Merck and Simcere Sign Agreement to Establish Pioneering China Joint Venture

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. & NANJING, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, N.J., (NYSE:MRK), acting through an affiliate and known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and China’s Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (NYSE:SCR, Simcere) today announced the signing of a framework agreement to establish a joint venture focused on serving China's rapidly expanding health care needs by providing significantly improved access to quality medicines in major therapeutic areas.