Business development and licensing (BD&L)
We’re focused on identifying breakthrough science and collaborating together to make the greatest difference for patients, now and in the future.
Partner with us
With a robust pipeline and portfolio fueled by both our own discoveries and external innovation, we know that collaborations are critical to advancing bold science. We share your urgency to transform health care for patients and will act decisively when there’s an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives. We leverage our company’s strengths, including our global capabilities from discovery research through commercialization, to work with our partners to bring new and life-changing therapies to patients.
Areas of research | R&D locations | Meet our team | BD&L news I Careers
Searching the world for cutting-edge science regardless of therapeutic area or modality
Our areas of focus
- Cutting-edge science
- Oncology
- Vaccines
- Infectious diseases
- Cardio-metabolic disorders
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Enabling/platform technologies
R&D locations
We’re open to collaboration anywhere the science leads us. Our teams are co-located within our research & development sites in Boston, South San Francisco and London — epicenters of scientific innovation.
Learn more about our team
"Our strength is our ability to translate science and develop compounds at scale. We will not be complacent in our pursuit of breakthrough science because patients are waiting.”
- Sunil Patel
Senior vice president, head of corporate development and BD&L
Read his bio
We're active in dealmaking worldwide
We're unafraid to make bold investments in external science where we believe we can save and improve lives. See list of select deals.
Recent acquisitions and collaborations
With the acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences, we hope to usher in a new era of care for immune disorders based on a precision medicine.
Following our acquisition of Caraway Therapeutics, we’re evaluating novel mechanisms of action of lysosomal function in an effort to advance disease-modifying therapies for progressive neurodegenerative diseases.
As part of our acquisition of Harpoon Therapeutics, we’re investigating a novel class of T cell engagers designed to harness the power of the body’s immune system and help patients suffering from certain types of cancer and other diseases.
Venture funds
The MRL Ventures Fund (MRLV) team invests globally in early-stage, preclinical therapeutics companies focused on delivering innovative therapies to improve patient care. Learn more.
Merck Global Health Innovation Fund (MGHIF) is a growth investor partnering with innovative digital health and data science companies that facilitate and optimize biopharmaceutical operations with the goal of improving patient care. Learn more.
