Merck Serono is the largest division of Merck. It markets innovative prescription drugs of chemical and biotechnological origin, including monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutic proteins, and offers its leading brands in around 150 countries.
With annual R&D spending of more than € 1 billion, Merck Serono focuses on highly specialized therapeutic areas such as Neurodegenerative Diseases, Oncology, Fertility, Endocrinology as well as Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases.
 |
 |
 |
Key products by therapeutic area
- Oncology: Erbitux® (solid tumors)
- Neurodegenerative Diseases: Rebif® (multiple sclerosis)
- Fertility: Gonal-f®, Pergoveris™, Luveris®, Ovitrelle®, Crinone®, Cetrotide® (infertility treatment)
- Endocrinology: Saizen® (growth hormone disorders), Serostim® (HIV-associated wasting), Kuvan® (metabolic disorder hyperphenylalaninemia)
- CardioMetabolic Care: Glucophage® family (type 2 diabetes), Concor® family (cardiovascular diseases), Euthyrox® (thyroid diseases)
Key developments in 2009
- Sales of Erbitux increase by 23% to € 697 million; Rebif® sales rise 15% to € 1,537 million
- NICE of the United Kingdom recommends Erbitux® as a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (KRAS wild-type tumors) and metastases only in the liver
- The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency issues a negative opinion on Erbitux® for the treatment of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- Market launch of Rebismart™, the first electronic injection device for the administration of Rebif®, a medicine for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Marketing authorization application for cladribine tablets, an oral treatment option for multiple sclerosis, successfully filed in the EU. In the United States, the FDA issued a refuse to file letter. We are working on a resubmission.
- Market launch of Kuvan® in the EU for the treatment of hyperphenylalaninemia