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March 13, 2015 4:02 pm ET

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada,
said it was informed today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has cancelled the meeting of the Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug
Products Advisory Committee scheduled for March 18, 2015. The committee
had planned to discuss the resubmission of the New Drug Application
(NDA) for sugammadex injection, Merck’s investigational medicine for the
reversal of neuromuscular blockade induced by rocuronium or vecuronium.

The FDA has advised Merck that it plans to conduct additional site
inspections related to a hypersensitivity study (Protocol 101). The
Agency has indicated it plans to conduct these additional inspections
prior to an Advisory Committee meeting and completion of their review.
Due to the timing of the additional inspections, Merck expects to
receive a Complete Response Letter at the time of the Prescription Drug
User Fee Act action date for the NDA for sugammadex on April 22, 2015.
Merck will continue to work with the FDA as it completes its review.

About Merck

Today’s Merck is a global health care 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 health care through
far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information,
visit www.merck.com
and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Merck Forward-Looking Statement

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, but are not
limited to, Merck’s ability to complete the offering and Merck’s
expectations for the use of proceeds from the offering. These statements
are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck’s
management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There
can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline products that the products
will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove
to be commercially successful. 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 health care legislation in the
United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost
containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained
by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development,
including obtaining regulatory approval; Merck’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 Merck patents and other protections
for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including
patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions; and timing of the offering.

Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise except as required by applicable law. Additional factors that
could cause results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements can be found in Merck’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).

Merck
Media:
Pamela Eisele, 267-305-3558
or
Investors:
Justin Holko, 908-740-1879