Merck and Google Cloud announce $1 billion AI partnership to transform drug development

Merck to partner with Google Cloud on AI initiatives

NEW YORK, April 22 (Reuters) - Drugmaker Merck & Co (MRK.N), opens new tab said on Wednesday it will partner with Google Cloud to build up its artificial intelligence capabilities, investing as much as $1 billion with Google over a number of years to fund AI infrastructure, engineers and licensing of the tech company's Gemini Enterprise platform. The partnership, announced at Google's Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas, builds on work already underway between the companies and includes Google Cloud engineers working alongside Merck teams, executives from both companies said. "I easily see us investing a billion over the next several years in this, in those capabilities," Dave Williams, Merck's chief information ⁠and digital officer, said in an interview. "We're not just buying tokens. It is really the tool set" Google Cloud offers, he said, including Gemini Enterprise and the company's engineers. Williams said the companies haven't defined a specific time frame for the collaboration, but he expects it to be at least a decade-long partnership. The companies said the partnership will work to deploy AI across Merck's drug research, regulatory work, manufacturing and commercial operations. Both companies framed the collaboration as a way to accelerate drug development. "We've always said we wanted AI to play a positive role in society. One of the ways is ⁠to help people find cures to illnesses," Thomas Kurian, the CEO of Google Cloud, said in the same interview. "They have the domain knowledge. We're bringing the AI tools and platform and cyber capability to help them build using these tools." Merck plans to use AI across the drug development process, Williams said, including running computerized ⁠simulations of laboratory experiments and speeding the regulatory process. Merck has used AI to help prepare sections of clinical study reports for roughly two years with some success, he said, and now plans to expand that ⁠approach. "We feel there's a tremendous opportunity there, and it's a huge information challenge," he said. Williams added that Merck already has used Google's technology to cut down by half the time and cost ⁠of compiling dossiers required in many countries to secure reimbursement for new medicines. "This isn't a pilot," Williams said. "We're submitting dossiers in markets using this new capability, and we're now scaling it globally." Google Cloud is a unit of Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), opens new tab. Reporting by Michael Erman; Editing by Paul Simao Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Merck to partner with Google Cloud on AI initiatives

Drugmaker Merck & Co is joining forces with Google Cloud. They will invest up to one billion dollars over several years. This partnership aims to boost Merck's artificial intelligence capabilities. The collaboration will focus on AI infrastructure, engineers, and Google's Gemini Enterprise platform. This move is expected to accelerate drug research and development for Merck. Drugmaker Merck & Co said on Wednesday it will partner with Google Cloud to build up its artificial intelligence capabilities, investing as much as $1 billion with Google over a number of years to fund AI infrastructure, engineers and licensing of the tech company's Gemini Enterprise platform. The partnership, announced at Google's Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas, builds on work already underway between the ⁠companies ⁠and includes Google Cloud engineers working alongside Merck teams, executives from both companies said. "I easily see us investing a billion over the next several years in this, in those capabilities," Dave Williams, Merck's chief information and digital officer, said in an interview. "We're not just buying tokens. It is really the tool set" Google Cloud offers, he said, including Gemini Enterprise and the company's engineers. Williams said the companies haven't defined a specific time ⁠frame for the collaboration, but he expects it to be at least a decade-long partnership. The companies said the partnership will work to deploy AI across Merck's drug ⁠research, regulatory work, manufacturing and commercial operations. Both companies framed the collaboration as a way to accelerate drug development. "We've always said we wanted AI to play a positive role in society. One of the ways is to help people find cures to illnesses," Thomas Kurian, the CEO of Google Cloud, said in the same interview. "They have the domain knowledge. We're bringing the AI tools and platform and cyber capability to help them build using these tools." Merck plans to use AI across the drug development process, Williams said, including running computerized simulations of laboratory experiments and speeding the regulatory process. Merck has used AI to help prepare sections of ⁠clinical study reports for roughly two years with some success, he said, and now plans to expand that approach. "We feel there's a tremendous opportunity there, and it's a huge information challenge," he said. Williams added that Merck already has used Google's technology to cut down by half the time and cost of compiling dossiers required in many countries to secure reimbursement for new medicines. "This isn't a pilot," Williams said. "We're submitting dossiers in markets using this new capability, and we're now scaling it globally." Google Cloud is a unit of Alphabet Inc.

Merck and Google Cloud Launch Up to $1 Billion AI Partnership

Merck has expanded its artificial intelligence strategy through a multi-year partnership with Google Cloud that could reach up to $1 billion over several years. The agreement will support AI infrastructure, software licensing, and engineering collaboration, with Gemini Enterprise set to play a central role in the rollout across the drugmaker's operations. The companies announced the deal on April 22 at Google Cloud Next 2026 in Las Vegas. Merck said the partnership will strengthen its digital backbone and support a broader shift toward an during what it described as a major launch period for the company. The program covers research and development, manufacturing, commercial operations, and corporate functions. Merck said the aim is to improve productivity, digitize more data, and help teams move scientific and business processes faster across its global organization of about 75,000 employees.

