Fifty Over 50: Giving people growing older with HIV a voice

June 2026

A unique listening project in partnership with several leading HIV organisations, with a mission to hear from people who are growing older with HIV.

While the Fifty Over 50 project was developed several years ago, the experiences and insights it captures remain highly relevant today. As the population of people growing older with HIV continues to increase, the themes identified through this work, from multimorbidity to stigma and quality of life, remain central to ongoing discussions around care, policy and support.

Thanks to decades of clinical research, innovation and cross-sector collaboration, HIV has largely become a chronic condition in the UK. The UK has led the way in achieving the UNAIDS targets of 90% of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status, of those with a known HIV diagnosis 90% receiving treatment, and of those receiving treatment 90% having an undetectable viral load.

The progress which has been made through improvements in testing and treatment has been remarkable, and new diagnoses of HIV continue to decrease in the UK. However, as the number of people who are now growing older with HIV increases, this brings with it a host of new or additional challenges.

The Fifty Over 50 project, coordinated by MSD in collaboration with the Whole Person Care group of HIV community and professional organisations, is a unique listening exercise which set out to give people growing older with HIV a voice. Fifty Over 50 brings together first-hand accounts from a diverse range of people living with HIV aged 50+, and highlights how for many in the HIV community being well is about more than just viral suppression, it’s also about living well.

Ben Lucas, Managing Director for MSD in the UK and Ireland, commented:

“I am immensely proud that MSD have worked with all the individual contributors and organisations that form part of Fifty Over 50 – providing a platform for people to share their experiences and shine a light on the changes that are needed to support people living with HIV to live well across the entirety of their life.”

Learn more about Fifty Over 50 and hear what our contributors had to share in the e-book here.

GB-NON-13086 | May 2026

Responsibility

Six New Global Grants Reinforce MSD’s Commitment to Maternal Health

May 2026

The UK White Ribbon Alliance becomes an MSD for Mothers Grant Recipient

MSD recently announced the latest recipients of its Global Grants program, as part of MSD for Mothers, the company’s global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life. Maternal mortality persists as a reality for too many women, and MSD for Mothers Global Grants are designed to extend access to quality maternal health care around the world by helping address the unique needs of women in local communities.

The six new grantees will support underserved communities in Ireland, Kazakhstan, Romania, Tanzania, Türkiye and the United Kingdom. Each grantee has developed customised interventions tailored to their community’s unique needs, with a shared goal of improving access to, and quality of, maternal health care. Each grantee’s work supports MSD’s Access to Health commitment, within which the company has made a public commitment to advancing solutions for people in low- and middle-income countries, as well as underserved populations in high-income countries.

The White Ribbon Alliance is expanding the UK Free From Harm training, aiming to equip 2,000 maternity care providers to be better able to prevent obstetric violence, strengthen workforce resilience, and improve outcomes for women through trauma-informed, equity-centred care.

Obstetric violence, a form of gender-based violence, manifests through disrespect, coercion, and mistreatment of birthing individuals by healthcare professionals. These harmful practices are often rooted in systemic issues, including patriarchal healthcare systems, racial discrimination, and hierarchical structures. The training was developed to combat these injustices by fostering respectful, trauma-informed, and human-rights-based maternity care. It provides healthcare professionals—particularly midwives—with the tools to identify, prevent, and challenge harmful practices during childbirth.

Since 2012, the MSD for Mothers Global Grants program has contributed nearly $50 million to date, supporting over 90 projects focused on reducing maternal mortality – including through disaster response, innovative digital tools, health education and more – across more than 45 countries.

As MSD continues to integrate access to health into its global business – working alongside governments, nonprofits and communities to strengthen health systems, improve outcomes and build more resilient pathways to care worldwide, these grants represent another critical step toward improving the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the months after.

Find out more about our global MSD for mothers programme and grant award opportunities here.

GB-NON-13007 | May 2026

Our People

Supporting the HIV community and marking World AIDS day

December 2025

Colleagues from across our UK business have been demonstrating their support for the HIV community over the last few months, with a range of activities and initiatives.

20 of our colleagues came together for a volunteering day, organised by our UK Rainbow Alliance Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG), with Positive East – an East London-based charity dedicated to supporting people living with and affected by HIV.

