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November 30, 2010 7:00 am ET

New Roles Effective January 1, 2011

Merck (NYSE: MRK) today announced that its Board of Directors has
elected Kenneth C. Frazier, currently Merck’s president, as chief
executive officer (CEO) and president, as well as a member of the board,
effective January 1, 2011. Mr. Frazier will succeed Richard T. Clark,
who has served as Merck’s CEO since 2005 and will continue as chairman
of the board. Merck said today’s announcement is the result of a
long-term, thoughtful succession planning process led by Mr. Clark and
the Board of Directors.

“Merck’s Board of Directors and I have great confidence in Ken as the
right CEO to lead this exceptional company into a new era of global
health care,” said Richard T. Clark, Merck CEO and chairman. “Ken has
made considerable contributions to our business every step of the way
during his 18 years with Merck. His intellect, drive and deep
understanding of our industry will greatly benefit Merck and our mission
of improving and saving lives through scientific innovation. Ken is a
gifted leader who has what it will take to ensure Merck’s success as we
face unprecedented change and enormous opportunity.”

Speaking on behalf of Merck’s Board of Directors, William B. Harrison,
lead director, said, “During the board’s succession planning process, it
became clear to us that Ken Frazier has the strategic vision,
operational experience and passion to lead Merck. Ken is a proven
executive who has played a key role in shaping Merck’s business
strategy. With his understanding of the global health care environment,
the board is confident in Ken’s ability to take the helm at Merck and
guide the continued implementation of our long-term strategy.
Furthermore, thanks to the close partnership Ken and Dick have developed
over the last decade, we expect this leadership transition to proceed
smoothly and produce great results for Merck.”

Since his appointment as Merck’s president in April, Mr. Frazier has
focused on improving the effectiveness of the company’s three largest
divisions – pharmaceutical and vaccine sales and marketing, research and
development, manufacturing and supply – and their post-merger
integration. Under his leadership, Merck has driven the growth of key
products, expanded its global reach, launched new products, and advanced
a robust late-stage R&D pipeline. In his three years as president of
Global Human Health, Mr. Frazier helped design and implement a
ground-breaking, new global commercial sales model, maintained solid
sales momentum during merger integration, dramatically improved the
division’s cost structure, and redeployed resources into high growth
emerging markets.

Commenting on his appointment as CEO, Mr. Frazier said, “I consider it a
privilege to serve Merck in this capacity, and I am honored and excited
about the opportunity. My immense respect for the people of Merck only
reinforces my strong optimism about our future. Merck employees truly
are our greatest advantage. As CEO, my responsibility will be to enable
Merck colleagues to focus their considerable talent, creativity and
commitment on meeting the changing needs of our global customers.

“Looking ahead to a period of dramatic industry change, I also am
fortunate to work with a strong and deeply experienced group of senior
management colleagues. I look forward to working with Dick, the board
and our executive team to ensure that Merck continues to operate with
the highest levels of integrity and scientific excellence, meeting the
needs of patients worldwide and building long-term value for our
shareholders.

“The board, Dick and I are aligned on our priorities, and the need to
focus on sustainable growth for the future. For Merck to be a leader in
the future, we must continue to adjust our operating model and achieve a
level of transformation never before seen in our industry,” Mr. Frazier
added.

As chairman, Mr. Clark will focus on leadership of the Board of
Directors, provide strategic counsel to Mr. Frazier, oversee the planned
formation of Merck’s joint venture in animal health with sanofi-aventis
and represent Merck with key external organizations.

Mr. Harrison said, “We want to thank Dick for his exceptional leadership
as CEO and congratulate him for Merck’s remarkable performance during
the past five years. When Dick was appointed CEO in 2005, the company
was facing a number of significant challenges. The strategic plan Dick
put in place ultimately turned the company around and restored
confidence in Merck’s future. In addition, Dick led the successful
merger and integration of Merck and Schering-Plough, positioning the
company as a stronger, more diversified global healthcare leader for the
future. The board looks forward to benefiting from Dick’s continued
contributions as chairman.”

“It has been an honor to serve as Merck’s CEO for the past five years,
and to work with the finest employees and management team in the
industry,” said Mr. Clark. “Speaking both as CEO and as an employee of
38 years, I am truly proud of our exceptional record of discovering and
developing medical breakthroughs for patients, our contributions to
advancing health care around the world and delivering value to
shareowners. As chairman, I look forward to collaborating with Ken and
our Board of Directors to help Merck achieve new levels of success,” he
added.

