Simmunome Selected for Inaugural Canadian Cohort of Merck Digital Sciences Studio
MONTREAL, JUNE 20, 2025 - Simmunome Inc. is proud to announce its selection as one of seven startups invited to join the first-ever Canadian cohort of the Merck Digital Sciences Studio (MDSS). This milestone marks Merck’s expansion of the accelerator program into Canada and highlights Montréal’s growing prominence in life sciences and AI-driven drug development. As part of MDSS, Simmunome will receive mentorship, access to Merck’s global network, and $100,000 USD in funding via the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund and CQDM. Supported by a $900,000 investment from the Government of Québec under the Québec Life Sciences Strategy 2022–2025, the MDSS will focus on preventive health, platforms for R&D and 3D translational disease models. This initiative underscores the province's commitment to nurturing cutting-edge innovation and strengthens Simmunome’s position at the intersection of AI and pharma. The six-month program, set to launch in July 2025, will immerse Simmunome in a collaborative environment alongside leading biopharmaceutical partners and fellow cohort members, including Nanofacile, Misochip, 9Bio, Rime Therapeutics, Stereo Bio, and PCare+.
About Merck
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable, and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information about our operations in Canada, visit www.merck.ca and connect with us on LinkedIn @MerckCanada.
About the CQDM
CQDM is a not-for-profit biopharmaceutical research consortium whose mission is to support and facilitate collaborative multi-stakeholder research and development aimed at accelerating the translation or transformation of innovative technologies into solutions to unmet medical needs, while generating significant benefits for the Québec and Canadian economy. For more information, consult our website https://cqdm.org/en/ and join us on Twitter/X @CQDM_Canada and LinkedIn.