Research & Development Overview
We run to, not from, the world’s biggest health challenges.
The journey to discovery is guided by science – and inspired by patients
Our purpose is to save and improve lives for generations. Our strategy is simple: We follow the science. The path to discovery is often unclear, but we are tireless in seeking solutions for some of the world’s most difficult health challenges.
Our work in numbers
people employed in research and development globally
people reached through our major programmes and partnerships across the globe
invested in R&D globally in 2024
Oncology
We’re committed to advancing cancer research with one of the largest development programs in the industry across more than 30 tumor types. Our relentless focus on achieving the next breakthrough in cancer care is inspired by the lives we aim to prolong and protect.
Vaccines
MSD has invented more than 40 vaccines to protect children, adolescents, adults and animals from serious diseases. At the forefront of research, MSD has developed some of the first ever vaccines in various therapy areas, now used in more than 130 countries.
Infectious Diseases
We’ve been working to combat global health threats caused by infectious diseases for more than a century, which includes pioneering research in HIV science, developing one of the first antibiotics and discovering and developing vaccines.
Immunology
We have a proud legacy of developing novel therapeutics for people with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and autoimmune-related disorders. Our deep knowledge of immuno-oncology and vaccines has laid the foundation for our scientists who are focused on drug discovery and development efforts for immune disorders.
Cardio-Metabolic Diseases
Our commitment to cardiovascular care began with one of the first oral antihypertensive medications in the 1950s and continued with research leading to new cholesterol-lowering statins in the 1970s We continue to build on our history of innovative therapies in cardiovascular disease to help increase our understanding and help patients around the world.
Neurology
We’re pursuing a variety of new approaches as we strive to understand the biology behind brain health, neurodegeneration and the nervous system. We’re evaluating targets that have been implicated in many nervous system disorders and investing in new research on important biological functions including neuroimmunology, lysosomal function and protein homeostasis.
Opthalmology
Our team is dedicated to exploring and advancing new therapeutics for a range of retinal diseases, which remain among the most significant therapeutic challenges in ophthalmology.
Our commitment to patients is unwavering
As long as there are still patients in hospitals, doctors and nurses desperate to add years to the lives of their patients, and a world where treatments aren’t accessible to all, we will be here, fighting with all we have to deliver more, sooner.
Watch our video to learn more
Rahway, NJ
Our Rahway site is our world headquarters. For more than a century, the Rahway campus has been home to many medical breakthroughs. This is a research-focused campus that includes core chemistry and preclinical development capabilities, with world-class capabilities in biologics and synthetic chemistry.
Where our science happens
We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. Step inside MSD Research Laboratories (MRL) where our mission to save and improve lives through research and development begins.
Our partnerships
We know that effective partnerships and collaborations are critical to fueling innovation and that we cannot achieve our purpose alone.
Our discovery and early scientific partnerships with leading universities, cutting-edge research bodies and non-profit organisations help our science and innovations to transform lives in the UK.
Our Future Health
MSD is a Founding Industry Member of Our Future Health, the UK’s largest health research programme, which aims to prevent, detect and treat disease earlier. The programme will provide new ways to predict with better accuracy who is at higher risk of diseases and would benefit from faster access to screening and prevention interventions.
Milner Consortium
In 2022 MSD joined the Milner Therapeutics Consortium as the 12th pharmaceutical partner. Our membership allows us to work on joint research projects, combining industry and academic expertise to deliver on the shared goal of pioneering science leading to new therapeutics for diseases.
GB-NON-12444 | December 2025