23 May 2025 – Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced it is joining forces with non-profit research organisation Omico.

Under a new initiative Merck will work with Omico to leverage the groundbreaking national population screening and clinical trial network, helping patients more quickly connect with company sponsored cancer trials.

Managing Director Josie Downey explained that the initiative reflects Merck’s focussed approach to the research and development of potential new medicines designed to improve the futures of people with cancer.

“Our collaboration with Omico is the next step in our ambition to expand our clinical trial footprint in Australia, and a demonstration of Merck’s continued commitment to the Australian Cancer Plan and improving equity of access for Australians with cancer,” said Ms Downey.

“As a global specialty innovator, our vision is a world where more cancer patients become cancer survivors. We share Omico’s ambition that cancer patients, wherever they live in Australia, should be able to be connected through precision oncology and screening, with the appropriate treatment or clinical trials, without delay,” she said.

“When we started work 18 months ago, Merck committed to work with our global team to bring more of our early phase clinical development program to Australian patients, and I’m proud to say that since that time, we have more than doubled our clinical trial sites and tripled our oncology trial program locally,” Ms Downey said.

“The challenge now is to find ways to break down the barriers patients may face in accessing clinical trials. For a patient living with cancer, navigating the complexity

of healthcare is hard enough. Initiatives like this with Omico, can help reduce the time it takes for patients to access matched treatment or clinical trials,” she added.

The Merck-Omico initiative will leverage Omico’s PrOSPeCT(Precision Oncology Screening Platform enabling Clinical Trials) initiative, which ensures that Australians living with advanced, incurable or poor prognosis cancer can have accelerated access to free comprehensive genomic profiling and, where possible, are matched to advanced, personalised medicine via available clinical trials or therapies.

Professor David Thomas, Chief Science and Strategy Officer at Omico explained that science, particularly precision oncology, can help to drive patient-centred care where it’s needed.

“When faced with a cancer diagnosis, obtaining comprehensive molecular information about their cancer can empower patients and healthcare providers to explore all potential treatment avenues, including novel personalised therapies, many of which may be available only through clinical trials,” said Professor Thomas.

“Omico’s mission is to mainstream precision oncology for Australians. We cannot do this alone – that’s why it’s important that we work to bring together all parts of the cancer ecosystem, and continuously attract clinical trials to Australia, for patients, their families and carers,” he said.

“We welcome Merck to our collaboration. We don’t want a single patient with advanced, incurable and poor prognosis cancer diagnoses to miss the opportunity to benefit from precision oncology and available clinical trials,” he added.

Since 2016, Omico’s programs have provided more than 23,700 Australians with access to precision oncology innovations, with referrals from over 1,380 clinicians nationwide.

Beyond transforming patient care, Omico has supported 98 oncology clinical trials to date – expanding Australia’s research capabilities, attracting international investment, and offering patients and families treatment options that would otherwise be out of reach.

Josie Downey explained that organisations like Omico make Australia attractive to global companies, looking to invest in clinical development programs.

“We commend the team at Omico for their passion and commitment to improving access and outcomes for cancer patients. Their work has been instrumental in providing Australians with the ability to receive precision oncology and is a critical initiative advancing cancer care in this country,” she said.

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About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. More than 62,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2024, Merck generated sales of € 21.2 billion in 65 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics.

About Omico

Omico is changing the way we fight cancer by accelerating access to precision oncology. We are the national, independent, not-for-profit organisation, uniting Australia’s world-class cancer institutes, researchers, clinicians, industry partners, government and patient community like never before. By leveraging a nationwide network of expertise and resources, we are facilitating the delivery of genomic cancer medicine clinical trials to thousands of Australians with advanced and incurable cancers. With fast-tracked molecular and genomic screening, biomarker-led trial set up and patient enrolment from the entire nation, we’re accelerating access to next generation treatments and preventive strategies. Learn more at omico.com.au

*PrOSPeCT – Precision Oncology Screening Program Enabling Clinical Trials

Merck Healthcare Pty Ltd, Suite 1, Level 1, Building B, 11 Talavera Road, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Australia. AU-NONPR-00059. Date of Preparation: May 2025.

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