New Merck Begins Operations Worldwide

Operates in More Than 140 Countries Including Canada

WHITEHOUSE STATION, NJ, Nov. 4 /CNW Telbec/ - Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) today outlined its global strategy following the completion yesterday of Merck's merger with Schering-Plough Corporation. The new Merck, operating as MSD outside the United States and Canada , is a global health care leader aimed at providing innovative, distinctive products and services that save and improve lives, while satisfying customer needs and creating long-term shareholder value.

Canada is an integral part of the company's expanded global presence. Merck will now market over 530 pharmaceutical, consumer and animal health products, employ over 1800 people, generate over $1.2 billion in pharmaceutical sales and invest over $121 million in research and development in Canada . Merck operations in Canada include research, manufacturing, and sales.

"This is an exciting time for our company as we advance our position as a strong, global health care leader that will make a substantial difference to patients around the world," commented Carlos Dourado , President, Merck Canada . "Thanks to the talent and dedication of our scientists and employees, the company will offer an outstanding clinical development pipeline that will greatly increase our ability to deliver important new medicines to patients. We look forward to continuing to meet and exceed the needs of our customers and providing them with the high-quality products and service they have come to expect."

From the outset, Merck is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal and consumer health products. This portfolio is complemented by a robust pipeline with more than 15 promising late-stage candidates spanning critical therapeutic categories. Merck now has approximately 106,000 employees, and operations in more than 140 countries around the world, including emerging markets. The company expects to generate more than 50 percent of its revenue outside the United States .

About Merck

Today's Merck is working to help the world be well. Through our medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer and animal 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 programs that donate and deliver our products to the people who need them. Merck. Be Well. For more information, visit www.merck.com

Forward Looking Statement

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the possibility that 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, due to, among other things, the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and pending legislation that could affect the pharmaceutical industry; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; disruption from the merger making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; Merck's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; dependence on the effectiveness of Merck's patents and other protections for innovative products; the risk of new and changing regulation and health policies in the U.S. and internationally 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 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Schering-Plough's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009 , the proxy statement filed by Merck on June 25, 2009 and each company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov).

For further information: Vincent Lamoureux, [phone]