John Copeland

Head of International Business Development & Transactions at MSD

Speaker

John leads late-stage and commercial business development across all markets outside the United States and leads the pre-clinical licensing team in the EU, covering a broad spectrum of deal types. He and his teams identify, negotiate and execute collaborations that expand access to innovative medicines, accelerate near-term growth and improve the operational performance of MSD’s portfolio. Working across a diverse and complex international landscape, John brings together commercial, scientific and regional perspectives to build partnerships that deliver value for patients, partners and MSD. Over a 30-year career at MSD, John has built broad experience across commercial leadership, strategy, portfolio development and business development. His roles have included sales and marketing; Global Pharma and Vaccine Strategy; leadership of the Global Commercial New Product Development team, helping transition assets from development to commercialisation; corporate restructuring; and Head of US Business Development. For the past nine years, he has led International Commercial Business Development, drawing on this cross-functional experience to evaluate opportunities, shape partnerships and navigate the strategic and operational complexities of markets around the world. John holds a degree in business and economics from Rutgers University. As a US Congressional Scholar and Legislative Aide in the United States House of Representatives, he worked on issues including gun control, agricultural subsidy reform, health, science and technology, with a particular focus on US healthcare reform legislation. John and his wife, who also works for Merck, have lived and worked in Singapore and Switzerland and recently relocated to London. They have two daughters, aged 21 and 23, who attend university in the United States; one is preparing to graduate, while the other will study abroad in Shanghai this autumn.