Merck Congratulates Awardees of 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for Discovery Leading to River Blindness Treatment

Co-recipient Dr. William C. Campbell Conducted his Nobel Prize-winning Work at Merck Research Laboratories

KENILWORTH, N.J.--()--Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, proudly congratulates William C. Campbell, a retired scientist from Merck Research Laboratories, who was jointly named the 2015 Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine with Satoshi Omura for the discovery of avermectin, which led to Merck’s development of Mectizan (ivermectin), a treatment for river blindness (also known as onchocerciasis) in Africa, Latin America and Yemen. They will share the prize with Youyou Tu for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against malaria.

River blindness is a parasitic infection that can cause intense itching, skin discoloration, rashes, and eye disease that often leads to permanent blindness. It is spread by the bites of infected black flies that breed in rapidly flowing rivers in the affected countries.

“We are particularly proud of our colleague Dr. Campbell whose innovation, passion and dedication to fighting diseases during his 30-year career at Merck enabled the development of Mectizan,” said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “Through our Mectizan Donation Program we have been working with partners for nearly three decades to make this medicine available, free of charge, to all those affected by river blindness. At Merck, we remain committed to bringing the best that our science and innovation have to offer to solve the world’s global health challenges.”

Established more than 25 years ago, the Mectizan Donation Program is the longest-running disease-specific drug donation program and public-private partnership of its kind. In 1998, Merck expanded the program to include the elimination of another disease, lymphatic filariasis. The program reaches more than 250 million people in the affected areas annually, with more than 2 billion treatments donated since 1987.

About Merck

Today’s Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and healthcare legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward healthcare cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Contacts

Merck
Media:
Lainie Keller, 908-236-5036
or
Claire Gillespie, 267-305-0932
or
Investors:
Terri Loxam, 908-740-1986
or
Justin Holko, 908-740-1879

Release Summary

Merck Congratulates Awardees of 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for Discovery Leading to River Blindness Treatment

Contacts

Merck
Media:
Lainie Keller, 908-236-5036
or
Claire Gillespie, 267-305-0932
or
Investors:
Terri Loxam, 908-740-1986
or
Justin Holko, 908-740-1879