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October 17, 2012 6:30 am ET

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada,
announced today that VICTRELIS^® (boceprevir) 200 mg Capsules,
the company’s oral treatment for chronic hepatitis C genotype 1
infection, in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin has
received the Prix Galien USA Award for Best Pharmaceutical Agent.

The Prix Galien USA Award recognizes the technical, scientific and
clinical research skills and achievements necessary to develop
innovative medicines and devices. It is considered the biomedical
industry’s highest accolade.

“Merck is honored to have been chosen as a recipient of this prestigious
award,” said Peter S. Kim, president of Merck Research Laboratories.
“This achievement is a testament to the remarkable contributions of
everyone at Merck who played a role in helping to bring VICTRELIS to
market.”

The Prix Galien Award recognizes the pharmaceutical industry’s
outstanding achievement in the development of new medicines. An
internationally recognized award, the Prix Galien was founded in France
in 1969 by French pharmacist, Roland Mehl and is considered the highest
accolade for pharmaceutical research and development.

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).

Please see Prescribing Information for VICTRELIS at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/v/victrelis/victrelis_pi.pdf
and Medication Guide for VICTRELIS at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/v/victrelis/victrelis_mg.pdf.

Merck
Media Contact: Caroline Lappetito, (267) 305-7639
Investor Contact: Carol Ferguson, (908) 423-4465