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July 26, 2011 7:08 am ET

Cole to Perform with The Allman Brothers Band at the Tune In to Hep C Benefit Concert Tomorrow on the Eve of World Hepatitis Day

Merck (NYSE: MRK) (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada)
today announced that GRAMMY® winner Natalie Cole is adding her voice to
the company’s public health campaign, Tune In to Hep C, with the
American Liver Foundation (ALF) and rock legend Gregg Allman. The goal
of the campaign is to raise awareness of chronic hepatitis C virus
infection. Cole will join Allman onstage at a benefit concert featuring
The Allman Brothers Band and other special guests in New York tomorrow,
July 27, the eve of World Hepatitis Day.

This cause is personal to Cole, who was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis
C during a routine blood test in 2008. It was then that she realized
she’d been living with the virus for more than 25 years – nearly half of
her life. Cole’s experience is not uncommon. In fact, chronic hepatitis
C is often referred to as the silent disease because – for many people –
it can be in the body for decades without any symptoms. Cole is joining
the campaign to encourage others with chronic hepatitis C to put aside
fear and stigma and take action.

“One thing is for sure – there’s a stigma surrounding hepatitis C
because it’s associated with IV drug use. But it really doesn’t matter
how you got the virus. What’s important is that you do something about
it,” said Cole. “I am grateful that Merck and the American Liver
Foundation created this campaign to give a voice to those with chronic
hepatitis C, and I hope that my story can help others overcome their
fears about taking that next step by talking to their doctor about their
options.”

Approximately 3.2 million Americans have chronic hepatitis C virus
infection, a potentially serious disease that can damage the liver over
time and lead to cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and liver cancer.
Many people infected with chronic hepatitis C do not know that they have
the virus – approximately 70 to 80 percent of people newly infected with
the virus do not have symptoms.

“It’s great to have Natalie on board to help spread the message that
chronic hepatitis C is not something you can ignore,” Allman said.
“Together, we’ll be working to fight the stigma that can keep people
from addressing this disease. I know all too well that doing nothing is
not an option. That’s why we’re telling people, talk to your doctor.”

The American Liver Foundation joined the Tune In to Hep C campaign to
help elevate awareness of this important public health issue. ALF is a
national organization advocating for those living with liver disease and
their families, and provides education, support and research for the
prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease.

“Since we launched this campaign a month ago, we’ve been inundated with
messages from people with chronic hepatitis C and their loved ones who
all say the same thing – ‘I never thought we’d see the day where there
would be a voice and a face to this disease. It’s about time,'” said
Newton Guerin, acting CEO and chief operating officer, ALF. “By sharing
their stories, Gregg and Natalie are sending a powerful message to those
who feel alone and afraid to come forward as well as anyone who is
hesitant to take action.”

More information about the campaign as well as Allman’s and Cole’s
stories are available on www.TuneInToHepC.com,
which launched today. The website also offers a first glimpse at
Allman’s new television public service announcement, which is slated to
hit the airwaves in the coming weeks.

“It is our hope that this campaign, and Gregg’s and Natalie’s
inspirational stories, will serve as a spark to encourage dialogue about
chronic hepatitis C among communities, families and friends, as well as
between physicians and their patients,” said Mark Timney, president,
Global Human Health – U.S. Market, Merck. “From the feedback we’ve
received so far, we believe the campaign is already making a difference,
and we look forward to continuing to reach others with chronic hepatitis
C, and, hopefully, motivating them to take action.”

About the Benefit Concert

The concert, Tune In to Hep C Presents The Allman Brothers Band,
will take place at The Beacon Theatre in New York City tomorrow, July
27, the eve of World Hepatitis Day. Allman and Cole will both perform at
the concert, along with The Allman Brothers Band and other special
guests. Proceeds from the benefit concert will be donated to the
American Liver Foundation and to the National Viral Hepatitis
Roundtable, a coalition of public, private and voluntary organizations
dedicated to reducing the incidence of infection, morbidity and
mortality from viral hepatitis in the United States.

About Gregg Allman

Allman is a legendary performer who is both a founding member of The
Allman Brothers Band and a critically acclaimed solo artist. He has
several gold records to his credit and his distinctive voice placed him
on the Rolling Stone list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All
Time.” More than 40 years down the road, Allman still loves making and
performing music as much as ever.

In addition to his singing and playing, Allman wrote many of The Allman
Brothers Band’s most memorable signature hits, including the classics
“Whipping Post” and “Dreams” from their self–titled debut album,
“Midnight Rider” and “Please Call Home” from their second album
“Idlewild South,” and “Melissa” from 1972’s classic “Eat A Peach” album.
The Allman Brothers Band went on to become the principal architects of
Southern rock and were inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame in
1995. Allman’s latest solo album “Low Country Blues” was released in
2011, debuting at No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200, the highest chart
position of his solo career, and continues to gain critical acclaim and
commercial success.

About Natalie Cole

Singer, songwriter and performer Natalie Cole has proven to be one of
the most beloved performers of all time with nine GRAMMY awards. She
rocketed to stardom in 1975 with her debut album, “Inseparable,” earning
her a No. 1 single, “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love),” and two GRAMMY
awards for Best New Artist, as well as Best Female R&B Vocal
Performance. More hit singles followed, and, in 1987, she released
“Dangerous,” which sold over two million copies in the U.S. and garnered
her three hit singles.

In 1991, Natalie Cole took a bold leap that would change her life and
career forever. Already a highly successful R&B artist, she recorded
“Unforgettable…With Love,” an album of standards from the American
Songbook that included a virtual duet with her late father – Nat King
Cole – on the title track. The album spent five weeks at No. 1 on the
pop charts, earned six GRAMMY awards and sold more than 14 million
copies worldwide.

Cole’s latest album, “Still Unforgettable,” was released in September
2008 garnering her two more GRAMMY awards for Best Traditional Pop Vocal
Album and Best Instrumental Accompanying Vocalist. It also earned Cole a
NAACP Award for Best Jazz Artist. While recording the album, Cole was
diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C during a routine examination. The
infection likely resulted from IV drug use many decades ago, which she
documented in her autobiography, Angel On My Shoulder (2000).

About The American Liver Foundation

The American Liver Foundation (ALF) is a national nonprofit organization
promoting liver health and disease prevention. ALF provides research,
education and advocacy for those affected by liver-related diseases,
including hepatitis. For more information, visit www.liverfoundation.org.

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.

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).