Diversity and inclusion

Women at MSD

In the company’s more than 130-year history, many women have helped shape MSD.

02.05.2025

We introduce eight remarkable women who have paved the way for future generations.

01.

Ann Colon,

the first woman to celebrate 50 years with MSD.

Anna “Ann” Colon started in MSD’s packaging department in 1919. She became a manager in 1933.

When she retired after more than 50 years with MSD, she was the longest-tenured female employee in the company to date.

02.

Grace Winterling,

the first female corporate officer at MSD.

Grace Winterling began her career during World War II in the Priorities Department before taking on supervisory roles in the Systems and Procedures, Organizational Planning, and Office Services Divisions.

In 1954, she became an administrative assistant to the Corporate Secretary. She was elected to Assistant Secretary in 1957 – a role that made her the first woman to become one of the companies corporate officers. The fact that a female executive had been named was so remarkable that it made headlines in local newspapers.

After 15 years in corporate leadership, Grace was named president of the company’s Foundation, which continues continues to fund qualified, eligible nonprofit and philanthropic organizations today. Grace retired in 1983 after 40 years with MSD.

03.

Susan Jenkins,

the first african-american female chemist at MSD.

Susan R. Jenkins started at MSD Research Laboratories (MRL) in 1957 as one of the first African-American female chemists in the company, working on synthesizing enzymes, in addition to other activities.

She later moved to Human Resources, where she held various leadership positions, most recently as Senior Vice President of Human Resources.

04.

Marian S. Heiskell,

MSD’s first woman elected to Board of Directors.

Marian S. Heiskell, Director of Special Activities at the New York Times Company, became the first woman elected to MSD’s Board of Directors in 1973.

She retained her seat on the Board for 18 years until she stepped down in 1991. Marian Heiskell was a well-known philanthropist and newspaper executive and died in 2019 at the age of 100.

05.

Dorothy Bowers,

MSD’s first vice president of environmental and safety policy.

Dorothy Bowers joined MSD in 1974 as an engineer in the Environmental Department.

In 1982, she was promoted to Senior Director of Environmental Control. 10 years later, she was appointed to the newly created position of Vice President of Environmental and Safety Policy. Committed to ensuring our company was a leader in protecting the environment, Dorothy spearheaded numerous processes for reducing the company’s emissions and chemical releases, making MSD a model for the industry as one of the first companies to publicly commit to pollution reductions.

By 1999, after 25 years with the company, Dorothy had helped elevate environment protection to be among our highest business priorities before her retirement.

06.

Christine Stubbs,

the first woman to earn a chemical engineering degree from Howard University.

Christine “Chris” Stubbs began working at MSD in 1983 as the first woman to earn an engineering degree from Howard University.

From then, she was one of the company’s most active employees in promoting equal opportunity. After 10 years with MSD, Chris managed materials logistics at the Flint River manufacturing facility in Albany, Georgia, where she supervised 31 employees. This alone was impressive, but it was her additional work promoting diversity that earned her recognition as one of the 1993 Black Engineers of the Year from US Black Engineer magazine.

07.

Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole,

the first african-american female board member at MSD.

Dr. Cole joined the MSD Board of Directors in 1994 and retained the seat until 2009.

She was also the first African-American president of the prestigious Spelman College for African-American Women and also the first African-American woman on the Board of Directors at the Coca-Cola Company.

As early as 1997, Dr. Cole asserted that diversity was a smart investment for businesses, most notably stating, “Let’s address the question as to whether diversity in the American workforce is the right thing to do or the smart thing to do. The answer is: it is both.”

08.

Deborah Dagit,

MSD’s first Chief Diversity Officer.

Deborah Dagit worked as MSD’s first Diversity Officer for 12 years.

Deb, who had been instrumental in getting the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act passed by Congress, helped our company tie diversity and inclusion initiatives directly to the company’s business practices and results. In 2010, she established MSD’s employee business resource groups (EBRGs) that are still active today. Deb retired from our company in December 2012.

We promote innovation through diversity and inclusion

Worldwide, MSD promotes a working environment with the aim of making people feel comfortable regardless of culture, age, sexual orientation or gender. Diversity and inclusion have been an integral part of the corporate culture for many years. This is also reflected in the numbers e.g., around 50% of those who fill management positions in Switzerland and worldwide are women.