MSD is a proud sponsor of Positive East’s annual RED RUN, which raises awareness and funds for HIV services across the UK. In preparation for the 2025 event, our volunteers made a vital contribution by assembling over 1,800 runner packages to be sent to participants ahead of the big day. They also packed finish line bags filled with medals, and educational resources providing crucial information on HIV and STI testing and access to support services. This marked the third year running that the Rainbow Alliance has partnered with Positive East to offer our colleagues an opportunity to use their volunteering hours and give back to the local community.

A reflection from one of our volunteers:
“Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this volunteering event. It was a wonderful and rewarding day. I’m grateful to have been part of the team and to have supported such a meaningful cause”.

The RED RUN, held annually in Victoria Park in East London, is the UK’s largest HIV community event, supporting 31 HIV charities across the country. 35 colleagues from across our business walked, ran, and even sashayed the 5km or 10km route, alongside another 1,800 people taking part. The inclusive event welcomes all ages and abilities, fostering a spirit of community over competition.

Our colleagues also marked World Aids Day earlier in November with an internal panel focused event that led to engaging conversation on HIV, including shared insights from colleagues and their lived experience. Attendees left with an improved understanding of how to be allies to the HIV and LGBTQ+ community and beyond.

We were lucky enough to be able to display one of the 42 panels of the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt in our London Moorgate office, which offered an opportunity for colleagues to reflect, remember and celebrate all lives lost to HIV. The quilt offered a reminder of how far we have come in the fight against HIV, and the work still left to do.

Our Volunteers

UK AIDS Memorial Quilt

GB-NON-12445 | December 2025

Health Awareness

Supporting Lung Cancer Patients and Carers Along the Treatment Pathway

November 2025

Empowering Patients and Carers Through Knowledge and Engagement

Supporting individuals diagnosed with lung cancer and those who care for them is key throughout every stage of the lung cancer treatment pathway. To address this need, MSD in the UK, with the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (RCLCF), have co-created the booklet “Understanding Treatment Options in Lung Cancer: A Guide for Patients and Carers”.

Download the booklet

This comprehensive resource is specifically designed to support Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) patients and their carers.

Lung cancer treatment pathways continue to evolve and can often seem complex or overwhelming. Navigating these pathways and having access to reliable and clear health information can enhance the experiences of both patients and carers¹.

The booklet draws on insights from individuals living with lung cancer and healthcare professionals connected to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (RCLCF). These perspectives have shaped a step-by-step companion guide to help patients and carers understand lung cancer treatment options. The booklet offers clear definitions, outlines treatment options, provides prompts for key questions to ask at each stage, and includes tick boxes to help track progress, with the aim to encourage active involvement and discussion in care.

The Importance of Involving Patients and Carers

Research shows that when patients actively participate in their treatment decisions, outcomes and overall experiences improve². A lung cancer diagnosis may bring forth a wide range of emotions, not only for the individual, but also for those who support them. The booklet encourages patients to communicate openly with their healthcare team and to seek out services that promote both their physical and emotional wellbeing. “Understanding Treatment Options in Lung Cancer” outlines the range of available treatments, including prehabilitation and rehabilitation.

At MSD in the UK, our commitment is to place patients at the heart of all we do. We aim to inspire patient communities to engage proactively with healthcare systems and empower them to advocate for their own health. This booklet was developed to provide patients and carers with the information and support they need to navigate the complexities of the lung cancer treatment pathway and to have informed, meaningful discussions about their care.

¹The Patients Association. Advancing Health Equity Through CORE: A New Approach to Inclusive Communication. 2024; Available from: Advancing Health Equity Through CORE: A New Approach to Inclusive Communication | The Patients Association [Accessed October 2025]

²NHS England. Involving people in their own care. n.d.; Available from: NHS England » Involving people in their own care [Accessed October 2025]

GB-NON-11709 | October 2025

Innovation

Inspiring Minds and Driving Equity: MSD’s 5th Hackathon

September 2025

The 5^th edition of the Health Equity hackathon, hosted by MSD’s LEAD (League of Employees of African Descent) UK Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) network in collaboration with Eli Lilly’s embRACE, brought together curious undergraduates from across the country, to propose innovative solutions to health equity challenges.

