Merck & Co., Inc. announced today that it has received a 2010 ENERGY STAR® Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its continued efforts to protect the environment through energy efficiency.

Merck, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2004, has been recognized by the EPA for five consecutive years - twice as Partner of the Year and now for the third time for Sustained Excellence. In November 2009, Merck completed its merger with Schering-Plough Corporation. Schering-Plough was also an ENERGY STAR Partner and earned the 2009 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award.

The 2010 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award recognizes the accomplishments of the energy efficiency programs at Merck and Schering-Plough, and the integration of these award-winning programs into a single program that preserves and builds upon the best practices of both.

"Managing energy use is consistent with Merck's values as a health care company and is critical to our business operations," said Rodney Freeman, vice president, Global Facilities Management, Merck & Co., Inc. "Our partnership with ENERGY STAR is part of our commitment to reduce the Company's environmental footprint - including energy use improvements, reduced water use and converting to renewable resources such as solar power." Merck will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010.

"The EPA is recognizing Merck with our highest ENERGY STAR award - the 2010 Sustained Excellence Award," said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. "Merck's continued leadership and commitment to energy efficiency is a testament to what we can accomplish to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our global environment."

About the Sustained Excellence Awards
The 2010 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. The winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. The awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

Merck's world headquarters in Whitehouse Station, N.J. qualified for the ENERGY STAR label in 2007 and 2008. The legacy Schering-Plough facility in Cleveland, Tennessee earned an ENERGY STAR award in 2009 for ranking in the top 25 percent of pharmaceutical-plant energy performance nationwide. The plant used nearly 35 percent less energy than similar pharmaceutical plants across the country.

Merck is also a member of the EPA's Climate Leaders and Climate RESOLVE programs. For more information about Merck's ongoing environmental and energy conservations efforts, please visit www.merck.com/cr.

About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. ENERGY STAR partners are committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information, visit www.energystar.gov.

About Merck
Today's Merck is working to help the world be well. Through our medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer and animal 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 health care through far-reaching programs that donate and deliver our products to the people who need them. Merck. Be Well. For more information, visit www.merck.com.

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. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the merger between Merck and Schering-Plough, including future financial and operating results, the combined company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the possibility that the expected synergies from the merger of Merck and Schering-Plough will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period, due to, among other things, the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and pending legislation that could affect the pharmaceutical industry; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; disruption from the merger making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; Merck's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; dependence on the effectiveness of Merck's patents and other protections for innovative products; the risk of new and changing regulation and health policies in the U.S. and internationally and the exposure to 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 2009 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).

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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