MSD Women’s Network

In 1995, a group of female MSD employees in the USA got together to found the MSD Women’s Network. The network is committed to gender equity. It now has 57 chapters worldwide and over 9,000 members, both women and men.

In Switzerland, around 400 employees are involved with the MSD Women’s Network.

MSD as an employer

Would you like to work with us to further develop our medicines and healthcare solutions, to continuously improve medical care and to bring inspiration to new generations? Become part of our team!

To the MSD job portal

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Company

Together Against Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. The earlier breast cancer is detected and treated, the greater the chances of recovery. At MSD, we are committed to strengthening early detection. That’s why, in 2022, we initiated the PINK CUBE – an ever-growing breast cancer awareness initiative. We are proud that PINK CUBE has been recognized with two awards.

4. April 2025

PINK CUBE Test Your Breast was awarded the prestigious Audience Award and the Responsibility Award from SPONSORING SCHWEIZ at the 6th Night of Sponsoring at the Kunsthaus Zürich in the presence of around 280 guests. This award recognizes PINK CUBE Test Your Breast as a unique and innovative initiative built on strong partnerships and sponsors with a common goal: to fight breast cancer.

PINK CUBE Test Your Breast

PINK CUBE Test Your Breast is a unique initiative aimed at raising awareness about breast cancer and the important role of early detection. In the PINK CUBE, gynecologists offer free consultations and breast palpations. Visitors learn what a lump feels like and how to self-examine their breasts to detect changes.

In addition, PINK CUBE Test Your Breast actively engages with the media and policymakers to advocate for the implementation of organized mammography screening programs in all Swiss cantons.

2024 Results

During the Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 2024, the pink container visited five cantons and reached over 2.7 million people in the media with its important message about early detection.

Nearly 500 people were screened in the PINK CUBE, with possible signs of breast cancer detected in 32 women and 2 men. At the same time, the PINK CUBE contributed to progress in the political discussions around the introduction of mammography screening programs.

These achievements were only made possible through strong partnerships and the multi-sponsorship support of companies including MSD, Gilead, Roche, Exact Sciences, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Eli Lilly.

Dimitri Gitas, Managing Director MSD Schweiz

„We are proud to have launched this important breast cancer awareness initiative and to continue supporting it as a main sponsor,” says Dimitri Gitas, Managing Director of MSD Switzerland. ”The success of PINK CUBE clearly demonstrates the need for equal access to cancer prevention and early detection – a goal that can be achieved through a national cancer strategy.“

Coverage of mammography costs in the early detection program

If a test is carried out as part of an early detection program, the costs are covered by the basic insurance without being added to the deductible. Participating women only pay the excess of ten percent (about 20 francs). Women aged 50 and over receive informational materials and an invitation to an early detection mammogram by post every two years.

PINK CUBE Test Your Breast 2025 Roadshow

In September and October 2025, the PINK CUBE will visit the 11 cantons that have not yet implemented a mammography screening program.

For more information, visit: www.pinkcube-testyourbreast.ch

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Infectious Diseases

Our commitment to HIV treatments and prevention through the years

We continue to work at the forefront of the fight against HIV.

11.02.2025

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) continues to be a major public health threat. The virus can lead to AIDS.

Since 1985, our company has been engaged in research and development (R&D) efforts in the prevention and treatment of HIV. Over the years, our scientists have made significant discoveries that changed the way HIV is treated.

Here are some historical moments highlighting this effort:

