WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. - Aug. 20, 2007 - Merck & Co. Inc., today announced the winners of the first annual Merck Index Women in Chemistry Scholarship program. The program is designed to foster support for women choosing to pursue advanced degrees in medicinal or synthetic organic chemistry.

"We are confident that this award marks the beginning of a successful career in chemistry for this esteemed group of scientists," said Maryadele J. O'Neil, editor of The Merck Index. "This program underscores Merck's commitment to workplace diversity as well as excellence in science and education."

The awards will be presented on Monday, August 20, as part of The Many Faces of Chemistry: The Merck Index Women in Chemistry Awards symposium and poster session, being held at the American Chemical Society 234th National Meeting and Exposition in Boston.

The five award recipients will each receive a $5,000 scholarship and present their undergraduate research at the symposium. The award winners are: Anna Allen, University of Guelph, Canada; Sheel Dodani, University of Texas at Dallas; Autumn Maruniak, University of California, Irvine; Jessica Tanuwidjaja, University of California, Berkeley; and Sarah Wengruniuk, Winthrop University.

An additional six students will present their research at the symposium and will receive special recognition awards in the form of a travel grant. These students are: Cynthia Crosswhite, Wellesley College; Jennifer Guerra, University of Kansas; Vanessa Marx, University of Manitoba; Rebecca Parkhurst, Hamilton College; Danielle Stacy, Truman State College; and Hanna Wisniewska, University of California, Berkeley.

The Merck Index Women in Chemistry Scholarship program is administered by the editorial staff of The Merck Index, Chemistry's Constant Companion(R). The application deadline for the 2008 scholarship program is March 17, 2008. Detailed award criteria and application forms are available on The Merck Index website at: www.merckbooks.com/mindex.

About the Merck Index

With more than 1 million copies sold, The Merck Index has been the go-to reference for generations of professionals looking for precise, comprehensive information on chemicals, drugs, and biologicals. First published in 1899, this publication predates The Merck Manual and is the most widely used text of its kind. Merck publishes all of The Merck Manuals as a service to the community. All have strict editorial independence, do not include any marketing information or promote any pharmaceutical medicines. The Manuals are available free in multiple languages at www.merckmanuals.com.

About Merck

Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit www.merck.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. The forward-looking statements may include statements regarding product development, product potential or financial performance. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Merck's business, particularly those mentioned in the risk factors and cautionary statements in Item 1A of Merck's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2006, and in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, which the Company incorporates by reference.

Merck & Co., Inc.

Merck & Co., Inc.

At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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