Merck clarifies that it will keep its consumer health business

• Darmstadt-based company holds global rights to the name Merck with exception of the U.S. and Canada

Darmstadt, Germany,  7-5-2014 — /EuropaWire/ — Merck, the supplier of top-quality high-tech products in the pharmaceuticals and chemicals sectors, today clarified that it will keep its consumer health business.

The Darmstadt-based company rebutted reports according to which it plans to sell its over-the-counter business, clarifying that the mentioned company was MSD (in North America Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, U.S.), a former subsidiary of Merck, which today operates as independent company. Merck, the original, holds the global rights to the name and trademark Merck. The only exceptions are Canada and the U.S., where it operates as EMD (“Emanuel Merck Darmstadt”). Merck is committed to preventing violations of name rights and any confusion connected to them.

As already reported, Merck at the beginning of the year transferred the brands Neurobion, a vitamin B-based analgesic, and Floratil, a leading brand in the probiotic antidiarrheal segment in Brazil, from its Merck Serono to its Consumer Health division, boosting annual sales at the division by around 55 percent of more than 740 million euros. Merck plans to further expand the business, which focuses on the strategic brands Bion3, Nasivin, Femibion, Seven Seas, Sangobion, Cebion, Sedalmerck and Kytta, particularly in fast growing regions such as Latin America and Southeast Asia.

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Merck is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. With its four divisions Merck Serono, Consumer Health, Performance Materials and Merck Millipore, Merck generated total revenues of € 11.1 billion in 2013. Around 38,000 Merck employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to further the success of customers and to help meet global challenges. Merck is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company – since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70 percent interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany is holding the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are Canada and the United States, where the company is known as EMD.

Contact:

Gangolf Schrimpf
+49 6151 72-9591

Merck KGaA
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www.merckgroup.com

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