In 1982, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first used the term “AIDS,” or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, to describe the clinical syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Julie Gerberding, chief patient officer, recalls: “I started my training at the University of California at San Francisco at the very beginning of the AIDS epidemic and took care of the earliest patients there who, in retrospect, we recognize had AIDS. It was a truly frightening disease. There were so many unknowns, including how it was transmitted.”
In the mid-1980s, MSD launched its HIV research program in response to what it perceived as a potential epidemic. Our scientists were among the first to discover and develop medicines for the treatment of HIV.
We were the first to publish the crystal structure of HIV protease, which is an enzyme which is essential for virus infectivity.
In 1992, MSD joined other pharmaceutical companies to create the Inter-Company Collaboration for AIDS Drug Development to research HIV treatments. By 1993, we were undertaking the biggest research program in our history, deploying more scientists to investigate AIDS than any other disease and testing tens of thousands of compounds.
The HIV/AIDS community continued to speak out for action. In 1995, Linda Distlerath, former executive director, Public Policy and MSD Research Laboratories Public Affairs, spent time reading letters sent from thousands of AIDS patients and activists urging MSD to produce a treatment for the disease quickly.
After years of study and development, MSD developed one of the first protease inhibitors. In 1995, prior to FDA approval, in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, patients and HIV advocacy groups, MSD offered a program that made its new HIV treatment available at no cost to selective patients before it was commercially available.
In 1996, the HIV treatment received FDA approval in a record-setting 42 days. It was an important early achievement in making HIV a survivable infection.
In 2012, The NAMES Project Foundation – with support from MSD – launched Call My Name national tour to bring attention to the distressing trajectory of the HIV epidemic in the Black communities in the U.S. The tour included creating new panels for the AIDS memorial quilt and educational workshops in 10 high-prevalence cities.
Daria Hazuda, VP, infectious disease discovery and chief scientific officer, MSD Exploratory Science Center has led the team working to identify new ways to attack and treat HIV.
In 2021, we entered into an agreement with Gilead to work together in the global HIV community in the fight against HIV.

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Knowledge

What is Von Hippel-Lindau disease?

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL disease) is a rare genetic disorder in which multiple tumors and cysts can grow in various parts of the body.

11.04.2024

Picture: the human body and the places where VHL can cause tumors and cysts

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is caused by a genetic defect that leads to the development of various, mostly benign tumors (accumulations of tissue) and cysts (fluid-filled cavities in tissue). They can often occur in the brain and spinal cord, in the retina, in the kidneys, in the pancreas, in the inner ear, but also in other parts of the body.

If left untreated, the disease can be life-threatening.

VHL disease is rare

VHL disease occurs in about one out of 36,000 people. Around 200,000 cases are known worldwide. The precise time at which the first signs of the disease appear and how severe the course of the disease is can vary greatly.

At the time of diagnosis, those affected are on average 26 years old. In around 97% of people with a VHL gene mutation, symptoms appear by the age of 65. Men and women are equally affected.

Cause of the disease

The cause of Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a defect in the so-called VHL gene.

In healthy people, the VHL gene produces a protein that prevents the development of tumors. In people with Von Hippel-Lindau disease, this gene does not function as it should. It cannot produce enough protein to prevent tumor formation.

In most cases, VHL disease is inherited

Von Hippel-Lindau disease is inherited in a manner known as “autosomal dominant”.

This means that if one parent has a defect in the VHL gene, each of his/her children has a 50% chance of inheriting this gene and developing the disease.
Approximately 80% of affected people have a parent with VHL disease.
In around 20% of those affected, VHL disease occurs without either parent being affected.

Clinical presentation

VHL disease is also known as “multisystem disease”. This is because several tumors and cysts typically grow in various organs.

Most VHL tumors are benign. However, as they grow larger, they can cause discomfort and pain and, if left untreated, they can significantly impair quality of life.

Possible medical findings in VHL disease:

Tumors in the brain and spinal cord
They can cause headaches, dizziness, and neurological symptoms.
Tumors in the retina
They can lead to visual impairment.
Kidney diseases
These include kidney cysts and renal cell carcinomas (kidney cancers).
Pancreatic diseases
They include cysts and tumors in the pancreas.
Tumors and cysts in other organs, such as the liver, lungs, or reproductive organs.

Important: the clinical presentation varies from person to person. The age of onset and the course of the disease also vary from person to person.

Diagnosis

There are indications and criteria that may indicate VHL.

These include:

Family history
There are cases of VHL or other genetic tumor diseases in the family.

Ongoing tumor diseases
Presence of cysts and tumors in various organs in the body..

Since the disease is caused by a genetic defect, genetic testing is crucial to confirm the diagnosis. Individuals with a genetic predisposition to VHL should be closely and regularly monitored by a team of specialists from various disciplines.

Therapy

Thanks to intensive research in recent years, medical knowledge and therapy options for treating VHL disease have significantly improved. Nevertheless, the treatment remains complex. The main aim is to remove tumors and cysts, if possible, to reduce their size or stop their growth before they become so large that they cause permanent discomfort.

