MRL Ventures Fund is the corporate venture arm of Merck, focusing on seed and early-stage investments in therapeutic companies within the life sciences and healthcare sector. Their strategy involves providing capital, strategic guidance, and mentorship to innovative startups developing transformative medicines, while explicitly avoiding investments in medical devices, diagnostic platforms, or digital health.
Portfolio
3
Fund Size
$500M
Top Stage
Series A
Last 12 Mo
1
Team
OD
Olga Danilchanka
Partner
Stage Distribution
Portfolio
3 investments
| Company | Round | Amount | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAQ Therapeutics | Series B | $39M | May 2025 |
| Axonis Therapeutics | Series A | $115M | Oct 2024 |
| Aktis Oncology | Series A | $84M | Aug 2022 |
Top Co-Investors
Cormorant Asset Management1 shared
venBio1 shared
Sofinnova Partners1 shared
Perceptive Advisors1 shared
Solasta Ventures1 shared
SC Ventures1 shared
Alexandria Venture Investments1 shared
MPM Capital1 shared
Cowen Healthcare Investments1 shared
BioTrack Capital1 shared
Last updated: 1 March 2026