Merck Announces 2016 Recipients of EUR1 Million Grant for Multiple Sclerosis Innovation

Darmstadt, Germany (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Four research grants awarded out of 260 proposals from 45
countries

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced
recipients of the fourth annual Grant for Multiple Sclerosis
Innovation (GMSI) during a symposium at the 32nd Congress of the
European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis
(ECTRIMS) in London.

This year, 260 proposals from 45 countries were submitted,
representing innovative research projects taking place across the
globe. Four research teams from the United Kingdom, Spain, Canada,
Israel, Germany and Qatar were selected to share in the EUR1 million
grant to support their research:

- Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis of plasma; a
novel, highly sensitive method for monitoring the development and
predicting progression in multiple sclerosis: Professor Daniel
Anthony, Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford,
United Kingdom.
- Raman Spectroscopy in Multiple Sclerosis: Dr. Elena Martinez de
Lapiscina, IDIBAPS-Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.
- Cell-type specific methylation patterns in circulating DNA: Towards
the clinical application of an innovative blood-based biomarker for
oligodendrocyte and neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis:
Professor Yuval Dor, Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer
Research, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada,
Jerusalem, Israel; Dr. Adi Vaknin, Laboratory of Neuroimmunology,
Department of Neurology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center,
Jerusalem, Israel; and Dr. Klemens Ruprecht, Department of
Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
- Corneal Confocal Microscopy: A Rapid Non-invasive Surrogate
Endpoint for Axonal Loss and Repair in Multiple Sclerosis:
Professor Rayaz Malik and Dr. Ioannis Petropolous, Weill Cornell
Medicine-Qatar of Cornell University, Qatar Foundation, Education
City, Doha, Qatar.

"Merck is committed to advancing care for patients living with
multiple sclerosis through internal innovation and drug development,
which is strategically complemented by external innovation from our
Grant for Multiple Sclerosis Innovation," said Steven Hildemann,
Chief Medical Officer, and head of Global Medical Affairs and Global
Drug Safety at the biopharmaceutical business of Merck. "This year's
grant recipients will study new ways to detect and monitor MS and
predict disease progression. These projects once again highlight the
leading-edge research being conducted by GMSI teams aimed at treating
MS, repairing damage caused by the disease and finding new
discoveries that could one day aid in preventing it."

The GMSI was launched in October 2012 with the aim of improving
the understanding of multiple sclerosis (MS) for the ultimate benefit
of those living with the disease. Previous recipients have studied
molecular markers of MS, novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and
positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and analysis techniques to
detect and monitor the disease, and methods to reduce and repair
nerve damage caused by inflammation in patients with MS.

The awards symposium was chaired by Professor David Bates,
Emeritus Professor of Clinical Neurology, Royal Victoria Infirmary,
UK, and a member of the GMSI Scientific Committee. During the
symposium, Merck also announced the call for proposals for the 2017
GMSI. Up to EUR1,000,000 will be awarded to fund innovative research
in MS, in topics that could include:

- MS pathogenesis
- Prediction of MS subtypes
- Predictive markers of treatment response
- Potential new treatments for MS
- Innovative patient support programmes, mobile health devices or
patient-reported outcomes

More information about the GMSI can be found online at:
http://www.grantformultiplesclerosisinnovation.org.

Merck is committed to rewarding innovation and new thinking that
could further advance the field of medicine. To learn more about the
variety of innovation grants Merck offers, visit:

http://www.merckgroup.com/en/innovation/grants_awards_initiatives/
innovation_grants_awards_initiatives.html.

About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory condition of
the central nervous system and is the most common, non-traumatic,
disabling neurological disease in young adults. It is estimated that
approximately 2.3 million people have MS worldwide. While symptoms
can vary, the most common symptoms of MS include blurred vision,
numbness or tingling in the limbs and problems with strength and
coordination. The relapsing forms of MS are the most common.

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About Merck

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare,
life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work
to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life - from
biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis,
cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to
liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2015, Merck
generated sales of EUR 12.85 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and
chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of
the publicly listed corporate group. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany holds
the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions
are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD
Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

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