Treatment options include:

Surgery to surgically remove tumors or cysts.
Laser therapy for certain tumors, for example of the eye.
Radiotherapy to reduce the size of the tumor.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a procedure in which cancer cells are killed by heat.
Medication therapies to contain tumor growth.

The suitability and timing of these treatment options vary from person to person and depend on the specific tumors, symptoms, and overall health condition.

Picture: Doctor in conversation with patient

Information for medical professionals

For further information on MSD medicines and vaccines, please visit mymsd.ch, the web portal exclusively for medical professionals.

to mymsd.ch

Information for patients

Are you looking for information about specific diseases, their causes, symptoms, prevention or treatment? Discover msd-gesundheit.ch, the information platform exclusively for patients.

to msd-gesundheit.ch

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Infectious Diseases

MSD’s Commitment to Combating Antimicrobial Resistance: A Call for Global Action

Alarming levels of drug-resistant infections have been reported in humans and animals in countries of all income brackets.

16 November 2023

AMR is a problem for all of us and it will take all of us working together to address it. In the spirit of this year’s WAAW theme, “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together,” MSD reiterates the commitment to addressing AMR globally via a “One Health” approach, but also calls on the need for collective action from industry, governments, multilateral organizations, and civil society to work together to fully address the rising threat of AMR.

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) provides an important opportunity to raise public awareness that AMR represents one of the greatest threats the world faces

AMR is sometimes called the “silent tsunami”, as it has not yet received the attention it deserves but continues to inexorably rise.

The facts:

In 2019, almost 5 million deaths were associated with AMR, more than all other causes of death other than heart disease and stroke.
Alarming levels of drug-resistant infections have been reported in humans and animals in countries of all income brackets.
AMR poses a formidable challenge to the global economy, with significant risks for sustainable food production and global trade.

Mitigating AMR: Strategies and Imperative Actions

AMR can’t be fully stopped, but there is knowledge on how to slow down AMR and help public health systems get ahead of it. This can be done by implementing evidence-based policies such as antimicrobial stewardship programs, which help ensure antimicrobials are only used when they are truly needed, as well as preventative vaccination that can help limit the need to prescribe antimicrobial medicines.

However, completely overcoming AMR solely through stewardship is not feasible. It is necessary to complement these efforts with a robust and diverse pipeline of new antimicrobials under development to ensure effective treatments against the increasing rates of resistance to existing medicines.

Shortage of New Antimicrobials: Commercial Challenges and Declining Investment

Unfortunately, the general pipeline of new antimicrobials is woefully inadequate to address both current and future AMR threats. Relatively few are in development today due to a confluence of unique challenges that make antibiotics commercially unsustainable. As a result, investment into new antimicrobials has declined significantly, with many companies exiting this space. Those that remain struggle to remain commercially sustainable, and several biotech’s with approved antibiotics meeting unmet AMR needs have filed for bankruptcy.

MSD’s pioneering role and the AMR Action Fund

For over a century, MSD has played a leading role in combating AMR, not only discovering and developing a range of medicines and vaccines that treat and prevent infectious diseases in humans and animals. As one of the last large pharmaceutical companies committed to addressing AMR, MSD sees the urgency to find solutions to the market failures for novel antimicrobial medicines to drive antimicrobial innovation.

Recognizing the need to buy time for governments around the world to advance policy solutions to these market failures, in 2020 MSD joined a group of 20 leading biopharmaceutical companies to launch the $1B AMR Action Fund. This groundbreaking partnership aims to bring two to four new antimicrobials to patients by 2030.

As a lead investor, MSD has committed $100 million over 10 years to help bridge the gap between the antimicrobial pipeline and patients. But the Fund is a temporary and time-limited bridge that will only work if governments make the necessary reforms to create a sustainable market.

MSD is also working with industry partners, governments, health care providers, and others to support AMR surveillance, promote appropriate use, and prevent infections through vaccination through a One Health approach.

