MSD Signs Partnership With BMJ Group

Berlin (ots/PRNewswire) -

- univadis(R) Users Gain Access to BMJ Learning Content for CME
and CPD

The pharmaceutical company MSD (known as Merck Sharp & Dohme
Limited in the UK and Merck & Co., Inc. in the US) and BMJ (British
Medical Journal) Group today announced a partnership in medical
education through which BMJ Learning will be made available to
physicians through MSD's medical portal univadis(R). This unique
partnership will change the face of medical education in Europe and
beyond, allowing users access to most of BMJ Learning's library of
'Continuing Medical Education' (CME) and 'Continuing Professional
Development' (CPD) content. The agreement between MSD and BMJ Group
comprises about 350 interactive learning courses in over 20 medical
therapy areas. The partnership will allow physicians to combine
online CME/CPD and offline learning.

univadis(R) (http://www.univadis.com), one of the leading medical
Internet services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Canada with
more than half a million registered physicians, is a pioneer in
medical education, meeting the need for high-quality accredited
education for physicians, enabling them to better manage their
patients and their outcomes. In addition to the educational offer,
univadis(R) provides a number of tailored medical information sources
based on continuous needs assessment of healthcare professionals.
univadis(R) will start to cover a growing number of combined online
and offline training programmes, making medical education more
effective.

BMJ Learning is one of the world's largest and most trusted
independent online learning and course providers for medical
professionals. BMJ Group is dedicated to the expansion of BMJ
Learning with new peer-reviewed and evidence-based courses launching
every week.

This partnership with univadis(R) will play a crucial role in
opening the gateway for physicians into BMJ Learning. "BMJ Learning
is already used by 82,000 doctors in the UK and this partnership will
enable doctors in many different countries to benefit from BMJ
Group's expertise in medical education," says Michael Chamberlain,
Chairman of BMJ Group.

Dr. Ottfried Zierenberg, Regional Medical Director Europe, Middle
East, Africa & Canada of MSD, commented "We chose to work with the
BMJ Group because they are one of the most respected medical courses
providers, making them a perfect partner for us. This collaboration
intends to ultimately increase the health outcome for patients.
Additionally, it strengthens the position of univadis(R) as a
trusted, professional and comprehensive news, information and
educational resource for the medical community".

BMJ Learning online courses will be available on univadis(R) in
English language in English speaking countries, i.e. UK and Ireland,
as well as in Scandinavian countries beginning June 2008. Other
countries, like Germany, will follow within 2008 once the translation
process is finished.

About MSD

Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited (MSD) is the UK subsidiary of Merck &
Co., Inc., of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, USA, a leading
research-based pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops,
manufactures and markets a wide range of innovative pharmaceutical
products to improve human health.

About BMJ Group

BMJ Group is one of the world's leading providers of trusted
medical information for healthcare professionals and patients. BMJ
Group provides through BMJ Learning, continuing professional
development online modules and exam revision materials, as well as
events and workshops for the healthcare profession. The Group is well
known for publishing the BMJ (British Medical Journal), over 25
specialist journals, BMJ Clinical Evidence and BMJ Best Treatments
(currently available in the UK from AskBoots.com). BMJ Group is owned
by the British Medical Association. It is editorially independent and
the articles and content it publishes are not intended to reflect BMA
policy.

ots Originaltext: univadis
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Contact details: MSD RBSC GMBH, Andreas Marmsoler,
Richard-Reitzner-Allee 1, 85540 Haar, Germany, Tel:
+49-89-45-66-55-133, E-Mail: andreas_marmsoler@msd.com; BMJ Group,
Rachel Davies, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, UK, Tel:
+44-20-7383-6529, E-Mail: rdavies@bma.org.uk