German pharmaceutical giant Merck KGaA has appointed industry veteran David Weinreich, MD, MBA, as Global Head of R&D and Chief Medical Officer for its Healthcare business sector, as the company works to revitalize its drug development pipeline following recent clinical setbacks.
Weinreich brings over 20 years of biopharma leadership experience, having successfully led the development of 15 approved drugs worldwide across various therapeutic areas. He joins Merck from Foresite Labs & Foresite Capital Management LLC, where he served as an Operating Partner and Senior Advisor, and has previously held senior executive positions at Regeneron as Executive Vice President, Head of Global Clinical Development, Bayer as Corporate Senior Vice President, Head of Global Development Specialty Medicine, and Amgen as Executive Medical Director and Global Product Area Leader for Angiogenesis.
Strategic Leadership Amid Pipeline Challenges
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for Merck's healthcare division, which has faced pressure to strengthen its pipeline following significant clinical failures. The company recently experienced setbacks with multiple sclerosis candidate evobrutinib and cancer therapy xevinapant, both of which failed in phase 3 development after substantial investment.
"Scientific innovation is the engine that drives everything we do to transform patient care," said Danny Bar Zohar, MD, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Healthcare. "In David, we have a leader with a unique combination of deep scientific expertise, immense experience in drug development and successfully bringing drugs to the finish line, and global perspective—along with the clarity and boldness to shape a next-generation R&D strategy."
Addressing Portfolio Maturity Through External Partnerships
With key healthcare products like cancer therapy Erbitux (cetuximab) and multiple sclerosis treatment Mavenclad (cladribine) still delivering sales growth but reaching maturity—having been launched in the mid-2000s and late-2010s respectively—Merck has been actively seeking external opportunities to bolster its pipeline.
Recent strategic moves include the $3.9 billion acquisition of SpringWorks, which added approved products Ogsiveo (nirogacestat) for desmoid tumours and Ezmekly (mirdametinib) for tumours associated with neurofibromatosis type. The company also established a $2 billion alliance with Skyhawk focused on discovering small-molecule drugs for neurological disorders and formed a $1.6 billion oncology partnership with Jiangsu Hengrui.
R&D Strategy and Leadership Vision
As Global Head of R&D and Chief Medical Officer, Weinreich will oversee Research and Development for Merck's Healthcare business sector, including Medical Affairs. His role encompasses leading both early-stage and late-stage development programs, with responsibility for managing complex global pipelines and R&D teams.
"Joining Merck at such a pivotal moment in its growth journey offers a rare opportunity to lead scientific innovation with the potential to have a profound impact on patients' lives," said Dr. Weinreich. "This is an organization with a strong legacy, deep scientific capabilities, and a clear commitment to delivering meaningful value where it's needed most. I look forward to working with teams around the world to advance a clear R&D strategy grounded in urgency, collaboration, and purpose."
Weinreich will be based at Merck's Research and Development site in Billerica, Massachusetts, positioning him at the center of the company's U.S. operations. His appointment represents a significant step in Merck's efforts to accelerate drug development and bring more medicines to patients faster, leveraging his proven track record in achieving global regulatory approvals across multiple therapeutic areas.
