Video: EMD Serono Holds Topping Off Ceremony to Mark Milestone in the Expansion of the Company's Billerica, MA Research Facility

Video: EMD Serono Holds Topping Off Ceremony to Mark Milestone in the
Expansion of the Company's Billerica, MA Research Facility
Expansion Demonstrates EMD Serono's Commitment to the Future of the Life
Sciences Industry in Massachusetts, Adding 100 New Research Jobs When Complete

ROCKLAND, Mass., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- EMD Serono, Inc., an affiliate of
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, marked the expansion of its research facility
in Billerica, MA today, with a topping off ceremony. Executives from EMD
Serono were joined by Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, Gregory Bialecki, Secretary
of Housing and Development, State Representative William Greene and Marc T.
Lombardo, Chairman of the Billerica Board of Selectman and other officials to
commemorate the research expansion milestone.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091019/NY94410 )

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to:
http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/emdserono/40146

"Our vision is clear: to discover new treatments for unmet medical needs,"
said Fereydoun Firouz, President and CEO of EMD Serono, Inc. "By increasing
our innovative research capabilities through this ambitious expansion project,
EMD Serono will further strengthen its ability to drive significant scientific
advances in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and fertility. Our commitment
to the growth and future of EMD Serono is steadfast, and to the life sciences
industry as a whole in the state of Massachusetts."

The expansion of the Billerica facility, announced in 2008, represents a $65
million investment. Construction of the new 140,000 square foot facility is
expected to be complete in late 2010. The new facility will support the
company's commitment to developing a state-of-the-art center of excellence
focused on discovering innovative treatments for unmet medical needs.

The new site will accommodate approximately 200 scientists with expertise in
cancer biology, cancer immunotherapy, oncogene signaling, medicinal chemistry,
molecular modeling, protein engineering, therapeutic antibodies and
manufacturing cell lines across the core therapeutic areas of
neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and fertility. The expansion in Billerica
will bring the discovery scientists closer to approximately 50 colleagues in
Technical Operations who specialize in process development and protein
production for early clinical trials. This collaboration will play a critical
role in creating an innovative and collaborative campus environment for drug
discovery and development. The construction of the Billerica facility will
result in approximately 200 to 300 jobs, and more than 100 new, permanent
research jobs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Once complete, the new research facility will accommodate over 115,000 square
feet (sf) of lab and office space, consisting of: 25,000 sf of chemistry and
screening labs; 25,000 biology and cell culture labs; 22,000 sf of general lab
support space; 20,000 sf of office and conference rooms and 23,000 sf of
mechanical space. In addition, 25,000 sf will be the central node space, which
will consist of the reception area, cafeteria/auditorium, fitness center and
offices and conference rooms. In total, the completed EMD Serono research
facility will be 140,000 sq ft. EMD Serono is currently working for Leadership
in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certification within the following
categories: indoor environment quality, sustainable sites, water efficiency,
energy and atmosphere and materials and resources.

"It has been Merck Serono's vision and commitment to expand our global
research presence within the US," said Dr. Bernhard Kirschbaum, Executive Vice
President, Research & Development, Merck Serono, an affiliate of Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt, Germany. "We look forward to creating a fully integrated research
institute in Billerica where scientists can grow and thrive intellectually,
while continuing to develop innovative medicines for unmet medical needs and
benefiting from collaborations with world-renowned academic and research
institutions right here in Massachusetts."

The Billerica facility is part of Merck Serono's research hub in the United
States, one of the three main research hubs within Merck Serono, together with
the research hubs located in Germany and Switzerland. These state-of-the-art
facilities foster enhanced collaboration and synergies to discover and develop
innovative therapies. The research facility located in Billerica is focused on
the therapeutic areas of fertility, oncology and neurodegenerative diseases.
The R&D site in Germany is focused on the therapeutic areas of autoimmune &
inflammatory diseases and oncology. The R&D site in Switzerland is focused on
the therapeutic areas of neurodegenerative diseases and autoimmune &
inflammatory diseases.

EMD Serono, Inc. hired the following Massachusetts organizations to
participate in the Research facility project: Jones Lang LaSalle, a global
real estate services and construction management corporation; Ellenzweig as
the architect of the facility; BR+A, LLC Consulting Engineers as the
Mechanical Engineers; The BSC Group as the Civil Engineers, and GEI as the
Geotechnical Engineers.

As a commitment to the Billerica, MA community and to further the company's
mission of meeting unmet medical needs, EMD Serono also announced it is
holding the "EMD Serono Young Scientist Essay Contest" with Billerica Memorial
High School. Senior students are invited to write an original essay on why
they are interested in a career in science; the competition winner will be
granted a monetary stipend that can be used toward the purchase of college
supplies/books or tuition expenses.

About EMD Serono

EMD Serono, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leader
in the US biopharmaceutical arena, integrating cutting-edge science with
unparalleled patient support systems to improve people's lives. The company
has strong market positions in neurodegenerative diseases, with Rebif(®)
(interferon beta-1a), as well as in endocrinology, with Saizen(®) (somatropin
(rDNA origin) for injection) and Serostim(®) (somatropin (rDNA origin) for
injection). EMD Serono is a leader in reproductive health, with Gonal-f(®)
(follitropin alfa for injection), Luveris(®) (lutropin alfa for injection) and
Ovidre(®) Prefilled Syringe (choriogonadotropin alfa injection). With a clear
focus on the patient and a leadership presence in the biopharmaceutical
industry, EMD Serono's US footprint continues to grow, with more than 1000
employees around the country and fully integrated commercial, clinical and
research operations in the company's home state of Massachusetts.
For more information, please visit www.emdserono.com

About Merck KGaA

Merck KGaA is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues
of euro 7.6 billion in 2008, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped
by 32,800 employees in 59 countries. Its success is characterized by
innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come
under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an
approximately 70% interest and free shareholders own the remaining
approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated
and has been an independent company ever since.

For more information, please visit www.merckserono.com or www.merck.de

SOURCE EMD Serono, Inc.

Renee Connolly, EMD Serono, Inc., +1-781-681-2340,