Strategic collaboration establishes a framework to integrate automated experimentation and advanced chemistry workflows to accelerate research and discovery in Life Science and Electronics

Shanghai, China - January 19, 2026 — Merck, a leading science and technology company, and ChemLex, a Singapore-headquartered innovation company pioneering AI-driven automated chemical synthesis, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore a strategic collaboration in evolving R&D paradigms.

The MOU reflects a shared commitment to advancing life science and electronics discoveries by combining Merck’s deep scientific and translational expertise with ChemLex’s automated chemistry platform and data generation capabilities. Together, the parties aim to enhance the speed, efficiency, and reproducibility of chemical research across early discovery and development workflows within Merck's various business sectors.

Under the framework of the MOU, Merck and ChemLex intend to explore areas of cooperation that may include automated synthesis, reaction optimization, high-throughput experimentation, and chemistry platform integration. Initial efforts will focus on identifying high-impact chemistry programs and defining pathways toward potential future collaborations.

Marc Horn, President of Merck China, said: "This strategic partnership with ChemLex integrates AI and automation into our R&D operations, demonstrating Merck's commitment to embrace digital transformation and accelerate innovation. We look forward to creating greater value for our customers through this collaboration."

Dr. Sean Lin, Founder and CEO of ChemLex, said: "Our proprietary chemical synthesis platform that operates 24/7 with an AI closed-loop feedback mechanism, is redefining the efficiency boundaries of chemical synthesis. The in-depth collaboration with Merck China not only provides us with valuable opportunities to validate and optimize our technology in broader application scenarios but also enables us to explore the future of intelligent chemical synthesis alongside world-class research teams. "

The signing of the MOU underscores both organizations’ interest in scalable, data-rich experimental science and their shared focus on building long-term partnerships that advance innovation at the intersection of chemistry and automation. The parties will continue discussions to evaluate next steps under the MOU framework.

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 advancing genome editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – Merck 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. Over the past 93 years, Merck China has grown to 21 legal entities and now employs nearly 4,500 people in Beijing, Shanghai, Nantong, Wuxi, Suzhou, Hong Kong, etc.

About ChemLex

ChemLex is a Singapore-headquartered innovation company pioneering the integration of artificial intelligence, automation, and chemical synthesis to accelerate global R&D. Its proprietary AI-for-Chemistry platform and autonomous synthesis systems enable 24/7 high-throughput experimentation that shortens discovery cycles and reduces costs across the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.