Pharmaceutical research to help patients

With an annual expediture of over 1.2 billion euros in 2010 on research and development, our division for innovative prescription pharmaceuticals Merck Serono is dedicated to specialist-focused areas such as neurodegenerative diseases and oncology.

The importance of cancer research continues to increase due to the growing number of cancer patients. Merck Serono focuses on developing novel cancer therapies that provide beneficial therapeutic outcomes and create new options for cancer patients. Key to Merck Serono’s success in oncology is the research and development of agents that not only have a combined approach when it comes to targeting tumor cells, the tumor microenvironment, and the innate and adaptive immune system, but also show potential for combination with standard cancer therapies and with other novel products in Merck Serono’s pipeline. Erbitux® is a monoclonal antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) of tumors. It is currently approved for metastatic colorectal cancer and for head and neck tumor indications. Additonal clinical research is underway to investigate the use of Erbitux® in further indications.

Merck Serono is also conducting research in the field of autoimmune and inflammatory disease in order to offer patients new therapeutic options for previously unmet medical needs. In addition, compounds are being developed to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis.