Vienna (OTS) – MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme Ges.mbH) is pleased to announce the launch of IDEA Studio Europe. A groundbreaking initiative to advance the next generation of digital health technologies and solutions, ranging from prevention to diagnosis and therapeutic support. The program is supported by a €15 million investment over three years from the MSD Global Health Innovation Fund (MGHIF) to specifically support start-ups and small businesses developing innovative solutions to improve patient care and access to healthcare.
IDEA Studio Europe, headquartered in Berlin, aims to transform healthcare worldwide through an open culture of innovation and strong partnerships and is part of MSD’s ongoing commitment. Another studio will open in Asia Pacific and will be based in Singapore. Small companies and start-ups are supported in the early stages of developing novel healthcare solutions that improve patient care and access to healthcare. The program’s focus is on projects that cover a wide range of patient-focused topics, from prevention and health literacy to diagnostic and therapeutic support. Projects in the areas of oncology, immunology and vaccine development are particularly highlighted. „With the MSD IDEA Studio Europe, we are committed to actively shaping the future of healthcare by promoting innovative digital solutions
“, says Markus Stickler, Policy & Corporate Communication Lead, from MSD Austria. „It is another step in acting true to our mission: to protect, improve and save life. We offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to leverage MSD’s extensive healthcare expertise to grow their idea while creating meaningful impact for patients. This is not only an initiative to improve health systems, but also has positive effects on the Austrian and European business location
.“
MSD IDEA Studio Europe: Focus and goals
- Prevention and health literacy: Development and implementation of digital solutions to promote prevention and strengthen health literacy in the population.
- Early detection and diagnosis: Leveraging advanced technologies and data analytics to improve early detection and more accurate diagnosis of diseases.
- Therapy support and remote monitoring: Promoting innovative solutions to support therapy and remote monitoring.
- Optimization of clinical studies: streamlining and increasing the efficiency of processes in clinical studies and the recruitment of study participants.
The MSD IDEA Studio Europe will not only provide funding, but also build close partnerships with technology companies, clinics and other healthcare players. These collaborations are critical to advance the development and implementation of new technologies and promote sustainable innovation in healthcare.
Cooperation and innovation in Austria: Collaboration with Proxygen
In addition to the far-reaching international plans, MSD also has a clear focus on strong partnerships and future-proof technologies in Austria. A collaboration established in 2023 with the Viennese company Proxygen, a leading company in the development of “Molecular Glue Degraders”, illustrates this approach. The collaboration aims to jointly find novel solutions to challenging therapeutic targets and focuses on the development of a new type of drug called “molecular glue degrader”. These innovative substances offer a promising new method for combating diseases that were previously difficult or impossible to treat. Dr. Bernd Boidol, CEO of Proxygen, is enthusiastic about the good collaboration: „The partnership with MSD provides us with a unique opportunity to combine our platform technology and expertise in identifying novel molecular glue degraders with MSD’s world-class research and development capabilities. It gives us the necessary framework and resources to significantly advance our research and development activities
.“
With the IDEA Studios and the strategic collaboration with partners such as Proxygen, MSD is setting a strong example for promoting innovative health solutions and improving patient care as well as strengthening the Austrian and European business location.
Further information can be found on the website: https://www.msd.de/ideastudio/
About MSD
MSD is a leading global biopharmaceutical company with three locations (in Vienna and Krems) and around 950 employees in Austria. For over 130 years, our mission has been to protect, improve and save lives. Our primary goal is to prevent illnesses or, in the event of illnesses, to detect them as early as possible, promote effective healing and improve the quality of life of those affected. In order to solve the sometimes complex and threatening health problems in our society, we at MSD Austria attach great importance to intensive and innovative research. Our focus areas include in particular oncology, bacterial and viral infectious diseases, immunological and cardiovascular diseases, animal diseases and the development of vaccines. As a trusted partner for health and progress, we at MSD remain committed to making a positive difference in the lives of people and animals in Austria, both for current and future generations. Because we research for life!
MSD is the short form of Merck Sharp & Dohme Ges.mbH, the Austrian subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., with headquarters in Rahway, New Jersey, USA and 70,000 employees worldwide. In Austria, MSD has around 1,000 employees at several locations.
07/2024 | AT-NON-02459
Questions & Contact:
MSD Austria
Markus Stickler, BA MA
Policy & Corporate Communication Lead
Merck Sharp & Dohme Ges.m.b.H
Telephone: +43 664 81 86 137
markus.stickler@merck.com