JANUVIA™, First In New Class Of Oral Treatments Known As DPP-4 Inhibitors, Recommended For Approval For The Treatment Of Type 2 Diabetes, EU

JANUVIA™ (sitagliptin phosphate), Merck & Co., Inc.’s treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes, today received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) in Europe. The CHMP opinion recommends that JANUVIA be approved in the European Union for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Following the conclusion of the CHMP review, the opinion for JANUVIA will be transmitted to the European Commission (EC). If the EC adopts the opinion, JANUVIA will be the first and only prescription medication in a new class of drugs known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, which enhance the body’s own ability to lower blood sugar (glucose) when it is elevated. The decision will be applicable to the 27 countries that are members of the European Union, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Marketing authorization from the European Commission is expected in early April after the adoption of the opinion. JANUVIA is currently approved in 11 countries including the United States and Mexico.

In October 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved JANUVIA as monotherapy and as add-on therapy to either of two other types of oral diabetes medications, metformin or thiazolidinediones (TZDs), to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in patients with type 2 diabetes when diet and exercise are not enough. The recommended dose of JANUVIA is 100 mg once daily. JANUVIA should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis, as it would not be effective in these settings.

The CHMP, comprised of regulators from all European Union countries, gave the positive opinion following a review of comprehensive data supporting the efficacy, safety and tolerability profile of JANUVIA. The submission package consisted of studies involving approximately 4,000 patients with type 2 diabetes treated with JANUVIA.

JANUVIA has been investigated in patients with type 2 diabetes to improve glycemic control in combination with metformin when diet and exercise, plus metformin, do not provide adequate glycemic control. JANUVIA has also been studied as add-on therapy with PPAR agonists in patients with type 2 diabetes in whom use of a PPAR agonist (e.g. a thiazolidinedione) is appropriate. In addition, it has been studied as monotherapy in many patients.

In clinical trials, JANUVIA demonstrated an overall incidence of side effects comparable to placebo. The most common side effects reported with JANUVIA (>5 percent and higher than placebo) were stuffy or runny nose and sore throat, upper respiratory infection, and headache. The incidence of selected gastrointestinal adverse reactions in patients treated with JANUVIA was as follows: abdominal pain (2.3 percent; placebo, 2.1 percent), nausea (1.4 percent; placebo, 0.6 percent) and diarrhea (3.0 percent; placebo, 2.3 percent).

About JANUVIA

JANUVIA is an oral, once-daily, selective DPP-4 inhibitor. DPP-4 inhibitors work by enhancing a natural body process that lowers blood sugar, the incretin system. When blood sugar is elevated, incretins work in two ways to help the body regulate high blood sugar levels: they trigger the pancreas to increase the release of insulin and signal the liver to reduce its production of glucose. DPP-4 inhibitors enhance the body’s own ability to control blood sugar levels by increasing the active levels of these incretin hormones in the body, helping to decrease blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Sitagliptin phosphate is also being investigated as part of Merck’s single tablet combination with metformin, a widely prescribed medicine for type 2 diabetes. JANUMET is the proposed trademark for the combination tablet. The mechanism of action of DPP-4 inhibitors is distinct from that of metformin and other drugs in the currently available classes of glucose-lowering agents. JANUMET has been accepted for standard review by the FDA. FDA action is expected on the New Drug Application by the end of March 2007. The Company is also moving forward with regulatory filings in countries outside the United States.

Dosing of JANUVIA

The recommended dose of JANUVIA is 100 mg once daily, with or without food, for all approved indications. No dosage adjustment is needed for patients with mild to moderate hepatic insufficiency or in patients with mild renal insufficiency (CrCl >50 mL/min). To achieve plasma concentrations of JANUVIA similar to those in patients with normal renal function, lower dosages are recommended in patients with moderate and severe renal insufficiency as well as in ESRD patients requiring hemodialysis. For patients with moderate renal insufficiency (CrCl >30 to
Use in specific populations

JANUVIA should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Caution should be exercised when JANUVIA is administered to a nursing woman. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection in the elderly and it may be useful to assess renal function in these patients prior to initiating dosing and periodically thereafter.

Expanding clinical trial program for JANUVIA

Merck’s clinical development program for JANUVIA is robust and continues to expand with 43 studies completed or under way, and four more studies set to begin this year. There are about 6,700 patients in the Company’s clinical studies with about 4,700 of these patients being treated with JANUVIA. Additionally, about 1,100 patients have been treated with JANUVIA for more than a year.

About Merck

Merck & Co., Inc. 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 http://www.merck.com.

Forwarding-looking statement

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. The forward-looking statements may include statements regarding product development, product potential or financial performance. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Merck’s business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements in Item 1 of Merck’s Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005, and in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, which the company incorporates by reference.

JANUVIA™ is a registered trademark of Merck & Co., Inc.

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