[A Visit to Merck and Conversations on Pharma Practice]

Delighted to spend time at Merck earlier this month, meeting with members of the IP Group across patents, trademarks, and policy.

What made the visit especially valuable was the conversation. We discussed how IP practice is evolving in response to technological change, the role of judgment and institutional design in an AI-enabled legal environment, and how forums like the Hansen IP Institute Conference can continue to serve as spaces for candid, forward-looking dialogue between industry, academia, and policymakers.

I was grateful for the chance to hear feedback from Merck attorneys who have participated in past Hansen Institute programs (which Penn State Dickinson Law is co-organizing), and to exchange ideas with IP leadership on policy engagement and longer-term priorities. These kinds of conversations, grounded in practice and shaped by experience, are essential as we think about where IP law is headed in 2026 and beyond.

Thank you to John Todaro and the Merck IP team for the warm welcome and generous engagement. I left the visit with a deeper appreciation for how thoughtfully IP leaders are navigating complexity, scale, and responsibility in real time.