Why are clinical trials important?
Our progress is due in large part to the important and tough scientific questions we set out to answer with our trials and, of course, the help of many participants who join our clinical trials.
Over 100 years of driving medical advancements
We’re following the science around some of the world’s greatest health threats.
Since 1891, we’ve been guided by medical innovations and a mission of developing lifesaving treatments
Our work in cardiovascular diseases (diseases of the heart and blood vessels), MMR and pneumococcal vaccines, HIV, type 2 diabetes, and cancer has made tremendous impacts. Today we focus on scientific innovation to deliver medicines and vaccines that help millions of people around the world. We are committed to staying true to the philosophy of our founder, George W. Merck: Medicine is for the patients. Medicine is for the people.
How are we advancing clinical research?
Merck is now conducting research across 8 key health areas:
What we’ve done and what we’re doing
We run to, not from, the world’s biggest health challenges.
More than
100+
current clinical trials across 7 areas of focus
Vaccines for
11
of the 17 diseases on the CDC’s recommended vaccination list
35
years of being committed to HIV research
More than
1000
clinical trials involving cancer medicines
More than
60
years of helping people living with cardiovascular disease
Our commitment to patient safety in clinical trials
Merck’s role is to develop and provide innovative products and services that save and improve lives. Our clinical trials are designed, conducted, and monitored to follow local laws, ethical principles, and international standards that include:
- International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use
- 2016 CIOMS International Ethical Guidelines for Health-related Research Involving Humans
- PhRMA Principles on Conduct of Clinical Trials
Our clinical trial ethics public policy statement has more information on how we safely conduct our trials and ensure patient standard of care.
Diversity in our clinical trials
Merck understands the importance of enrolling diverse participants in clinical research. And it’s about more than diversity, it’s also about equity.
COVID-19
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve made it our priority to work with other companies and countries to drive testing and treatment for COVID-19. We collaborate with our industry partners to help ensure advancement of COVID-19 treatments.