Over 70 students from a range of academic and cultural backgrounds brought inspiring enthusiasm and fresh ideas to health equity challenges. They collaborated in small teams, with the support of a facilitator, to propose solutions to address disparities in health equity. Teams worked across 4 themes, including access to healthcare in older adults, the impact of mental health on outcomes, driving diversity in clinical trials and improving health literacy.

Group photo of Hackathon participants and colleagues from MSD and Lilly

After ‘hacking’ their problem statement, students presented solutions to senior leaders from both companies who served as judges. Despite an incredibly high standard, the judges managed to select winners from each theme. These groups then went on to present in the final round in front of a full auditorium, with Ben Lucas (Managing Director, MSD UK and Ireland) and Christopher Stokes (President and General Manager of Lilly, UK and Northern Europe) sitting on the panel as final round judges.

The winning solution won praise for being innovative, inclusive and patient-focused. It addressed the challenge of improving health literacy in underserved and ethnic minority communities to better understand, access, and use health information to achieve better outcomes. The winning team proposed connecting junior/resident doctors to young people aged 11-16 years old. Through creating this ‘Junior to Junior’ connection, their initiative aimed to increase awareness of the health system and build trust in communities.

Excerpt from the winning solution

Selfie with the winning team!

“I was genuinely impressed by the depth of insight and creativity the students brought to their solutions. Their work demonstrated by their strong technical skills and a deep understanding of social impact allowed for innovative, inclusive and patient-focused outcomes to be designed. The diverse, empathetic approaches to health equity and their ability to tackle complex challenges with passionate and energetic actionable ideas were standout qualities. Judging the event was a privilege and a powerful reminder of the value of fresh perspectives in addressing systemic health issues.”

– Jasveen Chugh, Pharmaceuticals Business Unit Director, MSD UK

In addition to raising awareness of the importance of health equity, across the 2-day event, students were also able to gain a real insight into what a career in the pharmaceutical industry can offer them. Through hearing from, and networking with, a range of colleagues from senior leaders to current placement students (some of whom took part in previous hackathons), they gained an understanding of the diversity of roles available for them to apply for.

Post-event networking session

Hackathon co-hosts Fiona Noah (MSD) and Paige Boateng (Lilly)

MSD is proud of the hackathon’s role in empowering and developing future leaders and forming a pipeline of diverse talent; by attending the hackathon, the participants and winning group will be accelerated through both MSD and Lilly’s early talent programme assessment stages.

Fiona Noah and Mauranda Lewis, Co-Lead’s of LEAD UK offered their reflections on the day:

‘As the leaders of LEAD UK, we’re really proud of how this year’s Health Equity Hackathon went. What stood out most was the students’ passion, drive, and tireless effort. Their creativity, determination, and dedication to tackling tough health equity challenges was inspiring and showed the future leaders and innovators in the making.

The quality of ideas, collaborative spirit, and innovative solutions shared throughout the day was truly impressive. It’s amazing to be able to contribute to an initiative that not only sparks innovation but also champions representation and access in healthcare’

Professional photos taken by Esther Akin

GB-NON-11910 | September 2025

Innovation

Sharing Learnings & Best Practice at NHS ConfedExpo

July 2025

MSD at NHS ConfedExpo 2025

NHS ConfedExpo 2025 provided a platform for healthcare leaders and innovators to come together to share learnings and best practices to shape the future of health and care in the UK. Over two days in Manchester, MSD engaged with key stakeholders to share insights, foster collaboration, and showcase how we are supporting the NHS in delivering cutting-edge, patient-centred solutions.

Our Role as a Sponsor

As a sponsor of this year’s NHS ConfedExpo, MSD colleagues showcased our partnership with the NHS through a dedicated stand that highlighted our collaborative efforts to save and improve lives.

