EMD Serono Provides Grant To The Skin Cancer Foundation To Raise Awareness Of Rare Cancer

ROCKLAND, Mass., June 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EMD Serono, the U.S. and Canada biopharma business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced its award of a patient education grant to The Skin Cancer Foundation, the only international organization solely devoted to skin cancer prevention, early detection and treatment. While skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., with nearly 3.3 million people diagnosed each yearⁱ, there remained a need for educational resources about rare and lesser-known forms of the disease, including Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).

The Skin Cancer Foundation used the grant funds to further develop its patient education materials on MCC on its website, SkinCancer.org. The site is the number one online resource for skin cancer education, with nearly 10 million people visiting the website annually. MCC is a very aggressive form of skin cancerⁱⁱ with high rates of recurrenceⁱⁱⁱ, and is more frequently fatal than melanoma^iv, a more well-known skin cancer. While still rare, the number of reported cases of MCC in the U.S. has tripled in the last 20 years^v to approximately 1,500 new cases each year^vi. The five-year survival rate for patients with metastatic MCC is less than 20 percent^{vii viii}. It primarily affects people who have sustained exposure to an excessive amount of natural or artificial sunlight, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV or transplant recipients^ix.

"Merkel cell carcinoma is extremely rare, but very dangerous," said Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD, senior vice president of The Skin Cancer Foundation. "Not many people know about it, so they're not aware of their risk. As leaders in the fight against skin cancer, we have a responsibility to fill this education gap so that we can prevent some of the deaths that result from a lack of knowledge."

"As with many rare cancers, there is a lack of resources for people to understand and learn about Merkel cell carcinoma," said Zhen Su, Vice President and Head of Global Medical Affairs, Oncology, EMD Serono. "Our company is working to help people with cancers where there remains a significant need, and we are proud to support The Skin Cancer Foundation to help educate people about this relatively unknown and devastating cancer."

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany – which operates as EMD Serono in the U.S. and Canada – and Pfizer, Inc. formed a global strategic alliance in 2014 focusing on developing high-priority international clinical programs to investigate immunotherapy regimens, and is striving to find new ways to treat cancer, including Merkel cell carcinoma.

About EMD Serono, Inc.
EMD Serono is the North America biopharma business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany – a leading science and technology company – focused exclusively on specialty care. For more than 40 years, the business has integrated cutting-edge science, innovative products and industry-leading patient support and access programs. EMD Serono has deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as a robust pipeline of potential therapies in oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology as R&D focus areas. Today, the business has more than 1,100 employees around the country with commercial, clinical and research operations based in the company's home state of Massachusetts.
www.emdserono.com

About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the EMD Group Website. In case you are a resident of the USA or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2015, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany generated sales of € 12.85 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials in the United States and Canada.

About the Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer Alliance
Immuno-oncology is a top priority for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer Inc. The global strategic alliance between Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer Inc., New York, U.S., enables the companies to benefit from each other's strengths and capabilities and further explore the therapeutic potential of immunotherapy. The alliance is focused on developing high-priority international clinical programs to investigate immunotherapy regimens, and is striving to find new ways to treat cancer.

About The Skin Cancer Foundation
The Skin Cancer Foundation is the only global organization solely devoted to the prevention, early detection and treatment of skin cancer. The mission of the Foundation is to decrease the incidence of skin cancer through public and professional education and research. Since its inception in 1979, the Foundation has recommended following a complete sun protection regimen that includes seeking shade and covering up with clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses, in addition to daily sunscreen use. For more information, visit SkinCancer.org.

References:

ⁱ American Cancer Society. Skin Cancer Facts. Available at http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/sunanduvexposure/skin-cancer-facts. Accessed May 12, 2016.

ⁱⁱ Poulsen M. Merkel-Cell Carcinoma of the Skin. The Lancet Oncology. 2004;5(10):593-599.

ⁱⁱⁱ Wolff K, et al. Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 2006: 7^th Edition.

^iv Wolff K, et al. Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 2006: 7^th Edition.

^v Wolff K, et al. Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 2006: 7^th Edition.

^vi American Cancer Society. What are they key statistics about Merkel cell carcinoma? Available at http://www.cancer.org/cancer/skincancer-merkelcell/detailedguide/skin-cancer-merkel-cell-carcinoma-key-statistics. Accessed May 12, 2016.

^vii NCCN Merkel Cell Carcinoma Guidelines version I. 2016. Available from: www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/mcc.pdf. Accessed April 2016.

^viii Iyer JG, Blom A, Doumani R, et al. Response Rate and Durability of Chemotherapy for Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma Among 62 Patients. Abstract. Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (ASCO) 2014.

^ix American Cancer Society. What are risk factors for Merkel cell carcinoma? Available at http://www.cancer.org/cancer/skincancer-merkelcell/detailedguide/skin-cancer-merkel-cell-carcinoma-risk-factors. Accessed May 12, 2016.

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