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June 7, 2011 6:30 am ET

Merck (NYSE:MRK), known outside the United States and Canada as MSD, and
Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that they have
entered into a collaboration focused on the application and development
of diagnostic assays for use with Merck’s investigational cancer therapy
portfolio. Financial details were not disclosed.

“We are very pleased to showcase our leadership position in personalized
healthcare by entering into this agreement with Merck. Roche hopes that,
through our joint efforts, we will be able to provide companion
diagnostic tests which lead to better solutions for patients worldwide.”
said Paul Brown, Head of Roche Molecular Diagnostics.

The collaboration will apply various technologies such as array and
immunohistochemical (IHC/ISH) technologies. Roche Diagnostics will
provide validated, standardized assays for use in clinical oncology
programs being conducted by Merck. Merck will also expand its use of
Roche’s investigational AmpliChip p53 assay in its clinical programs to
stratify and identify patients suitable for inclusion in ongoing/planned
trial(s). As previously announced, Roche and Merck have a collaboration
in which Merck can access Roche’s developmental microarray-based
AmpliChip p53 Test.

“Effective use of companion diagnostics is an important component of our
oncology development strategy focused on targeted therapies,” said Gary
Gilliland, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president and head of oncology
research at Merck. “This collaboration provides Merck with access to
diverse developmental and commercial diagnostic technologies that will
facilitate the identification and monitoring of those patients most
likely to respond to our investigational cancer therapies.”

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in
research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals
and diagnostics. Roche is the world’s largest biotech company with truly
differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism
and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics,
tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management.
Roche’s personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and
diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health,
quality of life and survival of patients. In 2010, Roche had over 80’000
employees worldwide and invested over 9 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The
Group posted sales of 47.5 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United
States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a
majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com.

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 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 United States 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 2010 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).

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Roche
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