Merck Serono Awards Grant for Growth Innovation (GGI) for the First Time

PR57948

DARMSTADT, Germany, Sep. 19 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

    - The first grants awarded to coincide with the 53rd European Society

for       Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) Meeting

    - Investment supports innovative projects for the advancement of science

and medical research in the field of growth

    Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck, today announced the

first recipients of the Grant for Growth Innovation (GGI) for 2014. The awards

were announced during a Satellite Symposium organized by Merck Serono at the

53rd European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) Meeting currently

taking place in Dublin, Ireland.

    Sixty applications were received from 19 countries and reviewed by an

independent Scientific Steering Committee composed of internationally renowned

endocrinologists and chaired by Professor Christian Strasburger, Head of

Clinical Endocrinology at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin. Following a

rigorous selection process three awards have been granted to support innovative

projects in Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

    Leo Dunkel, MD, PhD

    Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

    Title: Defining the role of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in the

pathogenesis of growth hormone resistance and subsequent growth failure in

chronic childhood conditions.

    Julian Lui Ph.D.

    Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human

Development (NICHD), Bethesda, MD, USA

    Title: Cartilage-Targeted Therapeutics for Growth Disorders

    Lars Savendahl, MD, PhD

    Karolinska Institute and University Hospital, Solna, Sweden

    Title: Early prediction of long-term growth response to GH treatment;

Evaluation of a newly developed technique based on magnetic resonance imaging

of the tibia growth plate

    "The Grant for Growth Innovation reflects Merck Serono's commitment to

innovation which we believe is the foundation of our efforts to advance new

possibilities in the treatment of disorders of human growth," said Steven

Hildemann, Global Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Medical Affairs and

Global Drug Safety at Merck Serono. He added: "Identifying and supporting

forward thinking researchers in the field of growth, helps us achieve our

collective goal to advance our understanding of this therapeutic area and

deliver better outcomes for patients living with growth disorders."

    Notes to editors

    Photos of the awards ceremony will soon be available under

http://www.grantforgrowthinnovation.org

    About the Grant for Growth Innovation (GGI)

    Merck Serono announced the initiation of the GGI program in 2013 to support

the advancement of understanding of the field of growth. A total grant of up to

EUR400,000 will be awarded to one or more selected projects. Each application

was blinded and evaluated by a Scientific Steering Committee composed of

internationally renowned endocrinologists, according to five criteria:

innovation; scientific rationale; clarity; feasibility; and impact of research.

    For further information about the GGI and how to apply for next year's

grants, please visit http://www.grantforgrowthinnovation.org

    About Merck Serono

    Merck Serono is the biopharmaceutical division of Merck. With headquarters

in Darmstadt, Germany, Merck Serono offers leading brands in 150 countries to

help patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, infertility, endocrine and

metabolic disorders as well as cardiovascular diseases. In the United States

and Canada, EMD Serono operates as a separately incorporated subsidiary of

Merck Serono.

    Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets prescription

medicines of both chemical and biological origin in specialist indications. We

have an enduring commitment to deliver novel therapies in our core focus areas

of neurology, oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology.

    For more information, please visit http://www.merckserono.com.

    All Merck Press Releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they

become available on the Merck Website. Please go to

http://www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection

or discontinue this service.

    Merck is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech

products in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. With its four divisions

Merck Serono, Consumer Health, Performance Materials and Merck Millipore, Merck

generated total revenues of EUR11.1 billion in 2013. Around 39,000 Merck

employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to

further the success of customers and to help meet global challenges. Merck is

the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company - since 1668, the

company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible

entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70 percent interest, the founding

family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. Merck, Darmstadt,

Germany is holding the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only

exceptions are Canada and the United States, where the company is known as EMD.

    SOURCE: Merck Serono