Merck Serono Calls for Entries to Real MS - Your Story, a Global Competition to Raise Awareness of Multiple Sclerosis

Merck Serono Calls for Entries to Real MS - Your Story, a Global Competition to Raise Awareness of Multiple Sclerosis

GENEVA, August 3, 2010/PRNewswire/ --

- Campaign Website and Global Script Concept Competition Launch Today

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany,
today announces the start of the Real MS: Your Story competition, with the
campaign website (http://www.realmsvoices.co.uk ) now open for entry
submissions. Real MS: Your Story is the first element of Real MS, a global
multiple sclerosis (MS) awareness campaign that launched on World MS Day
2010. The campaign aims to unite the voice of those affected by the disease,
enhance the recognition of the disease, and demonstrate how life with MS can
be lived positively.

Real MS: Your Story will use the power of short film to show
the world that life with MS can be redefined in a positive and fulfilling
way. The Your Story script concept competition is now open and invites
entrants to submit their idea for the subject matter of the 3-5 minute short
film. Entries should be submitted online at http://www.realmsvoices.co.uk ,
where the Real MS online community will be asked to vote for their favourite
entry. Once the online community has developed a shortlist, an international
judging panel of experts will select the winning script concept which will be
made into a short film by a respected film director and screened later in
2010.

"The unpredictability of multiple sclerosis means that people
have to reinvent their lives every day to overcome the daily struggles and
reminders of their condition," said Dr. Roberto Gradnik, Head of Global
Business Unit Neurodegenerative Diseases at Merck Serono. "Real MS: Your
Story has been designed to empower the multiple sclerosis community to live
the lives they want to lead and we are pleased to announce its official
launch today."

Comprising inspirational educational competitions throughout
2010 and into 2011, the Real MS campaign will celebrate the stories, the
achievements and the ideas of the global MS community, and help share their
vision for the management of the disease. Real MS: Your Story is the first
part of this global program of activities.

MS affects approximately two million people around the world
and is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40. Common symptoms of MS
include unexplained constant fatigue, loss of sight, loss of sensations, loss
of balance, weakness and speech/swallowing and cognitive problems.

For UK residents to enter the Real MS: Your Story script
concept competition, go to http://www.realmsvoices.co.uk. The competition
closes at 23.59 GMT, August 29, 2010.

About Real MS campaign

Real MS is an international campaign that aims to raise global
awareness of the disease and demonstrate how life with MS can and should be
better. Comprising inspirational educational competitions throughout 2010 and
into 2011, the first campaign competition (Real MS: Your Story) aims to use
the power of a short film to show the world that life with MS can be
redefined in a positive and fulfilling way. The Real MS: Your Story
competition is not open to US residents.

About multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory condition
of the central nervous system and is the most common, non-traumatic,
disabling neurological disease in young adults. It is estimated that
approximately two million people have MS worldwide. While symptoms can vary,
the most common symptoms of MS include blurred vision, numbness or tingling
in the limbs and problems with strength and coordination. The relapsing forms
of MS are the most common.

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 alpha), 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
http://www.merckserono.co.uk

Source: Merck Serono

9 Chemin des Mines, 1202 Genève, Suisse, Media relations, Tel: +41-22-414-36-00

-------
Profile: intent