Merck & Co, a global research-driven pharmaceutical company, has announced a new organizational structure after the completion of the merger of Schering-Plough Corporation (Schering). The new structure will build on the combined strengths of Merck and Schering to create a more customer focused, innovative and diversified global health care company. Richard T Clark, chairman, president and CEO of Merck will be CEO of the combined company.

The organizational structure for the new Merck is designed to capture the opportunities in the broader and deeper in-line pharmaceutical franchises that will be created through the integration of Merck and Schering products. It will create new franchises focused on Women's Health and Endocrine, and Mature Brands.

The new Merck will have five primary divisions viz., Global Human Health, Animal Health, Consumer Health Care, Merck Research Laboratories and Merck Manufacturing. Each division and global support function leader will be a member of the new Merck Executive committee and will report directly to Richard Clark. The Global Human Health (GHH) division will include the company's prescription, vaccines and biologics business. This division will have a broad portfolio of innovative inline medicines and vaccines that, with the robust late-stage pipeline and an expanded global presence.

The new Emerging Markets group will be part of the new GHH division and charged with focusing on regions and markets around the world that represent significant new growth opportunities. These include China, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, including Russia and Turkey.

Richard Clark, CEO, said, "Our integration teams have been busy laying the groundwork for the combined company and, thanks to their hard work and dedication, our integration planning is proceeding smoothly and on schedule." Merck and Schering continue to expect the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2009. Until that time, both companies will continue to operate as separate companies.