Merck renews commitment to the education of tomorrow's scientific innovators

CHICOUTIMI, QC, April 18, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Merck is proud to once again be a partner of the Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec provincial final, whose 2013 edition starts today at Chicoutimi's Zone portuaire.

From April 18 to 21, the Zone portuaire of Chicoutimi will welcome some 160 young students from across Québec. These students will be presenting the projects that made them stand out in their 12 respective regional finals.

"At Merck, we see our dedication to investing in the researchers and scientists of tomorrow as furthering our commitment to innovation. As Medical Director, and a parent of children with a budding interest in science, I am especially proud of Merck's 22-year partnership with this unique competition, and the company's dedication to standing by the next generation of researchers at the beginning of their amazing journey of discovery. I wish them luck, and very much look forward to learning about their projects," said Dr. Mauricio Ede, Medical Director, Medical Affairs, Merck Canada Inc.

The winners of the best projects at the Québec finals will make up the delegation representing Québec at the 52^nd Canada-wide Science Fair 2013, being held from May 11 to 18 in Lethbridge, Alberta. Merck, as the main sponsor of the Québec delegation, is proud to support the 40-member team who will participate in the 52^nd Canada-Wide Science Fair.

At the Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec provincial final closing ceremony, Merck Canada will award a $1,000 "Exploring Minds" bursary for the best experimental or design project focused on the preservation and improvement of human health. At the 12 regional Science Fair finals leading up to the Québec provincial final, Merck awarded bursaries of $400 for experimental or design projects. The winners will join the "Exploring Minds" group, made up of all of Merck's past bursary recipients.

As a key part of its overall commitment to science, Merck supports young people who have an enthusiasm for research and scientific progress through various projects, such as the Science Fairs, which Merck has been sponsoring for the last 22 years.

About Merck

Today's Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well.  Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. 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 policies, programs and partnerships. For more information about our operations in Canada, visit www.merck.ca.

Forward Looking Statement

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck'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; Merck'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 Merck's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent 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 2012 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).

SOURCE: Merck

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Ani Armenian
Merck
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Marc Holmes
NATIONAL Public Relations
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