The Chang Gung Medical Foundation and Merck & Co., Inc. (MSD) announced on the 16th that the two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 15th, represented respectively by Dr. Wen-Chun Cheng, Chair of the Decision-Making Committee of Chang Gung Medical Foundation, and Vincent Tong, President of MSD Taiwan. The collaboration will expand to include Keelung Chang Gung, Chiayi Chang Gung, and Kaohsiung Chang Gung hospitals, aiming to integrate clinical research resources and enhance synergistic development across the Chang Gung healthcare network.

Dr. Wen-Chun Cheng stated that Chang Gung Medical Foundation and MSD have maintained a close partnership for more than 30 years, consistently advancing world-class clinical research. This upgraded collaboration extends beyond cooperation with individual hospitals, integrating the full capabilities of the entire medical system to improve efficiency and quality in clinical trials, providing patients with safer and more effective treatment options, and further enhancing Taiwan’s international competitiveness in medical research.

Vincent Tong emphasized that Merck has long been committed to innovative drug development, investing US$17.94 billion in research and development in 2024, making it one of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies in R&D expenditure. Since entering Taiwan in 1992, MSD has continuously promoted local clinical trials and drug accessibility. Tong expressed that the Chang Gung Medical System is a benchmark for clinical and medical research in Taiwan, and MSD is honored to maintain a long-term and robust partnership with Chang Gung, jointly driving the sustainable development of Taiwan’s healthcare sector.

Since the inception of their collaboration, Chang Gung Medical Foundation and MSD have completed over 300 clinical trial projects across a wide range of disease areas, contributing to the successful approval and market launch of more than 20 innovative drugs, thereby offering patients more treatment options. Moving forward, the partnership will continue to expand into multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, vaccines and infectious diseases, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, immunology, neuroscience, and ophthalmology, paving the way for further breakthroughs in medical research.

Another highlight of this renewed collaboration is the joint launch of the “Care Pathway Optimization Program.” This initiative will review and enhance internal hospital processes to improve service efficiency, reduce patient wait times, and minimize resource waste. In alignment with sustainable development principles, the program will also address the challenges of limited medical manpower by leveraging innovative team collaboration and management models to optimize human resource allocation, providing patients with smarter, faster, and more precise healthcare experiences that better meet their needs.

Resource: 長庚醫療體系與美商默沙東藥廠擴大合作 強化多元治療領域臨床規模