EMD Serono Receives CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ Re-Accreditation

ROCKLAND, Mass., Aug. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the U.S. and Canada, today announced that it has earned CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ re-accreditation for maintaining a strong commitment to the health of its employees and satisfying the latest, comprehensive requirements of this national workplace wellness accreditation program established by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer.

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer is a forum that brings together key cancer leaders from government, business, academic and non-profit sectors to develop and implement initiatives that reduce the risk of cancer, enable early diagnosis, facilitate access to the best available treatments and hasten the discovery of novel anti-cancer therapies. Founded by former President George H.W. Bush, the nonprofit organization developed and administers the Gold Standard, an employee wellness accreditation program that addresses cancer in the workplace. EMD Serono is one of nearly 200 private, nonprofit and government employers in a wide range of occupational categories that have earned Gold Standard accreditation, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a number of NCI-designated cancer centers.

"Nearly all of us are impacted by cancer in some way. At EMD Serono we are committed to making a difference in the lives of patients, their loved ones and healthcare professionals, by accelerating innovation in oncology in order to develop therapies with the potential to transform the way cancer is treated," said Gary Zieziula, President and Managing Director, North America. "This commitment extends to our corporate family through employee wellness programs that are designed to help reduce the risk of cancer, promote early detection and provide quality care."

In order to earn and maintain CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation, EMD Serono met specific requirements in corporate culture and health benefits, including: establishing policies and programs to reduce cancer risk by prohibiting tobacco use in the workplace and supporting tobacco cessation efforts; promoting physical activity, healthy nutrition and weight management; providing health insurance options that include detecting cancer at its earliest stages, access to quality care, and participation in clinical trials; promoting employee awareness of these initiatives; and supporting the needs of cancer survivors in the workplace. 

About EMD Serono, Inc.
EMD Serono is the biopharma business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the U.S. and Canada - 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
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 € 12.8 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, holds the global rights to the Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

About The CEO Roundtable on Cancer
The CEO Roundtable on Cancer was founded in 2001, when former President George H.W. Bush challenged a group of executives to "do something bold and venturesome about cancer within your own corporate families." Since then, the Roundtable has created the CEO Cancer Gold Standard, the CEO Life Sciences Consortium, and Project Data Sphere. More information about the Roundtable can be found at www.CEORoundTableonCancer.org.  

Lisa Buffington
781-681-2340

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SOURCE EMD Serono

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