Venture Capital Firm Pulse 63 Gets Investment From Merck & Co.

New Jersey-based global healthcare leader Merck & Co., Inc. (MSD) has announced an investment in local healthcare venture capital firm Pulse63 Healthcare Ventures, a move seen to bolster support for local health startups and the Philippines' overall healthcare ecosystem.  

Pulse63 is a company engaged in financially supporting and building healthcare startups and to meet industry stakeholder needs in the country.

In a statement published on May 29, Tuesday, the local VC firm did not immediately disclose the specific amount of MSD's actual investment but said that it would lead to the improvement of the delivery of healthcare services in the Philippines via new technologies. It added that the inititive was part of the MSD Global Heath Innovation Fund, which is a growth investor partnering program focuses on supporting companies engaged in improving patient care throug hinnovative digital health and data science services.

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Based on MSD's website, it has made over 70 investments since the fund started in 2010. It has also built up an evergreen fund ammounting to about $600 million.

Pulse63, which has a strong preference to invest in health companies and has done so in nearly $250,000 worth of investments, also offers business-to-business software as a service solutions that seeks to utilize artificial intelligence to boost patient access.

MSD's investment is seen to support the Philippine company's goal to streamline and improve patient health outcomes via state-of-the art technology.

"Pulse63 is tackling a critical challenge in healthcare--making sure patients can reach the right care at the right time," Pulse 63 Managing Director Kyle McAndrews said. "MSD’s support will help us to continue to build an ecosystem of founders and companies making exceptional healthcare accessible to all in the Philippines and to deepen our impact across the country."

Pulse63's portfolio includes healthcare startups such as Kindred, Mediclick, GoRocky, Life by Petto, Tealth, Earthyby,  SwiftWe Eat Organic, MedHyve, among others.

These ventures involve companies that aim to enhance local healthcare access and the delivery of services at scale. MSD's investment is seen to improve research and devleopment and to pursue key partnerships with the locla healthcare ecosystem.

“At MSD, we recognize the promise of startups emerging from Pulse63 towards addressing healthcare challenges from the ground up," said Saumick Pal, who heads digital, data analytics & innovation at MSD Asia Pacific.

"Pulse-63’s ecosystem-first approach aligns with our mission to
enhance healthcare accessibility, affordability, and efficiency across the Philippines and the broader Asia Pacific region.”