GENEVA, Switzerland, October 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- - Ranked Number 7 out of top 20 Employers Across Life Sciences Industry Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today that it has been named by Science magazine as a top employer in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, ranking number 7 out of the top 20 employers across the life sciences. "We are honored that the scientific community has recognized Merck Serono as a leading place to work," said Bernhard Kirschbaum, Executive Vice President, Research, Merck Serono. "Our success as a leader within the biopharmaceutical industry is a direct result of the hard work, passion and dedication of our employees. We are committed to creating an environment for our scientists that fosters growth, professional development and a place where intellectually curious people can thrive and grow with a common goal of finding new treatments for unmet medical needs." This is the second time Merck Serono has been placed on Science magazine's Top Employer survey; previously the organization ranked number 17. The survey sought to determine which biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies were most admired by people who work in the field, and why. Survey respondents also rated the companies on 23 different attributes, which included Corporate Image, Financial Prowess, Leadership and Direction, Work/Culture Environment, Location and Academic and Intellectual Challenge. The methodology used for the survey included email invitations to AAAS members, Science Careers registrants, and Science website visitors. The ranking is a result of a survey conducted by Science magazine, along with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and commissioned by Senn-Delaney Culture Diagnostics and Measurement to conduct a web-based survey aimed at determining the companies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries with the best reputations as employers. About Merck Serono Merck Serono is the division for innovative prescription pharmaceuticals of Merck, a global pharmaceutical and chemical group. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative small molecules and biopharmaceuticals to help patients with unmet medical needs. Its North American business operates in the United States and Canada as EMD Serono. Merck Serono has leading brands serving patients with cancer (Erbitux(R)), multiple sclerosis (Rebif(R)), infertility (Gonal-f(R)), endocrine and cardiometabolic disorders (Glucophage(R), Concor(R), Euthyrox(R), Saizen(R), Serostim(R)), as well as psoriasis (Raptiva(R)). With an annual R&D expenditure of around EUR 1bn, Merck Serono is committed to growing its business in specialist-focused therapeutic areas including neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as new areas potentially arising out of research and development in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. About Merck Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of EUR 7.1 billion in 2007, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by 31,946 employees in 60 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 http://www.merckserono.net/ or http://www.merck.de/ DATASOURCE: Merck Serono CONTACT: Merck Serono, 9 Chemin des Mines, 1202 Geneva , Switzerland. Media Relations: Tel.: +41-22-414-36-00.

Copyright