MSD Sponsored Sessions: Driving Innovation and Patient-Centred Care

MSD was delighted to host two insightful sessions that sparked meaningful discussions around healthcare innovation and improving patient diagnosis and management:

Exploring Cancer Patient Experience in a Digital World

This session explored the transformative potential of the NHS’s shift from analogue to digital systems, with a focus on enhancing the cancer patient journey. Attendees examined how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can facilitate earlier cancer diagnoses, empower patient self-referrals, and streamline care pathways—ultimately improving patient experiences and outcomes. The discussion included examples of pilot projects within NHS trusts leveraging AI tools to reduce diagnostic delays.

Pathways to Progress: Optimising Diagnosis for Patients with Breathlessness

Breathlessness is a common symptom across conditions, yet it remains frequently under-recognised and poorly managed. MSD’s session highlighted the urgent need to improve diagnostic pathways through collaborative and innovative approaches. The discussion emphasised the importance of streamlined referral processes, enhanced access to diagnostics via Community Diagnostic Centres, and increased awareness of dedicated breathlessness pathways to reduce delays and improve patient outcomes. Aligning with national efforts to shift care from hospitals to community settings, the session underscored the critical role of strong clinical leadership and cross-sector collaboration in creating a more responsive, equitable healthcare system for patients living with breathlessness.

Watch Our Highlights Video

Discover the key insights and takeaways from NHS ConfedExpo 2025 by watching our highlights video on the MSD UK LinkedIn page. Click here to watch.

Learn More

To find out more about MSD’s partnerships and our ongoing initiatives to support healthcare innovation, visit our Partnerships page.

GB-NON-11721 | July 2025

Innovation

MSD to acquire Verona Pharma

July 2025

In a strategic move that strengthens our innovative pipeline of cardio-pulmonary treatments, MSD (tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire, through a subsidiary, Verona Pharma, a UK-based biopharmaceutical company specialising in respiratory diseases.

Under the terms of the agreement, MSD will acquire Verona Pharma for $107 per American Depositary Share (ADS)—each representing eight ordinary shares—bringing the total transaction value to approximately $10 billion.

This acquisition aligns with MSD’s science-led business development strategy and reinforces its commitment to addressing unmet medical needs in cardio-pulmonary care.

“This acquisition of Verona Pharma reflects the commitment we have to delivering innovative treatments to patients and our ability to execute on our science-led and value-driven business development strategy,” said Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, MSD.

“Today’s announced agreement with MSD is the culmination of years of focus and determination by the Verona Pharma team,” said David Zaccardelli, president and chief executive officer, Verona Pharma. “We believe MSD’s commercial footprint and industry-leading clinical capabilities will help accelerate the potential of Verona Pharma to reach more patients. This agreement will enable the strong launch trajectory of our portfolio of medicines and provides value to Verona Pharma shareholders.”

The transaction was unanimously approved by both the MSD and Verona Pharma Boards of Directors and is intended to be effected by way of a scheme of arrangement under UK law. Closing of the proposed acquisition is subject to approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, approval of Verona Pharma shareholders, sanction by the High Court of Justice of England and Wales and other customary conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.

GB-NON-11649 | July 2025

Innovation

Counting the Cost: The Hidden Burden of Late Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Diagnosis

May 2025

How the implementation of a breathlessness pathway can potentially deliver benefits for our health system, and for the patients we serve.

MSD in the UK have developed the infographic, Counting the Cost: The Hidden Burden of Late Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Diagnosis, to visualise the potential impact a late diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) – a subset of pulmonary hypertension (PH) – has on our health system and the potential cost-savings that could be realised by its earlier diagnosis.

Unexplained breathlessness presents a significant challenge within our healthcare system, often leading to delayed diagnoses of respiratory conditions due to poor symptom recognition and underutilised diagnostic pathways.^[1] Breathlessness is a primary symptom of PAH, and delays in diagnosis not only worsen outcomes and limit treatment options for patients^[2] but also generate considerable costs to the NHS.^[3]

MSD commissioned an independent health economics consultancy to analyse publicly available data on the typical number of GP, hospital appointments and diagnostic tests someone with PAH may undertake before being diagnosed, and the estimated cost of them to the NHS, to estimate the potential savings which could be made if these were reduced.

Download the Infographic

The research and subsequent infographic support the recommendations from a previous MSD developed piece of work, “A shared vision for pulmonary arterial hypertension in the UK”, to; maximise the opportunity of Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) to support the diagnosis of the cause of breathlessness, and, timely referral to an appropriate clinical pathway.

