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Taipei, Taiwan – April 7, 2025 – Taipei Medical University (TMU) and Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) Taiwan have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in six key directions aiming to advance healthcare in Taiwan. This partnership—the very first large-scale alliance between a global pharmaceutical company and a medical university in Taiwan—will inject international resources into the country's healthcare innovation ecosystem and enhance its biotechnology and pharmaceutical competitiveness.
Six-Direction Collaborative Framework
The collaboration involves six TMU offices with counterpart units at MSD. TMU Office of Business Development will form the "MSD Innovative Strategic Partnership" with industry experts at MSD to provide business mentorship, clinical validation, and collaboration with startups. TMU Office of Human Research will work with clinical trial experts at MSD to enhance clinical trial capabilities across TMU's affiliated hospitals to improve efficiency. TMU Office of Academic Affairs will work with human resource experts at MSD to create new industry-oriented practical curricula for TMU students with aims to combine academic knowledge with workplace skills and to increase international visibility for Taiwanese young talents. TMU Office of Data Science will work with MSD clinico-marketing experts to develop real-world evidence (RWE) projects. TMU Center for Management and Development will establish an "Expedited New Drug Pathway" to streamline access to innovative therapeutics, especially first-in-class innovative pharmaceuticals which had been tested in clinical trials within TMU's 3,000-bed healthcare systems. TMU Taipei Cancer Center will coordinate the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs and optimize patient journeys to ensure early diagnosis and early treatment.
Statements from Leaders of TMU and MSD
TMU President Dr. Mai-Szu Wu emphasizes that this TMU-MSD collaboration will strengthen the academia-industry tie, providing faculty and researchers with greater access to international resources while expanding Taiwan's global influence in biomedical innovation.
MSD Taiwan Managing Director Mr. Vincent Tong comments that this broad-spectrum partnership aligns with the government's "Healthy Taiwan Sprout Project" and will enhance collaboration in clinical trials, talent development, and healthcare quality.
Implementation Timeline
Key projects will roll out throughout 2025, focusing on expanding clinical trials, deepening drug development collaborations, and strengthening biomedical talent cultivation. By combining TMU's capabilities with MSD's international resources, both organizations aim to advance Taiwan's healthcare industry, accelerate medical research breakthroughs, and provide patients with more treatment options.
Source :Office of Business Development & Secretariat
