German pharmaceutical company Merck is expanding its business in China, with an eye on the development of precision medicine powered by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, according to a senior leader of the multinational drugmaker.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing, Marc Horn, the executive vice president of Merck Group and the president of Merck China, said that the company is accelerating the introduction of its global pipeline into China and deepening local partnerships in chronic disease management.
"We are developing diabetes, cardio, but also thyroids and oncology. So we are bringing a lot of new pipeline from oncology to China. But we are also developing here locally with partners. We have been developing in that space products here for China together," said Horn.
He highlighted the application of AI, saying that the emerging technology improves the efficiency of medical research and development, and helps create customized individual treatment.
"Beyond that, when you think about life science, and taking AI again, what is more important is that you do really precision medicine, so really customized medicine by person. You're really diagnosing now, with the help of AI, what is your problem, so that you really get a customized treatment. And in that space, for example, also to develop new solutions to your problem, you use AI, so we have programs, we call them AIDDISON, we call them SYNTHIA, where you can very quickly go through millions of potential molecules, and decide then with AI help which one would be the right pathway to go," Horn said.
He also noted that given China's demographic and medical needs, the company is using AI to lay the groundwork for a smarter, more adaptive business to support the Chinese healthcare system.
"The other area we see, where we can support, is really elderly care, right? You have in China, from a demographics point of view in 2035, 400 million people, what the government call 'the silver economy,' where we can also support, right? Each of them will need customized treatment, care at home, most likely. And think about combining that with robotics, humanoid robotics. So these are areas we're working on," said Horn.
Merck plans China expansion with eye on AI-powered precision medicine
Commemorations honoring Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs were held on the banks of the Yalu River in Dandong, Liaoning Province on Tuesday as part of ongoing tributes to those who fought in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953).
The event was held to mark the return of the remains of 12 CPV martyrs, who were killed in the war, from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.
This will be the 13th such repatriation of CPV remains following the handover agreement between the two countries. Since 2014, the remains of 1,011 soldiers have been returned to China from the ROK, according to China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
More than 170 representatives, including veteran CPV soldiers, relatives of the martyrs, active-duty personnel, students, and other from various sectors of society, attended the event.
People boarded a ferry which slowly sailed down the Yalu River. Inside the cabin, all present stood in solemn silence as the national anthem of the People's Republic of China was played, and observed a moment of silence in honor of the CPV martyrs.
Then, they walked to the ship's railings one by one and scattered flower petals into the river to pay tribute to the martyrs.
"We, the CPV, went abroad to fight to defend our motherland, the people, and our good life and to resist U.S. imperialist aggression against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). I hope that our young comrades and students today will study hard and make contributions to our motherland," said Hu Changzhe, a CPV veteran.
"I feel deeply moved as these veteran soldiers are heroes who once fought for our country. Now, standing by the Yalu River, looking back on their past and remembering their comrades, they must be deeply touched," said Hong Jialu, a student at a branch of Liaoning Province Shiyan High School.
At the event, 10 student representatives from primary and middle schools read aloud a letter to express their reverence and remembrance for the heroic martyrs through their sincere words and heartfelt recitation.
The Korean War broke out in June 1950, eight months after the People's Republic of China was founded. At the request of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), China sent 2.9 million CPV soldiers to assist the DPRK during the war, of whom more than 360,000 were killed or injured.
Commemorations held to pay tribute to CPV heroes in northeast China
