The German group says that 50% of future new launches are expected to come from externally sourced assets to take the strain of its organic discovery engine.

The German firm’s pharma chief Peter Guenter says that while the firm’s lifecycle management of older products is industry-leading, “innovation is the lifeblood of any pharmaceutical company," and he is confident Merck’s promising pipeline will augment its current big earners.

The German firm’s pharma chief Peter Guenter tells Scrip that while the firm’s lifecycle management of older products is industry-leading, “innovation is the lifeblood of any pharmaceutical company," and he is confident Merck’s promising pipeline will augment its current big earners.

After doing a number of healthcare deals in 2021, it looks as though Merck KGaA will keep M&A activity to a minimum for the division this year, focusing instead on advancing its own promising candidates for cancer, multiple sclerosis and lupus.