Merck Sharp & Dohme's (MSD) raltegravir, its medicine for HIV/AIDS, received the Prix Galien USA 2008 Award for Best Pharmaceutical Agent, MSD announced recently.

            "We are delighted that more than a decade of work by Merck researchers has been recognized with such a prestigious award," said Dr. Peter S. Kim, president of Merck Research Laboratories.  "We congratulate the hard working and dedicated people who developed this product."

            The Prix Galien recognizes the pharmaceutical industry's outstanding achievement in the development of new medicines.  An internationally recognized award, the Prix Galien was founded in France in 1969 by French pharmacist, Roland Mehl, and the 2007 ceremony was the Prix Galien's inaugural event in the United States.  The Prix Galien, often considered the industry's equivalent of the Nobel Prize, is the highest accolade for pharmaceutical research and development.

            The award was presented at a ceremony in New York City on Sept. 24, and follows previous Prix Galien top honors awarded to MSD in 2007 for its cervical cancer vaccine called Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (types 6, 11, 16 and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant, for best biotechnology product, and sitagliptin, its medicine for type 2 diabetes, for best pharmaceutical agent.  In addition former Merck CEO P. Roy Vagelos, M.D., was given the prestigious Pro Bono Humanum Award for his dedication to improved global health through Merck's ongoing campaign to eliminate river blindness (onchocerciasis).

About Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD)

Merck & Co., Inc., which operates in many countries as Merck Sharp & Dohme, 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.