As a rare and debilitating condition that has significant personal impact^[4]^,[5]implementing a diagnostic pathway which optimises local services to diagnose the cause of unexplained breathlessness can not only improve care for PAH patients but has the potential to deliver system wide benefits for other respiratory conditions, as well.

This infographic and the analysis from which it was created have been fully funded by MSD.

[1] NHS England. Adult breathlessness pathway (pre-diagnosis): diagnostic pathway support tool. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/adult-breathlessness-pathway-pre-diagnosis-diagnostic-pathway-support-tool/#purpose-of-this-support-tool [Accessed April 2025]

[2] Kubota K, Miyanaga S, Akao M et al. (2023). Association of delayed diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension with its prognosis. Journal of Cardiology. DOI: 10.1016/j.cc.2023.08.004

[3] Exposto F, Hermans R, Nordgren Å et al. (2021). Burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension in England: retrospective HES database analysis. Ther Adv Respir Dis. DOI: 10.1177/1753466621995040

[4] British Heart Foundation. Research into pulmonary arterial hypertension. Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/research/pulmonary-arterial-hypertension [Accessed April 2025]

[5] PHA UK (2019). Beneath the surface: the true financial impact of pulmonary hypertension. Available at: https://www.phauk.org/about-ph-2/living-with-pulmonary-hypertension/benefits-and-financial-help/the-true-financial-impact-of-ph-survey-results/ [Accessed April 2025]

GB-NON-11235 | May 2025

Responsibility

Solutions for Healthy Communities: new grant round open

February 2025

We believe local organisations and leaders know their communities best, and we are eager to support such organizations to improve access to health for underserved communities around the globe.

The Solutions for Health Communities global grant programme aims to advance access to healthcare for underserved communities through innovative, community-led solutions.

Detailed information about the application process, eligibility criteria, and funding priorities can be found on our website at: MSD.com/SHC, or by clicking the button below.

Learn More

The deadline for applications is 28^th February 2025 and projects will run from January 2026 through December 2027.

UK applicants with queries, please contact grantscommittee@msd.com.

GB-NON-11019 | February 2025

Innovation

Collaborate with us in advancing bold science that can impact patients lives

January 2025

Three scientists in a laboratory discussing

At MSD we are not afraid to make bold investments in external science where we believe we can further our mission to save and improve lives.

Consider partnering with us…

We know that collaborations are critical to advancing bold science. Our robust pipeline and portfolio are fuelled by both our own discoveries and external innovation. We leverage our company’s strengths, including our global capabilities from discovery research through commercialisation, to work with our partners to bring new and life-changing therapies to patients.

Our Business Development and Licensing (BD&L) team are focused on identifying breakthrough science and collaborating together to make the greatest difference for patients, now and in the future.

Where are we located?

We’re open to collaboration anywhere the science leads us. Our team of business development and licensing colleagues are co-located within our research & development sites in Boston, South San Francisco and London — epicentres of scientific innovation.

We are searching the world for cutting-edge science regardless of therapeutic area or modality. To find out more about our areas of focus, recent acquisitions and collaborations read more on our global website here or get in touch via the collaborate link.

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.

GB-NON-10791 | January 2025

Fifty Over 50: Giving people growing older with HIV a voice

Six New Global Grants Reinforce MSD’s Commitment to Maternal Health

Supporting the HIV community and marking World AIDS day

Supporting Lung Cancer Patients and Carers Along the Treatment Pathway

Empowering Patients and Carers Through Knowledge and Engagement

The Importance of Involving Patients and Carers

Inspiring Minds and Driving Equity: MSD’s 5th Hackathon

Sharing Learnings & Best Practice at NHS ConfedExpo

MSD at NHS ConfedExpo 2025

MSD to acquire Verona Pharma

Counting the Cost: The Hidden Burden of Late Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Diagnosis

Solutions for Healthy Communities: new grant round open

We believe local organisations and leaders know their communities best, and we are eager to support such organizations to improve access to health for underserved communities around the globe.

Collaborate with us in advancing bold science that can impact patients lives

Forward-looking statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA