Pharmaceutical research to help patients

With annual spending on research and development amounting to approximately EUR 1 billion, our division for innovative prescription pharmaceuticals is dedicated to specialist-focused areas such as neurology and oncology.

The importance of cancer research continues to increase due to the growing number of cancer patients. At Merck, the focus is on substances that specifically inhibit tumor growth, without damaging healthy cells to the same extent as chemotherapy. Merck combines therapeutic approaches that target the tumor cell, the tumor environment and the immune system in order to optimize the treatment of various forms of cancer. Erbitux® is a monoclonal antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) of tumors. It is currently approved for certain stages of metastatic colorectal cancer and of head and neck tumors, research is underway in further indications.

Merck 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 Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.