch, www.de.msd-animal-health.ch

Follow-us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About MSD

For more than 125 years, MSD has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. MSD is a trade name of Merck & Co., Inc., with headquarters in Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, MSD continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals — including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases — as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world.

For more information, visit www.msd.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

This information is intended exclusively for media professionals. MSD presents the advertising law provisions of pharmaceutical law, in particular to the ban on public advertising for prescription medicinal products.

Media department MSD Switzerland
media.switzerland@merck.com | Tel. 058 618 30 30
Jean-Blaise Defago (Policy & Communications Director)

© 2021 MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG, Werftestrasse 4, 6005 Luzern. All rights reserved.

CH-NON-00934, 01/2021

Following its nomination for an eight time in a row as Top Employer Switzerland, MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme AG) is delighted to announce the introduction of a new gender-neutral parental leave policy to all its employees within Switzerland*. The new parental policy will offer the same benefits to natural, adoptive, same/opposite sex partners and single parents

• The new gender-neutral policy will apply to all employees with a valid working contract in all MSD sites in Switzerland*, and will take effect on February 1st, 2020
• All new parents, regardless of gender, will be offered 16 weeks with 100% pay within the first 12 months following the birth or adoption of a child.
• The new policy is one of the most generous and inclusive in Switzerland.

This is a major milestone in terms of benefits for all MSD employees in Switzerland, in line with its commitment to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing. More importantly, it reflects the company values and understanding on how to achieve the best possible balance between private life, family and career.

“At a time of life when it matters the most, we are fully committed to helping mothers and fathers alike to better support their families”, said Dr. Thomas Lang, Managing Director, MSD Switzerland. “I am also thrilled that MSD has been recognized as a Top Employer in Switzerland for the eighth time in a row. For sure, this is a great place to work.”

“To be able to offer such a progressive parental leave is a great example on how MSD puts its family values at the forefront”, added Judeke Frederiks, HR Director, MSD Switzerland. “And this is important for me – both professionally and personally.”

* Policy applies to all MSD companies based in Switzerland and their Swiss branches.

About MSD in Switzerland

1.000 employees are working in local and regional functions across four different sites in the Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. The Human Medicine division is active in the areas of prescription drugs and biopharmaceuticals for therapies including oncology, with focus on immune- and targeted therapies, vaccines for children, young people, and adults, infectious diseases (including fungal infections, antibiotic resistance, HIV/Aids, and hepatitis C), diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, immunology and women’s health.

MSD has one of the largest clinical research programs worldwide. In Schachen, drugs for worldwide clinical trials are manufactured and runs a forensic laboratory. MSD plays an active role in its community, supporting the health congress “Trendtage Gesundheit Luzern” and the popular “Swiss City Marathon Lucerne”. In 2020, the company renewed its certification as a “Top Employer Switzerland” for the eighth year in a row.

About MSD

For more than 125 years, MSD has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. MSD is a trade name of Merck & Co., Inc., with headquarters in Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, MSD continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals – including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases – as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world.

For more information: www.msd.ch
Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn und YouTube.

This information is intended exclusively for media professionals. MSD presents the advertising law provisions of pharmaceutical law, in particular to the ban on public advertising for prescription medicinal products.

Media department MSD Switzerland
media.switzerland@merck.com | Tel. +41 (0) 58 618 30 30
Jean-Blaise Defago (Policy & Communications Director)

© 2020 MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG, Werftestrasse 4, 6005 Lucerne. All rights reserved.

CH-NON-00422, 02/2020

• Company will open a new location in Zurich, focused on accelerating research, data and commercialization of our medicines and vaccines
• Lucerne will remain the center of MSD’s presence in Switzerland

Lucerne, January 31, 2020 – MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme AG) today announced that it will establish a new office in Zurich, Switzerland, aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of many of our company’s medicines and vaccines, which supports our mission to save and improve lives around the world. The new location has a target date of 2021 for operational readiness.

“We are proud that MSD is building on our rich, almost 60-year legacy in Switzerland through the establishment of a new office in Zurich, which is a natural extension of our footprint here,” said Thomas Lang, Managing Director, MSD in Switzerland. “Lucerne will remain the center of our presence in Switzerland, and we look forward to our continued success.”

The new office in Zurich will be staffed by teams working in strategic and operational roles in medical affairs, clinical development, access and marketing operations functions. In addition to relocating employees from other MSD locations worldwide, new talent will be hired. By the time of its completion, more than 250 employees will work at the new site.

“We selected Zurich because of its exceptional academic and life sciences ecosystem coupled with its high stability, central European location,” added Klaus Beck, Vice President, Medical Affairs, MSD in Switzerland. “Zurich provides an ideal setting for our teams to achieve scientific excellence by collaborating to develop and commercialize our inventions to improve human health around the world.”

MSD has had a presence in Switzerland since 1963. With a regional office and manufacturing/packaging facility, Lucerne is considered the center of operations. Approximately 1,000 people work at the four Lucerne locations (Weystrasse, Citybay, Schachen and Kriens).

About MSD in Switzerland:

The field of human medicine in Switzerland is responsible for selling drugs and biopharmaceuticals available only on prescription in the therapy areas of oncology, diabetes, cardiovascular, infectious diseases (amongst others, fungus infections, antibiotic resistances, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C), immunology, women’s health as well as vaccines for children, adolescents and adults. In Switzerland, MSD conducts clinical research and manufactures drugs for worldwide clinical studies. MSD is also involved at its Lucerne location, among other things in the annual specialist event “Trendtage Gesundheit Luzern”. In 2019, the Switzerland company received the certification “Top Employer” for the seventh time in a row as well as the award “Top Employer Europe” for the fourth time.

About MSD worldwide:

For more than a century, MSD, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. MSD is the trade name of Merck & Co., Inc, with headquarters in Kenilworth, N.J., USA. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, MSD continues to be at the forefront of research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and communities around the world – including cancer, cardio-metabolic diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola.

For more information: www.msd.ch
Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn und YouTube.

This information is intended exclusively for media professionals. MSD presents the advertising law provisions of pharmaceutical law, in particular to the ban on public advertising for prescription medicinal products.

Media department MSD Switzerland
media.switzerland@merck.com | Tel. +41 (0) 58 618 30 30
Jean-Blaise Defago (Policy & Communications Director)

© 2020 MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG, Werftestrasse 4, 6005 Lucerne. All rights reserved.

CH-NON-00410, 01/2020