EMD Serono, Inc. Provides $1.5M Grant to Massachusetts General Hospital

  • Grant will fund development of Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum website
  • EMD Serono is committed to investing in understanding of neurological disorders

ROCKLAND, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- EMD Serono, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced the company is providing Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) with a $1.5M grant for the development of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Discovery Forum, an advanced scientific web community. The MS Discovery Forum will bring together members of the MS research community and foster on-line discussions, facilitate collaborations, create opportunities for translational research and speed the development of treatments.

“The Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum will create a virtual, networked community for MS experts, leveraging social media as a critical tool in advancing scientific and medical knowledge,” said Steve Arkinstall, PhD, Head of U.S. Research for EMD Serono, Inc. “This unique platform will help generate new and innovative discoveries in MS research with the ultimate goal of speeding the delivery of novel therapies to people living with this disease. EMD Serono is proud to serve as the founding donor for this initiative.”

The MS Discovery Forum will provide researchers, publishers and industry members with an opportunity to discuss new research findings, develop and challenge hypotheses, and manage data resources. The web community will provide a variety of resources, including an expert-curated genetic epidemiology database, scientific articles and reviews, industry news, discussion forums and a membership directory.

“We are grateful for EMD Serono’s involvement, which demonstrates their commitment to supporting innovative science, and their keen recognition of how research can progress in a more accelerated manner by utilizing current social media platforms for sharing, as well as mutual learning and collaboration, which is common among scientists,” said Tim Clark, Principal Investigator for the Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum. “We are delighted to be working with them and with our partners, the Accelerated Cure Project for MS and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, on this exciting project.”

About EMD Serono, Inc.

EMD Serono, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leader in the U.S. biopharmaceutical arena, integrating cutting-edge science with unparalleled patient support systems to improve people's lives. The company has strong market positions in neurodegenerative diseases, with Rebif® (interferon beta-1a), as well as in endocrinology, with Saizen® (somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection), Serostim® (somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection) and EGRIFTATM (tesamorelin for injection). EMD Serono is a leader in reproductive health, with Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection), Luveris® (lutropin alfa for injection) and Ovidrel® Prefilled Syringe (choriogonadotropin alfa injection). In addition, EMD Serono is growing its expertise and presence in the area of oncology, with more than 10 projects currently in development. With a clear focus on the patient and a leadership presence in the biopharmaceutical industry, EMD Serono’s U.S. footprint continues to grow, with more than 1100 employees around the country and fully integrated commercial, clinical and research operations in the company’s home state of Massachusetts.

For more information, please visit www.emdserono.com

About Merck KGaA

Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of € 9.3 billion in 2010, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by more than 40,000 employees in 67 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and free shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.

For more information, please visit www.merckserono.com or www.merck.de



CONTACT:

For EMD Serono, Inc.
Jennifer Bianco, 781-681-2861

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Massachusetts

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Health  Biotechnology  Hospitals  Pharmaceutical  Research  Science  General Health

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