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October 9, 2012 7:10 am ET

Company cites ongoing facilities consolidation and reiterates commitment to reduce operating expenses

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada,
today announced plans to move the company’s global headquarters within
the state from Whitehouse Station, N.J. to its existing property in
Summit, N.J., which currently houses research, manufacturing, animal
health and consumer care operations and is home to 1,800 people. The
company will close its current headquarters building in Whitehouse
Station, N.J. The transition process is expected to begin in 2014 and be
completed in mid-2015.

The headquarters relocation is part of the company’s ongoing program to
consolidate its global real estate footprint and lower its annual
operating expenses, following its merger with Schering Plough in 2009.
The Summit location was selected as the site for Merck’s new
headquarters because it is a strategic, multi-use site with excess
work-space capacity and is adjacent to major transportation hubs and
desirable urban centers.

“The relocation of our headquarters will help us achieve our future
vision, reduce the size of our operating footprint, and increase agility
as we adapt to our changing business environment,” said Kenneth C.
Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer of Merck.

About 2,000 employees and contractors currently situated at the
Whitehouse Station global headquarters building either will move to the
new facilities in Summit or to other nearby facilities such as those in
Branchburg, N.J. and Cokesbury, N.J.

Merck has been headquartered in Whitehouse Station since 1992. Prior to
that, the company was headquartered in Rahway, N.J.

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
and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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 all of 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 in the United States and
internationally; Merck’s ability to accurately predict future market
conditions; dependence on the effectiveness of Merck’s patents and other
protections for innovative products; 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 2011 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 Contacts:
Ron Rogers, 908-423-6449
Steve Cragle, 908-423-3461
or
Investor Contacts:
Carol Ferguson, 908-423-4465
Alex Kelly, 908-423-5185