MSD maintains one of the world’s largest and longest running AMR surveillance study, the Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART). Launched in 2002, SMART enables researchers to monitor the susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobials and identify trends in the development of resistance.
Dedicated to preserving and improving the health and wellbeing of animals, MSD is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of animal vaccines, producing over 102 billion doses per year to help prevent infections that may require the use of antimicrobials.
Recognizing the critical role for antimicrobial stewardship to slow the development of resistance, MSD has collaborated with over 1,100 hospitals in 28 countries as an antimicrobial stewardship resource and partner to create patient-centric, product-agnostic stewardship programs around the world.

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Our team

Volunteering? A point of honor for us at MSD

Did you know that MSD employees can use 40 hours of paid working time each year to volunteer in various projects? Here you can find out how this can look like.

13 October 2025

Clean-Up-Days in Lucerne und Zurich

Every year, our employees support voluntary activities for their communities. The Clean-Up-Days in Lucerne and Zurich, organized together with the IG Sauber Umwelt (IGSU), are an example of such a volunteering opportunity.

Employees from all five MSD Switzerland locations were invited to roll up their sleeves on two days and help to rid the cities of Lucerne and Zurich of waste. A team of over 50 employees gathered to work together for this good cause.

«We have collected over 68 kg of waste and disposed of it correctly!»

Anabel D., MSD employee at the Citybay location, Lucerne

Picture: MSD employees in action — MSD employees in action

Picture: 2.5 kg of cigarette butts collected — 2.5 kg of cigarette butts collected

Picture: Clean-Up-Days in Lucerne and Zurich — Clean-Up-Days in Lucerne and Zurich

Why volunteering is important to us at MSD

Volunteering at MSD means get involved for worthy charitable organizations on a voluntary basis during paid working hours. Another possibility is to contribute your professional skills to international projects within the MSD Fellowship for Global Health Programs.

Our volunteer commitment is a sign of solidarity. It aims to promote a culture of social interaction, improve the living conditions of disadvantaged people and benefit the community. Simply put, with our commitment we want to help and give something back to society and our environment. Those who volunteer also take advantage of the opportunity to network with other MSD colleagues and learn or improve skills that are not part of their everyday work routine.

«The Clean-Up-Days were a great experience and an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues from other locations.»

Rafael F., MSD employee at The Circle location, Zurich

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Knowledge

What is pulmonary hypertension?

Shortness of breath, tiring more quickly and reduced capacity are amongst the early signs of pulmonary hypertension. Learn more about this chronic disease.

26.09.2023

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic pathological increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary vessels that can result in a significant impairment of physical capacity. Due to its unspecific symptoms, it is often difficult to detect pulmonary hypertension. If it is not treated, it can be life-threatening.

Diagnosing pulmonary hypertension is not easy

The complaints are at first often mild and may also indicate other diseases such as asthma, bronchitis or chronic fatigue syndrome. That is why it can take on average up to 2.5 years to make a diagnosis. This is valuable time in which the patient is not receiving any effective therapy.

The initial symptoms of pulmonary hypertension may include:

Shortness of breath during physical exertion such as when climbing or going up stairs
Increased fatiguability
Feeling of tightness in chest
Heart palpitations, faster heartbeat
Dizziness during intense physical exertion
Reduced capacity

In an advanced stage, these complaints may occur:

Signs of a decreasing pumping power of the right heart, such as water accumulations in the legs (oedema) and distended jugular veins
Intense chest pain, as in a heart attack
Blue lips as a sign of reduced oxygen supply to the body, low or falling blood pressure readings in the systemic circulation

Treatment of pulmonary hypertension is done by a team of specialists

Only specialists with extensive experience can treat pulmonary hypertension because the therapy is complex and must be individually adapted to each patient based on the causes and symptoms. Therefore, it is important that those affected be treated in a specialised centre for pulmonary hypertension.

In Switzerland there are several specialised centres for pulmonary hypertension, so-called PH centres

In a PH centre, experts from different medical specialties collaborate in an interdisciplinary manner to enable patients with pulmonary hypertension to receive the therapy that gives them the greatest possible quality of life. The specialists are able to detect, diagnose and treat pulmonary hypertension. Moreover, PH centres are established for emergencies and offer those affected round the clock support.

Overview of PH centres in Switzerland

Our commitment

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.