Merck to partner with Google Cloud on AI initiatives

NEW YORK, April 22 (Reuters) - Drugmaker Merck & Co said on Wednesday it will partner with Google Cloud to build up its artificial intelligence capabilities, investing as much as $1 billion with Google over a number of years to fund AI infrastructure, engineers and licensing of the tech company's Gemini Enterprise platform. The partnership, announced at Google's Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas, builds on work already underway between the companies and includes Google Cloud engineers working alongside Merck teams, executives from both companies said. "I easily see us investing a billion over the next several years in this, in those capabilities," Dave Williams, Merck's chief information and digital officer, said in an interview. "We're not just buying tokens. It is really the tool set" Google Cloud offers, he said, including Gemini Enterprise and the company's engineers. Williams said the companies haven't defined a specific time frame for the collaboration, but he expects it to be at least a decade-long partnership. The companies said the partnership will work to deploy AI across Merck's drug research, regulatory work, manufacturing and commercial operations. Both companies framed the collaboration as a way to accelerate drug development. "We've always said we wanted AI to play a positive role in society. One of the ways is to help people find cures to illnesses," Thomas Kurian, the CEO of Google Cloud, said in the same interview. "They have the domain knowledge. We're bringing the AI tools and platform and cyber capability to help them build using these tools." Merck plans to use AI across the drug development process, Williams said, including running computerized simulations of laboratory experiments and speeding the regulatory process. Merck has used AI to help prepare sections of clinical study reports for roughly two years with some success, he said, and now plans to expand that approach. "We feel there's a tremendous opportunity there, and it's a huge information challenge," he said. Williams added that Merck already has used Google's technology to cut down by half the time and cost of compiling dossiers required in many countries to secure reimbursement for new medicines. "This isn't a pilot," Williams said. "We're submitting dossiers in markets using this new capability, and we're now scaling it globally."

Merck partners with Google Cloud in $1 billion AI deal By Investing.com

LAS VEGAS - Merck (NYSE:MRK) and Google Cloud announced today a multi-year partnership valued at up to $1 billion to deploy artificial intelligence technology across the pharmaceutical company's operations, according to a press release statement. The $278 billion pharmaceutical giant's stock has surged 48% over the past year, though InvestingPro analysis suggests the shares remain undervalued relative to its Fair Value. The collaboration will implement Google Cloud's Gemini Enterprise AI platform across Merck's research and development, manufacturing, commercial, and corporate functions. Google Cloud engineers will work directly with Merck teams to deploy the technology for the company's 75,000 employees worldwide. The partnership aims to digitize data and integrate AI agents and generative tools into workflows spanning drug discovery, manufacturing optimization, and commercial operations. Merck will build AI solutions on Google Cloud's technology platform to support various business processes. The company maintains a "GOOD" financial health score according to InvestingPro, with revenue of $65 billion and a dividend track record spanning 56 consecutive years. "Merck's collaboration with Google Cloud represents the next phase of our AI journey, extending our longstanding use of advanced technologies into an intelligent agentic ecosystem that will work alongside our teams," said Dave Williams, chief information and digital officer at Merck. Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, stated the partnership "represents a fundamental shift in how technology supports the entire pharma value chain." The agreement includes deploying Gemini Enterprise across research and development workflows, applying predictive analytics in manufacturing, and implementing AI-powered automation in corporate functions. Merck described the timing as coinciding with a significant product launch period for the company. Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, is a research-intensive biopharmaceutical company that has operated for more than 130 years. Google Cloud provides AI infrastructure, data management capabilities, and developer tools to customers in more than 200 countries and territories. In other recent news, Merck announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Idvynso, a new two-drug single-tablet regimen for treating HIV-1 in adults. This treatment is specifically for virologically suppressed adults switching from their current antiretroviral regimen. Additionally, Merck, along with its partner Eisai, reported that their Phase 3 LITESPARK-012 trial for advanced renal cell carcinoma did not meet its primary endpoints, as the tested regimens failed to outperform the established treatment. In a positive development, the FDA granted Merck priority review for two supplemental Biologics License Applications for KEYTRUDA and KEYTRUDA QLEX, combined with Padcev, for muscle-invasive bladder cancer treatment. UBS reiterated a Buy rating on Merck stock, emphasizing the strength of its drug pipeline and ongoing deal activity aimed at portfolio growth. Furthermore, Guggenheim also reiterated a Buy rating ahead of Merck's upcoming earnings release, though it adjusted its sales and earnings per share estimates slightly downward. These updates reflect Merck's dynamic activities in drug development and market positioning. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Merck to partner with Google Cloud on AI initiatives

NEW YORK, April 22 (Reuters) - Drugmaker Merck & Co said on Wednesday it will partner with Google Cloud to build up its artificial intelligence capabilities, investing as much as $1 billion with Google over a number of years to fund AI infrastructure, engineers and licensing of the tech company's Gemini Enterprise platform. The partnership, announced at Google's Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas, builds on work already underway between the companies and includes Google Cloud engineers working alongside Merck teams, executives from both companies said. "I easily see us investing a billion over the next several years in this, in those capabilities," Dave Williams, Merck's chief information and digital officer, said in an interview. "We're not just buying tokens. It is really the tool set" Google Cloud offers, he said, including Gemini Enterprise and the company's engineers. Williams said the companies haven't defined a specific time frame for the collaboration, but he expects it to be at least a decade-long partnership. The companies said the partnership will work to deploy AI across Merck's drug research, regulatory work, manufacturing and commercial operations. Both companies framed the collaboration as a way to accelerate drug development. "We've always said we wanted AI to play a positive role in society. One of the ways is to help people find cures to illnesses," Thomas Kurian, the CEO of Google Cloud, said in the same interview. "They have the domain knowledge. We're bringing the AI tools and platform and cyber capability to help them build using these tools." Merck plans to use AI across the drug development process, Williams said, including running computerized simulations of laboratory experiments and speeding the regulatory process. Merck has used AI to help prepare sections of clinical study reports for roughly two years with some success, he said, and now plans to expand that approach. "We feel there's a tremendous opportunity there, and it's a huge information challenge," he said. Williams added that Merck already has used Google's technology to cut down by half the time and cost of compiling dossiers required in many countries to secure reimbursement for new medicines. "This isn't a pilot," Williams said. "We're submitting dossiers in markets using this new capability, and we're now scaling it globally." Google Cloud is a unit of Alphabet Inc. (Reporting by Michael Erman; Editing by Paul Simao)