Mr. Clark led the transformative $49 billion 2009 merger between Merck
and Schering-Plough, and under his leadership, the combined company has
delivered a successful performance in its first year, meeting all of its
global integration and synergy goals. From 2008 to 2009, Mr. Clark
served as board chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research and
Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), where he led the industry’s efforts to
strengthen the group’s marketing code, tighten direct-to-consumer
advertising principles and enhance the transparency of company
interactions with physicians. After being named CEO in 2005, Mr. Clark
stabilized Merck by setting its strategic direction and oversaw
successful launches of innovative drugs like ISENTRESS® (raltegravir)
Tablet, GARDASIL® ([Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16,
and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant] and JANUVIA® (sitagliptin). Prior to
becoming president and CEO, Mr. Clark was president of the Merck
Manufacturing Division, with responsibility for Merck’s global network
of manufacturing operations, information services and operational
excellence organizations worldwide.

Mr. Frazier continued, “I also want to thank Dick, both for his
mentorship and for the confidence he has shown in me. On behalf of all
Merck colleagues, I’d like to express our collective gratitude for the
many contributions Dick has made to our company through his initiative
and guidance. Dick’s vision and leadership have truly made Merck the
global leader that it is today. I am pleased to be able to continue my
strong partnership with Dick as chairman, and to continue to have the
benefit of his counsel.”

About Kenneth C. Frazier

Kenneth C. Frazier has served as president of Merck since May 2010. In
this role, Mr. Frazier leads Merck’s three major divisions: Global Human
Health, Merck’s pharmaceutical and vaccine business; Merck Manufacturing
Division, Merck’s manufacturing and supply division; and Merck Research
Laboratories, Merck’s research organization. Prior to being appointed
president, Mr. Frazier served as executive vice president and president,
Global Human Health, from 2007 to 2010.

Mr. Frazier joined Merck in 1992 as vice president, general counsel and
secretary of the Astra Merck Group. He was elected vice president of
public affairs in 1994 and in 1997, assumed the additional
responsibilities of assistant general counsel, corporate staff. Mr.
Frazier was promoted to vice president and deputy general counsel in
January 1999. In December 1999, he became senior vice president and
general counsel. In this role, he oversaw Merck’s legal and public
affairs functions and The Merck Company Foundation. In November 2006, he
was promoted to executive vice president and general counsel.

Mr. Frazier sits on the board of directors of Exxon Mobil Corporation,
The Pennsylvania State University and Cornerstone Christian Academy in
Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Frazier also is a member of the Council on Foreign
Relations, the Council of the American Law Institute and the American
Bar Association. He received his bachelor’s degree from The Pennsylvania
State University and holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

About Richard T. Clark

Richard T. Clark is the chairman and chief executive officer of Merck.
Mr. Clark previously served as chairman, president and CEO until Mr.
Frazier’s appointment as president in April 2009.

Prior to becoming president and CEO, Mr. Clark held the position of
president of the Merck Manufacturing Division, with responsibility for
Merck’s global network of manufacturing operations, information services
and operational excellence organizations worldwide.

In a career spanning 38 years with Merck, Mr. Clark held a broad range
of senior management positions within the company’s manufacturing
organization. Mr. Clark joined Merck in 1972 as a quality control
inspector, and he progressed through a series of increasingly
responsible roles in the areas of production, new products planning,
industrial engineering and management engineering, becoming vice
president, Materials Management and Management Engineering in 1991.

In 1993, Mr. Clark was appointed vice president, Procurement and
Materials Management. He became vice president of North American
Operations for the Merck Manufacturing Division in 1994 and senior vice
president in 1996. In 1997, he was appointed senior vice president of
Quality and Commercial Affairs. Later that year, Mr. Clark joined the
Merck-Medco Managed Care subsidiary as executive vice president and
chief operating officer. He later served as chairman, president and
chief executive officer of the newly named Medco Health Solutions,
overseeing plans to prepare that organization to become a publicly
traded company. He returned to the Merck Manufacturing Division as
president in June 2003.

From 2008 to 2009 he served as board chairman of the Pharmaceutical
Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which represents the
country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies.

Earlier this month Mr. Clark was named Executive of the Year – 2010 by
the prestigious Scrip Awards.

Mr. Clark earned his bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Washington &
Jefferson College, and his M.B.A. from American University.

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
consumer care 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.

Merck and Schering-Plough merged in November 2009. In this news release,
“Merck” refers to the relevant pre- or post-merger entity, depending on
context.

Forward Looking Statement

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include,
but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the merger
between Merck and Schering-Plough, including future financial and
operating results, the combined company’s plans, objectives,
expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical
facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and
expectations of Merck’s management and are subject to significant risks
and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the
forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to
differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the
possibility that the expected synergies from the merger of Merck and
Schering-Plough will not be realized, or will not be realized within the
expected time period; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation
and health care legislation; the risk that the businesses will not be
integrated successfully; disruption from the merger making it more
difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; Merck’s
ability to accurately predict future market conditions; dependence on
the effectiveness of Merck’s patents and other protections for
innovative products; the risk of new and changing regulation and health
policies in the U.S. and internationally and the exposure to litigation
and/or regulatory actions.

Merck 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 Merck’s 2009 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).

Merck
Media:
David Caouette, 908-423-3461
or
Investors:
Alex Kelly, 908-423-5185