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Merck KGaA. (9/29/20). "Press Release: Press Release as a Result of the Ad-hoc Announcement of September 29, 2020". Darmstadt.

	Region	United States (USA)
	Organisation	EMD Serono Inc.
	Group	Merck (DE) (Group)
	Organisation 2	Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB)
	Group	Biogen (Group)
	Product	Rebif®
	Product 2	IP services
	Person	Segeberg, Friederike (Merck (DE) 202002 Head Media Relations)

Merck has just published the following ad-hoc announcement in accordance with Art. 17 of the German Market Abuse Regulation:

In the United States Merck KGaA’s subsidiary EMD Serono, Inc. (Merck) is involved in a US patent dispute with Biogen Inc., United States (Biogen). Biogen sued Merck for damages in connection with a patent infringement caused by Merck’s product Rebif before the U.S. District Court New Jersey, Newark. Merck defended itself against the allegations and brought a countersuit claiming that Biogen’s patent is invalid. In February 2018 a jury declared Biogen’s patent invalid vis-à-vis Merck. The jury verdict was overturned by the District Court Judge, who upheld the validity of Biogen’s patent. Merck filed a complaint with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit against this ruling.

On 28 September 2020 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit set aside the decision of the District Court Judge, invalidated Biogen’s patent and instructed the District Court to reinstate the jury verdict.

Therefore, Merck KGaA has decided today to reverse the provisions for the patent dispute proceedings in the amount of EUR 365 million. Thereof, up to a mid to high double-digit million amount might be booked into the financial result.

Merck KGaA will adjust its forecasts accordingly as part of its regular financial reporting.

For more information, please contact Friederike Segeberg
+49 6151 72-6328

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About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 57,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2019, Merck generated sales of € 16.2 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Performance Materials.

Record changed: 2023-06-05