Find out more

members of the SGPH standing on the maedow

Support for patients

The Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Pulmonale Hypertonie SGPH [Swiss Society for Pulmonary Hypertension, SGPH] is a panel of experts and is available as a reference centre on the subject of pulmonary hypertension for physicians and patients.

Find out more

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Company

Inside Schachen: a glance at our high-tech development center

Our MSD site in Schachen in the Canton of Lucerne is no ordinary site. It is a fusion of the most modern technology, innovative research and development, and an inspiring work environment.

13.07.2023

Picture: drone shooting of MSD Schachen location

Our site in Schachen plays a key role in the development of new, innovative medicines. Since its establishment in 1976, the site has continually grown. Today, about 490 employees from 30 countries work in Schachen.

Here is what we do in Schachen:

01.

We manufacture biotechnological active substances.

In Schachen, we have at our disposal biotechnical production on a clinical scale for producing new active substances, as well as capacities for sterile filling of new medicines.

02.

We supply medicines for global clinical studies.

Schachen is one of only two sites in MSD’s global network that provides new medicines for clinical studies worldwide. Here, the clinical test samples are packed, labeled and then shipped to clinical sites all over the world. The strictly monitored studies show whether the new medicines are effective and safe.

03.

We develop analytical methods for new active substances and medicines.

Analytical development is one of our main areas. In various specialized laboratories, we examine cell cultures, conduct tests with bioassays and offer everything needed to develop analysis methods for new active substances and medicines, from PCR analytics and mass spectroscopy to biochemical analyzes.

04.

We work on analysis methods that allow a continuous production process to be seamlessly monitored and controlled.

Continuous production processes in the pharmaceutical industry are still the exception because the technical and regulatory requirements are very high.

05.

We operate a forensic laboratory in which suspected cases of counterfeit medicines are investigated.

In Schachen, we operate one of three forensic laboratories worldwide with the goal of quickly detecting manipulations and counterfeits of MSD products. Our scientists work with the aid of analytical methods and highly specialized instruments to differentiate counterfeits from original products and, if necessary, to present the results in court as experts to support corresponding criminal prosecutions. They also work on further optimizing the counterfeit protection of MSD products worldwide.

«At the Schachen site, it’s not just a matter of the most modern technology and innovative research, but primarily about people. I am incredibly proud of our team, which works passionately and is committed to improve the lives of patients with ground-breaking discoveries and the development of new medicines. Their untiring commitment makes Schachen a place where we achieve greatness together.»
DR. CORINNA LENZ, DIRECTOR, MSD SCHACHEN SITE

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Infectious Diseases

Our commitment to the fight against COVID-19

As a company with a long legacy of research in vaccines and infectious diseases, we’ve been committed to advancing an effective response to COVID-19 since it was first discovered.

11.07.2023

«We’ve been focused on contributing our scientific expertise and experience to help address COVID-19.»

01.

Our oral antiviral COVID-19 medicine

In collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, we have advanced our research and development efforts for our COVID-19 medicine, making an important contribution to the care of COVID-19 patients.

We are working with health authorities to make our therapeutic option available worldwide.

02.

Access to health care

We have a long track record of making our medicines and vaccines accessible and affordable. Our comprehensive supply and access strategy has enabled timely and broad access to our COVID-19 medicine for patients around the world, including in low- and middle-income countries.

We have also provided UNICEF with up to 3 million treatment units for low- and middle-income countries.

Through our licensing agreements with generics manufacturers and the Medicines Patent Pool, more than 5 million courses of generic therapy have been delivered to 22 low- and middle-income countries through December 2022.

03.

Our commitment as an employer

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve prioritized the health, safety and well-being of our employees and their families and supported our health care providers and our communities, including through volunteer work and donation efforts.

We continue to research

We are proud to turn breakthrough science into medicines and vaccines that save and improve lives around the world. We focus on finding new solutions for today and the future.

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Infectious Diseases

Addressing antibiotic resistance is more critical than ever. Here’s why.

Since their development, antibiotics have transformed health care and saved countless lives globally. But rising levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) make current antibiotics less effective.

18.05.2023

Doctor talking to patient lying in a hospital bed

There’s no single or simple solution to the complex problem of AMR, but we’re committed to investing our expertise and resources alongside our partners to get much-needed antibiotics to those who need them most. Lives are at risk, and the time to act is now.

