Merck Serono and San Raffaele Scientific Institute to Collaborate on Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases

GENEVA, December 13, 2010 - Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today
announced a strategic collaboration with the Institute of Experimental
Neurology (INSpe) and the Department of Neurology of the San Raffaele
Scientific Institute (Milan, Italy) to advance clinical research projects in
multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases.

This collaboration follows previous agreements, initially started in
2004, and extends the partnership between both the two parties for three
years. It will provide support for basic science research at INSpe to further
the understanding of multiple sclerosis and offer a match of skills and
competencies to bring forward new potential treatments for neurodegenerative
diseases. The San Raffaele Scientific Institute will provide its know-how and
its models to evaluate the efficacy of the compounds developed by Merck
Serono in preclinical and clinical studies in patients. Merck Serono will
also fund active doctoral programs in this area of research.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue our work with the San
Raffaele Scientific Institute and its teams of experts, which will support
our efforts to develop translational medicine technologies and models," said
Bernhard Kirschbaum, Executive Vice President for Global Research and
Development at Merck Serono. "This collaboration follows our commitment to
further build a network of alliances with clinical research institutions to
ensure a constant flow of innovation into our organisation."

Professor Giancarlo Comi, director of the Institute of Experimental
Neurology (INSpe) and the Department of Neurology of the San Raffaele
Scientific Institute, stated: "The Institute of Experimental Neurology
(INSpe) was conceived to develop innovative therapies in inflammatory and
neurodegenerative central nervous system diseases. This agreement extends a
positive and productive collaboration and opens up great opportunities
associated with the complementary skills possessed by the two contracting
parties. We intend to accelerate research to the clinical development in
order to offer our patients the most advanced therapeutic options."

About Merck Serono

Merck Serono is the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt, Germany, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Merck Serono discovers, develops,
manufactures and markets prescription medicines of both chemical and
biological origin in specialist indications. 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 over EUR 1bn, 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
rheumatology.

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 40,000 (including Merck Millipore) 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

Merck Serono S.A. - Geneva, Media relations: Tel: +41-22-414-36-00