Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has been named as a leader in the Maplecroft Climate Innovation Index (CII), which identifies global companies that demonstrate superior management, mitigation and adaptation in climate innovation.

Merck ranked 45th out of the top 100 global companies (and 17^th among the top 100 U.S. companies), out of a total universe of more than 300 companies that were reviewed.  Merck placed third out of the 10 pharmaceutical companies that made the global ranking.

“Merck’s ranking in the top 100 of Maplecroft’s CII reflects its continued commitment to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions,” said Alyson Warhurst, chief executive officer of Maplecroft.  “Demonstrated by its attainment of previous targets to reduce GHG emissions, Merck has implemented successful schemes across the business, developing efficiency metrics for all energy intensive processes/equipment, and is using these metrics to improve performance.  The establishment of a dedicated Center of Excellence in Energy to identify and implement innovative practices, together with new targets to reduce emissions by 10 percent by 2015, helped ensure Merck’s particularly strong scores in the management and adaption sections of the CII’s.”

The Index is based on public disclosures and direct engagement with companies. Maplecroft rated each company against more than 100 criteria including: technological innovation and new working practices to combat climate change impacts; management of climate-related issues; adaption to physical climate-related risks, such as flooding or more extreme weather events throughout the supply chain; and, the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  The Index is designed to enable investors to identify the most resilient and innovative companies with the best long-term growth prospects.

“Climate change will affect business in unexpected ways, such as altering demand for existing products based on their climate-related impacts and by driving the demand for innovative sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, usage and recycling,” states Maplecroft Director, Kevin Franklin, Ph.D.  “With growing legislation and regulation in the United States around emissions and climate change disclosure, companies must innovate or be left behind.  The CIIs favor front-runners that are engaging proactively to shape the future growth environment, that have clear and efficient business processes and robust governance / business models.”

Merck has made it a priority to reduce our demand for energy since establishing our first corporate energy policy in 1994.  Merck's Center of Excellence in Energy is responsible for identifying and implementing best practices for reducing energy use across the company. "At Merck, we have a long history of environmental responsibility and compliance. But we know that the world's current approach to resource use is not sustainable," said Tom Pagliuco, director of Merck's Center of Excellence in Energy. "We believe companies share the responsibility of making business decisions that create a sustainable economy and serve as the foundation for a world that thrives financially, environmentally and socially."

For more information on Merck's environmental sustainability strategy, including goals to reduce Merck's energy use and GHG emissions, visit www.merckresponsibility.com 

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 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. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about 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.

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 2011 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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