True to our company’s longstanding tradition of preventing and treating infectious diseases, we’re proud to commit to invest $100 million over 10 years in the new AMR Action Fund. Through this groundbreaking partnership of leading pharmaceutical companies, philanthropies, development banks and multilateral organizations, we aim to bridge the gap between the innovative early antibiotic pipeline and patients. New antibiotics are urgently needed. With this new fund for antibiotic research and development, our collective aim is to bring two to four new antibiotics to patients and physicians by the end of the decade.

Here are five key reasons to build on these collaborative efforts to address AMR:

01.

New antibiotics are urgently needed; however, there are relatively few in development.

AMR is a naturally occurring phenomenon through which bacteria build up defenses against antibiotics. The nature of resistance means that there is a continual need to develop new antibiotics so we can stay a step ahead of resistant pathogens.

MSD has remained committed to antibiotic R&D for over 80 years and brought forward new treatments each decade. However, major scientific, regulatory and economic challenges discourage innovation in antibiotics, resulting in a significant decline in the number of companies conducting antibiotic and antifungal R&D over the last two decades. Recognizing there is unlikely to be a one-size-fits-all solution to the problem, MSD and others have suggested a series of policy reforms across several regions of the world. However, time is running out. We need collaboration from policymakers across the globe to help antibiotic innovation flourish for decades to come.

02.

Once new antibiotics are approved, they need to be used appropriately.

While developing new antimicrobials is important, slowing resistance to current medicines is equally crucial. Appropriate antibiotic therapy can play an important role in treating patients with resistant infections and preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics.

We must work together to implement evidence-based policies and programs that support the appropriate prescribing and use of antimicrobials. At MSD, we are making significant investments to support antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), helping hospitals around the world to develop and implement patient-centered AMS programs that are customized at the local level based on factors like epidemiology, clinical setting and resource availability. We also provide significant grant funding to support a wide range of AMS initiatives and collaborations.

Some of our global contributions to AMS:

Supported the development of several AMS Centers of Excellence throughout the world

Helped public health leaders effectively monitor and address emerging AMR infections, promote AMS and customize accepted AMS strategies to meet local needs

Contributed toward meaningful standardized patient safety outcome measures for US hospital AMS programs

Funded a round of Discovery Awards (small seed grants to help diagnostic innovators get their ideas off the ground and improve their chances of winning the UK-based Longitude Prize)

03.

We must track resistance trends and use the data to inform on prescribing.

To ensure that antibiotics are being prescribed appropriately, clinical treatment guidelines must remain up-to-date and based on resistance trends. Surveillance studies can assist in identifying these trends in pathogen incidence and AMR, and can also identify emergent resistant strains.

At MSD, we work with public health bodies, health care professionals and diagnostics companies to inform appropriate antibiotic use by sharing surveillance data. One of the largest AMR surveillance programs, our Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) program has collected approximately 500,000 bacterial isolates from 217 sites in 63 countries since 2002. This data can help to curb the development of AMR by informing adequate treatment plans and prescribing guidelines that ensure antibiotics are used appropriately.

04.

We need to think beyond human health.

The challenge of AMR is multifaceted, and we believe a One Health approach to creating policies is critical to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment.

When it comes to animal health, vaccines should be considered a first line of defense against bacterial and viral diseases. By preventing diseases, vaccines can help minimize the need for antibiotics. MSD Animal Health is one of the largest manufacturers of animal health vaccines, supplying over 100B doses each year. We are also engaged in collaborative efforts to ensure new and existing antibiotics are effective now and in the future for all species.

Protecting the environment through responsible manufacturing is another key component of the One Health approach. To combat rising levels of antibiotics in the environment, we have committed over $100 million to ensure factory discharges do not present a risk to human health or the environment. We also worked with our partners in the AMR Industry Alliance to inform science‐based manufacturing targets to help ensure robust scrutiny of industry manufacturing supply chains.

05.

The time to act against AMR is now.

We have received ample warning signs of the dangers of AMR. With collaboration across the scientific community and policymakers, it is preventable.

We all have a role to play as we look ahead to prepare for the next health crisis. We know that without action, AMR will have significant global consequences. We must act now to put measures in place to ensure we have the antibiotics we need for our generation and those to come.

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