News Release:

Merck Scientist Daria Hazuda Presents Bernard Fields Lecture at 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI)

Monday, March 4, 2013 9:59 am EST

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"The presentation of the Fields’ lecture represents fitting recognition of Daria’s personal accomplishments and of her teams’ contributions to HIV research over the past 20 years,"

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced its worldwide head of Antiviral Basic Research and internationally renowned scientist, Daria Hazuda, Ph.D., presented the annual Bernard Fields Lecture yesterday at the opening session of the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) in Atlanta, Ga. The Bernard Fields Lecture is presented annually at the opening session of CROI and features a basic research scientist who has made important and timely contributions to virology and/or viral pathogenesis as exemplified by the career of Bernard Fields. The Fields Lecture by Dr. Hazuda, titled ‘Antiretroviral Drug Discovery:  HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors and Beyond,’ is available on the CROI website. 

“The presentation of the Fields’ lecture represents fitting recognition of Daria’s personal accomplishments and of her teams’ contributions to HIV research over the past 20 years,” said Peter S. Kim, Ph.D., president, Merck Research Laboratories. “Commitment to scientific excellence and devotion to improving health remains a focus for us all at Merck.”

Dr. Hazuda is recognized for her pioneering work in deciphering the basic biochemistry of the HIV integrase. In her current role, Dr. Hazuda leads Merck’s efforts in the discovery of novel anti-infective agents targeting HIV, hepatitis C and antimicrobial targets. Notable research that Dr. Hazuda and Merck have been involved in recently include progress made in collaboration with leading academic scientists on improving the understanding of HIV latency and developing new ways to displace dormant virus from infected cells.

Merck’s Commitment to HIV

For more than 25 years, Merck has been at the forefront of the response to the HIV epidemic, and has helped to make a difference through our proud legacy of commitment to innovation, collaborating with the community, and expanding global access to medicines. Merck is dedicated to applying our scientific expertise, resources and global reach to deliver healthcare solutions that support people living with HIV worldwide.

Today, Merck scientists are actively pursuing HIV research against multiple targets, including a next-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), MK-1439, currently in Phase IIb clinical development.

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 prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer care and animal health 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, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline products that the products will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. 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).                     

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