Findings From Global Survey Help Understand Fertility Trends And Barriers to Seeking Medical Help Against Infertility

Over 10,000 Responded to the Largest International Study Aimed at Understanding the Decision-making Process of Couples Trying to Conceive

ROME, June 28, 2010 - Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today
announced the outcomes of the Global survey "Starting Families" at the 26th
edition of the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction
and Embryology (ESHRE). Developed in collaboration with Cardiff University,
and supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in the
United Kingdom, and the International Consumer Support for Infertility (iCSi)
network, the survey aimed at better understanding the decision-making process
of couples trying to conceive. Over 10,000 women and men who were trying for
a baby, from eighteen countries[1] responded to the survey.

The key findings reveal that:

    - Social value attached to parenthood and children, and associated
      economic benefits, are key factors that help explain differences in
      fertility rates across countries, followed by subjective sense of
      economic security, personal and relational readiness.

    - Knowledge of fertility risk factors and facts that help decide when to
      seek fertility medical help is low and varies considerably across
      countries. Less than half of respondents know that a couple is
      considered infertile and should seek help after 12 months of trying to
      conceive, unless over 35 years of age when it should be after 6 months.
      Furthermore, about half of respondents erroneously believe that women
      in their 40s have a similar chance of getting pregnant as women in
      their 30s. The majority are not aware that sexually transmitted
      diseases, mumps after puberty (for men), or being overweight (for
      women) puts fertility at risk.

    - Acknowledgement of a fertility problem, being able to disclose it to
      partner, family and friends, knowing about the availability of
      reimbursed treatment and positive attitude towards treatment are among
      the key factors characterizing people who seek medical help. 40% of
      respondents do not know whether reimbursed treatment is available.

    - The majority of respondents are positive about success rates and safety
      of fertility treatments. However, there is a strong feeling that
      treatment is expensive and can be stressful. People are more aware of
      more complex treatments like In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) than
      medications to restore ovulation.

    - People do not see mass media, including newspapers, magazines, radio
      and television, as a helpful source of fertility information and
      consider the quality of information about fertility treatments
      delivered by mass media as low.

"The survey helps clarify the disparities in fertility rates around the
world. Policy makers looking to reverse declining fertility rates will have
to find ways to re-establish the value of parenthood in society and tackle
those individual decision factors that are more prevalent in their own
countries. The survey data provides valuable insights to help design such
policies," said Professor Jacky Boivin of Cardiff School of Psychology,
Cardiff University, and co-leader of the survey.

"With more people postponing parenthood to a later age, understanding
fertility risks and seeking timely medical advice becomes more important,"
said Fereydoun Firouz, Head of the Global Business Unit Fertility and
Metabolic Endocrinology at Merck Serono. "We will address knowledge gaps and
barriers revealed by the survey in our communication to couples looking to
conceive or going through fertility treatment. We hope that the survey will
improve understanding of contemporary fertility issues among all fertility
stakeholders and enable them to provide further support to couples who are
looking to start or enlarge their families."

The detailed findings of the survey will be discussed in oral
presentations at ESHRE and published in the media report Fertility - the Real
Story. The report will be available online on www.fertility.com and
www.icsicommunity.org.

About the "Starting Families" survey

Methodology

The final sample consisted of 10,045 people currently trying
to conceive.

The key characteristics of the population that participated to
the research are as follows:

    - 83% women, 17% men.
    - 61% of the sample declared that they are treated for
      infertility problems
    - Respondents from Europe represent 54% of the total sample,
      whereas the Americas represent 27%, APAC 16% and other countries, 3%.

How to interpret the data

Results are not representative of the general population, but
are representative of the people that participated in this survey. Therefore,
each time that "people", "men", "women" is cited in the text above, one
should read it as people, men, women who participated in the survey.
Likewise, each time that a country is mentioned, one should read the
statement as representative of the participants interviewed from that
country, and not necessarily representative of the total population of that
country.

About Merck Serono and Fertility Treatment

Merck Serono is the world leader in fertility treatments, and
the only company to offer a full portfolio of fertility drugs for every stage
of the reproductive cycle and recombinant versions of the three hormones
needed to treat infertility: GONAL-f(R) (follitropin alfa), to stimulate the
ovaries and produce eggs in women and spermatogenesis induction in men;
Luveris(R) (lutropin alfa), to stimulate follicular development in women who
are profoundly LH deficient; Ovitrelle(R) (choriogonadotropin alfa), to help
follicles mature and release eggs; Pergoveris(R) (follitropin alfa/lutropin
alfa) to stimulate follicular development in women with severe LH and FSH
deficiency; Cetrotide(R) (cetrorelix acetate) to prevent a premature
ovulation; and Crinone(R) (progesterone gel), to help establish and maintain
a pregnancy. Not all products are available in all markets.

About Merck Serono

Merck Serono is the division for innovative prescription
pharmaceuticals of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a global pharmaceutical
and chemical company. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Merck Serono
discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative small molecules and
biopharmaceuticals to help patients with unmet medical needs. In the United
States and Canada, EMD Serono operates through separately incorporated
affiliates.

Merck Serono has leading brands serving patients with cancer (Erbitux(R),
cetuximab), multiple sclerosis (Rebif(R), interferon beta-1a), infertility
(Gonal-f(R), follitropin alfa), endocrine and metabolic disorders (Saizen(R)
and Serostim(R), somatropin), (Kuvan(R), sapropterin dihydrochloride) as well
as cardiometabolic diseases (Glucophage(R), metformin), (Concor(R),
bisoprolol), (Euthyrox(R), levothyroxine). Not all products are available in
all markets.

With an annual R&D expenditure of more than EUR 1 billion,
Merck Serono is committed to growing its business in specialist-focused
therapeutic areas including neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, fertility
and endocrinology, as well as new areas potentially arising out of research
and development in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

About Merck

Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with
total revenues of EUR 7.7 billion in 2009, a history that began in 1668, and
a future shaped by approximately 33,600 employees in 64 countries. Its
success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees.
Merck's operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which
the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and free shareholders
own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co.
was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.

For more information, please visit www.merckserono.com
or www.merck.de

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[1] Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India,
Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Turkey, the
United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Media Relations, Merck Serono SA T: +41-22-414-3600