MSD’s President Analyses Healthcare Challenges and Contributions to Biomedical Research

Ana Argelich Hesse, an IQS alumna from the 1st graduating class of Business Administration and Management, and President and General Manager of Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), shared her vision during her lecture “Current situation, opportunities, and challenges of the healthcare sector in Spain and contribution to biomedical research,” held by the IQS Business Foundation. The welcome address was given by Dr Salvador Borrós, Director of IQS.

Hesse, who leads a pharmaceutical company with departments in oncology, vaccines, cardiovascular health, HIV, and diabetes, offered insights into the company’s strategy and the future of the sector by highlighting the importance of innovation, diversity, and preparedness for health crises.

MSD describes itself as a research-intensive company, investing 25% of its annual revenue into research, reaching around 18 to 20 billion dollars. Hesse explained that the main focus is research and that the company has adopted a strategy of acquiring promising early-stage solutions (such as phase 1B or 2A) from biotech firms that lack the resources to advance their research to later stages.

She also highlighted the company’s work in market access, with a team dedicated to improving patient access to medicines. In this area, digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are gaining momentum, with a communication and education portal for doctors and projects aimed at automating and increasing the efficiency of production as well as drafting regulatory documentation.

Responding to concerns about potential disease spillovers (such as avian flu), the MSD executive expressed optimism about the ability to respond.

• The global scientific response to COVID-19 was remarkable, achieving what usually takes between 10 to 15 years in 18 months thanks to the effectiveness of scientific mechanisms and the agility of regulatory agencies.
• Technologies such as RNA and Artificial Intelligence facilitated replication and multiplication in the laboratory.
• A key factor in preventing the spread of disease is antibiotic resistance. Spain has reduced antibiotic resistance by 13% in recent years through programmes run by the Spanish Agency for Medicinal Products.

Discussing the impact of globalisation, the Hesse noted that the pharmaceutical production chain is intrinsically global. However, new regulations and tariffs have led to a fragmentation of production, with a trend towards American production for the US market and European production for the European market, diverting large investments towards the United States. She also mentioned that while China is strong in clinical use, the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is highly concentrated in Asia, particularly in India.

Hesse explained that her move into the pharmaceutical sector, after starting out in telecommunications, was driven by a personal mission (her mother’s experience with cancer) and the dynamic working environment at MSD. She was hired specifically for her digital background as the company was seeking someone with that perspective.

Regarding diversity, she highlighted that most of the CVs they receive are from women (80–90%) and that the pharmaceutical sector is attractive to the LGBTQ+ community, with high representation within the company through groups such as the Rainbow Alliance. She also mentioned the Alianza initiative, which supports employees with Spanish cultural backgrounds or Spanish-speaking employees to grow within the American company.

Her lecture concluded with a Q&A session on professional development in which students were encouraged to pursue what they are passionate about and not to fear stepping out of their comfort zone, as pharmaceutical companies offer opportunities for internal mobility and value authenticity and a desire to learn.