MSD China announced recently the newly appointed president of MSD China, Mr. Michel Vounatsos. With nearly 20 years experience in healthcare industry, Mr. Vounatsos brings a vast knowledge and expertise to drive MSD China to the new levels of success.

Mr. Michel Vounatsos has extensive experience across the world, Europe (France, Belgium, Poland) but also in the US, Middle-East and Africa. His last assignment before coming to China was the president of MSD in France, one of the largest MSD subsidiaries outside the US. During his assignment as the Managing Director of MSD Poland, he was able to significantly increase MSD's presence while supporting the Health Care reform of this emerging market. Due to his profound experience in mature and emerging markets, his appointment demonstrates China's strategic significance to MSD as well as the company's continuous investment and commitment to best serve China, including providing development and career opportunity to the best talent in China.

Michel Vounatsos said: "China is a key priority market, MSD will continue to contribute with innovative products and services to meet customer demand and best support the policy priorities of the Chinese government. We are in China for China."

About MSD

Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, MSD 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 MSD medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. MSD also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, please visit: www.merck.com & www.msdchina.com.cn.

(China.org.cn February 13, 2009)