Merck Serono Launches Glucophage(R) Powder (Metformin Hydrochloride) in First European Countries

September 15th, 2009 GENEVA - In the news release, "Merck Serono Growth Hormone Injection Device easypod(R) Approved in Japan" issued on 16 Sep 2009 07:00 GMT, by Merck Serono S A SWX:SEO over PR Newswire, we are advised by a representative of the company that the last sentence of the fourth paragraph has been changed from "In Japan, easypod(R) will be launched in September 2009" to "In Japan, easypod(R) will be launched in the course of 2009" as originally issued inadvertently. Complete, corrected release follows: Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany, today announced that the Japanese health authorities, the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), have granted a marketing authorization for easypod(R) in Japan.

September 15th, 2009 GENEVA - Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany, today announced that the Japanese health authorities, the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), have granted a marketing authorization for easypod(R) in Japan. Easypod(R) was developed for exclusive use with cartridges of Saizen(R) (somatropin), Merck Serono's human recombinant growth hormone for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency.

June 30th, 2009 GENEVA, Switzerland - - Global Fertility Academy Delivers Valuable Educational Tools Aiming at Increasing Expertise and Maximizing the Success Rate of Treatment - Web-based e-Learning Modules Complemented by Individualized Practical Training Sessions at Leading Fertility Centers Worldwide Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today the launch of the Global Fertility Academy, the first global professional educational program in fertility run by worldwide leading experts in this area.(1) Specifically developed for physicians active in treating infertility, such as reproductive endocrinologists, obstetricians/gynecologists and embryologists, the Global Fertility Academy aims at improving their knowledge of clinical standards in fertility and maximizing the success rates of treatment by providing valuable educational tools and sharing best practices. The Global Fertility Academy is available to healthcare professionals outside of the United States and Great Britain.

June 2nd, 2009 GENEVA, Switzerland - Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and its partner Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. (SWX: NWRN) announced today that detailed results of the first Phase III clinical trial of safinamide as adjunctive treatment in mid- to late-stage Parkinson's disease (PD) (Study 016) will be presented at the Movement Disorder Society's 13th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders to be held in Paris, France, from June 7-11, 2009.

May 24th, 2009 GENEVA, Switzerland - Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced that in the frame of the first International Thyroid Awareness Week, from May 25 to 31, the company in cooperation with Thyroid Federation International (TFI) will launch an awareness campaign, also supported by the European Thyroid Association (ETA) and the Latin American Thyroid Society (LATS), to raise awareness of thyroid dysfunctions and their consequences, in approximately 40 countries worldwide. Together with the international patient organization TFI, Merck Serono will provide information on these under-diagnosed diseases through professional educational sessions and distribution of information to the public.

May 17th, 2009 GENEVA, Switzerland - Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, confirms its commitment to investing in the therapeutic area of fertility, after Merck KGaA informed earlier today the Oslo Stock Exchange of its withdrawal of the voluntary cash tender offer for MediCult A/S, a leader in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), as the required share threshold was not reached in the set timeframe. "Merck Serono has a proud heritage of leadership in the field of fertility and will actively pursue opportunities that will contribute to bring further innovation to physicians and patients, and increase the success rate of fertility treatments," said Dr.

May 4th, 2009 GENEVA - Innovative Powder Formulation of Metformin Designed to Facilitate Adherence by Increasing Patient Choice in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes, Now Available in France and the United Kingdom Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced that Glucophage(R) Powder for Oral Solution in Sachets, (metformin hydrochloride in 500mg, 850mg and 1000mg strengths) indicated for the first-line treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, is now licensed in France and the United Kingdom(1), the first European countries to launch this new formulation of Glucophage. Launches in other European countries are expected to take place in the coming months, once individual marketing authorizations are granted.

