Merck Serono Opens Doors to Budding Scientists

GENEVA, March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Merck Serono hosted groups of motivated Swiss scholars, designated by the foundation "Swiss Youth in Science", for the fifth year in its labs.

- Opportunity for selected students, aged between 17 and 18 years, to perform practical research work and share knowledge with experienced scientists.

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announces today the completion of the second study week hosted this year in its global headquarter in Geneva, covering projects in the field of genetics in medicine and disease related biology. Merck Serono supports each year the recognized foundation "Swiss Youth in Science" to promote the development of medical research vocations by hosting groups of scholars in its labs. These scholars are given the chance of getting a practical experience in labs and of understanding the reality of research with the help of high-skilled mentors.

"If we succeed in building well-prepared and motivated next generations of scientists, we will enable the discovery of breakthrough and innovative solutions to answer patients' unmet needs and to handle the global medical challenges of the future. Therefore, supporting meaningful initiatives to stimulate scientific curiosity and interest in research careers among the young is a responsibility that Merck Serono is eager to take on", said Dr. Bernhard Kirschbaum, Executive Vice President, Global Research and Development at Merck Serono. "As a leader in the medical field and local employer in Switzerland, we are continuously working on deepening our relationships with the Swiss community and with the academic institutions of the Lake Geneva region", added Dietmar Eidens, Head of Global Human Resources at Merck Serono.

Since 1989, the foundation "Swiss Youth in Science" whose mission is to promote Science, works in collaboration with the local Universities and the industry by organizing study weeks all over Switzerland in different scientific disciplines. Traditionally, Merck Serono contributes to the study weeks focused on chemistry and genetics that belong to its key fields of expertise. This year, the foundation proposed four themes in the frame of the genetics in biology and medicine week: molecular and cellular biology, bioinformatics, neurobiology, and anthropology/evolutionary biology. In this context, and to illustrate these research approaches, scholars have developed, together with Merck Serono, their assignments in the areas of pharmacology, immunology and new compounds screening. Under dedicated supervision of Merck Serono mentors, students have performed short research projects and presented them as posters at the final ceremony at the University of Geneva.

About Merck Serono

Merck Serono is the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets prescription medicines of both chemical and biological origin in specialist indications. In the United States and Canada, EMD Serono operates as a separately incorporated affiliate of Merck Serono.

Merck Serono has leading brands serving patients with cancer (Erbitux(R), cetuximab), multiple sclerosis (Rebif(R), interferon beta-1a), infertility (Gonal-f(R), follitropin alfa), endocrine and metabolic disorders (Saizen(R) and Serostim(R), somatropin), (Kuvan(R), sapropterin dihydrochloride), (Egrifta(TM), tesamorelin), as well as cardiometabolic diseases (Glucophage(R), metformin), (Concor(R), bisoprolol), (Euthyrox(R), levothyroxine). Not all products are available in all markets.

With an annual R&D expenditure of over EUR 1bn, Merck Serono is committed to growing its business in specialist-focused therapeutic areas including neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as new areas potentially arising out of research and development in rheumatology.

For more information, please visit http://www.merckserono.com or http://www.merck.de

About Merck

Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of EUR 9.3 billion in 2010, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by more than 40,000 employees in 67 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and free shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.

For more information, please visit http://www.merckserono.com or http://www.merck.de .