Who We Are

Hilleman Laboratories translates early discoveries to make vaccines for infectious diseases and improve global health.

Early Discovery

We work with R&D partners to de-risk development of promising discoveries in vaccines for infectious diseases

Translation

Our expertise in process development, formulation science, preclinical R&D, as well as GMP manufacturing, provides the full suite of translational capabilities.

Global Health Impact

We deliver on global health impact by making vaccines more affordable and more widely accessible, especially for low- and middle- income countries (LMICs)

Established in 2009, Hilleman Laboratories has a public health mission to develop affordable vaccines and biologics against infectious diseases prevalent in low- and middle-income countries.

Our expertise in end-to-end product development is targeted at creating novel vaccines and biologics in areas of high unmet need as well as adapting existing vaccines and biologics with more effective delivery tools to meet challenging environments in developing countries.

We also seek to collaborate with local, regional, and global partners and stakeholders, including policymakers and governments, to facilitate wider, affordable access to life-saving vaccines and biologics.

Hilleman Laboratories is an equal joint venture of Wellcome Trust and MSD

Wellcome Trust

Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation based in London, aims to promote global health by funding curiosity-driven research and collaborating with other institutions to advocate for better health policies and encourage development and innovation in healthcare.

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MSD

Headquartered in New Jersey, USA, Merck Sharp & Dohme is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on research, development, innovation and production of pharmaceutical drugs and therapies as health solutions.

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Maurice Hilleman

Dr. Maurice Ralph Hilleman (1919-2005) was the most prolific vaccine scientist of the 20th century. Often referred to as one of the most influential vaccinologists, he belongs to a distinguished group of pioneers who are credited with saving millions of lives through the development of over 40 vaccines.

Dr. Hilleman began his career in the US Army during WWII where he developed vaccines against influenza and other diseases. In 1957, he joined Merck Research Laboratories as a Director of Virus and Cell Biology and after his retirement in 1984, he served as a consultant in infectious diseases, a mentor to younger scientists and an advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO). He was decorated with numerous awards and honours including the National Medal of Science, the highest scientific honour in the United States.

Dr. Hilleman was the first person to combine different viral vaccines into one shot with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and played a primary role in the research and development of numerous vaccines including:

  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Japanese encephalitis (JE)
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B (two versions)
  • Influenza
  • Chickenpox
  • Adenovirus
  • Meningococcus
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
  • Pneumococcus
  • Marek’s disease (MDV) – veterinary vaccine