April 20th, 2009 GENEVA - First Drug in Europe Indicated for the Treatment of Hyperphenylalaninaemia (Hpa) due to Phenylketonuria (Pku) or Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) Deficiency, now Commercially Available in France, Germany and the United Kingdom Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced that Kuvan (sapropterin dihydrochloride), indicated for the treatment of hyperphenylalaninaemia (HPA) due to phenylketonuria (PKU) or tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiency, is now commercially available in Europe. Beginning with France, Germany and the United Kingdom, Kuvan will be rolled out in a total of thirteen European countries this year.

March 29th, 2009 GENEVA, Switzerland - CLARITY (CLAdRIbine tablets Treating MS OrallY) Study Data to be Presented as Late-Breaking Oral Presentation GENEVA, Switzerland, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today that the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has accepted a late-breaking abstract regarding cladribine tablets, its oral investigational treatment of multiple sclerosis, for an oral presentation at the AAN 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle. The abstract is entitled "Results from the CLARITY study: a Phase III, randomized, double-blind study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral cladribine in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis".

March 22nd, 2009 GENEVA, Switzerland - New Venture Capital Fund Will Invest in Biotech Start-up Companies Focused on Merck Serono's Core Therapeutic Areas Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today the formation of 'Merck Serono Ventures', a strategic, corporate venture capital fund to invest in emerging biotechnology companies. The fund will support biotech start-up companies that have the potential to provide innovative products in Merck Serono's core therapeutic areas, in particular in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Oncology and Autoimmune & Inflammatory Diseases.

July 24th, 2009 Merck Q2 net profit falls 48 percent to euro109 MFRANKFURT — German drug and chemical maker Merck KGaA said Friday its second quarter net profit fell 48 percent as higher research costs and one-time effects from the acquisition of Serono weighed on the bottom line. The Darmstadt-based company reported a net profit of euro108 million ($153 million) in the April-June period compared with euro207 million a year earlier.

August 7th, 2009 Schering-Plough shareholders OK purchase by MerckTRENTON, N.J. — Shareholders of drugmaker Schering-Plough almost unanimously support being bought by bigger New Jersey neighbor Merck.

September 21st, 2009 Merck seeks EU approval to buy Schering-PloughTRENTON, N.J. — Drugmaker Merck & Co.

June 22nd, 2009 FTC requests more info from Merck, Schering-PloughNEW YORK — Drugmakers Merck and Co. and Schering-Plough Corp., which are in the process of a $41.1 billion tie-up, said Monday the Federal Trade Commission has asked for more information about the deal.

July 9th, 2009 Merck, Portola in $420M deal for anticlotting drugWHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck & Co.

April 27th, 2009 Merck 1Q net profit falls 76 percentFRANKFURT — German pharmaceutical and chemical company Merck KGaA said Monday that its first-quarter net profit dropped by 76 percent as demand for chemicals in particular declined. Darmstadt-based Merck said net profit for the January-March quarter fell to euro57 million ($75 million) from euro239 million a year earlier.

August 31st, 2009 Merck to form 5 divisions after Schering buyoutNEW YORK — Richard T. Clark, current president and CEO of Merck, says the company will restructure into five divisions after it completes the buyout of rival Schering-Plough for $41.1 billion.

April 21st, 2009 Chinese dairy launches new milk powder productsBEIJING — The Chinese dairy that bought the company at the heart of a tainted milk scandal that sickened hundreds of thousands of children has launched a new line of milk powder products, state media reported Tuesday. The new products are manufactured by Hebei Sanyuan Foods Co.

September 16th, 2009 Authorities investigate white powder at NASA HQWASHINGTON — Authorities are investigating a suspicious white powder found in an envelope at NASA headquarters in Washington. D.C. fire department spokesman Pete Piringer says hazardous materials teams have been sent to NASA headquarters in northwest Washington.

August 7th, 2009 Merck takeover of Schering-Plough up for voteTRENTON, N.J. — Shareholders will decide Friday whether two New Jersey drug companies will become the world's second-biggest drugmaker.