Merck Animal Health Supports Young Veterinarian in Tropical Animal Health Research

MADISON, NJ, September 5, 2016 – Merck Animal Health (known as MSD Animal Health outside the US and Canada) today announced it will sponsor veterinarian, Wudu Temesgen Jemberu, who will present data on the economic impact of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Ethiopia at the the combined meeting of the Association of Institutions for Tropical Veterinary Medicine (AITVM) and the Society of Tropical Veterinary Medicine (STVM), in Berlin, Germany, September 4-8, 2016.

The World Animal Health Organization considers Foot and Mouth Disease to be one of the most prevalent transboundary diseases in the world. With livestock exportation being an important economic driver in the country, this highly contagious, viral disease greatly impacts international trade opportunities for Ethiopia. Dr. Jemberu estimates that, while the disease has a local economic impact of 1,354 million birr (61 million USD), the greater impact is on food and nutrition security.

“Tropical animal diseases have serious economic and public health impact, not only in my country, but many others around the world. This conference will help me gain a better understanding of the current status and future direction of tropical disease research from some of the most influential global scholars around the world,” stated Dr. Jemberu.

Dr. Jemberu, a veterinarian and faculty member at the Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia, was selected as the winner of the Merck Student Award for Excellence in Tropical Animal Health Research, from a strong field of applicants from developing countries, for his strong, continued efforts to uncover the true economic impact and benefit of controlling FMD.

“As part of our commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals, Merck Animal Health is proud to invest in the futures of young veterinary professionals at the start of their careers and is committed to support and partner with new researchers in the veterinary industry,” said Alasdair King, director, Intergovernmental Health, Merck Animal Health.

To learn more about the AITVM-STVM Joint Conference, visit http://www.aitvm-stvm2016.com/.

About Merck Animal Health
For 125 years, Merck has been a global health care leader working to help the world be well. Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals™, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedInFacebook and Twitter at @MerckAH.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA          
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company 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 the company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).