SAN DIEGO & GIBBSTOWN, N.J.–Christina Shasserre has been appointed to Global Head of Bioscience for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, effective immediately.

Located at EMD Chemicals’ Bioscience site in San Diego, she will lead the worldwide activities of Merck’s Bioscience business, which includes bringing the global biotechnology-based capabilities and technology platforms of EMD Chemicals and its parent company, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, including the well-known Calbiochem® and Novegen® brands, to customers in the pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical and academic research industries.

Shasserre will be based at EMD’s San Diego site, where the company will consolidate all its core US capabilities in bioscience into by the end of 2009. When the transition is completed, the company will be better positioned for bringing innovative solutions to customers and achieving long-term growth by having all core functions supporting this industry – such as research and development, manufacturing, product management, distribution, quality assurance, and technical and sales support services – integrated and collaborating in one location.

“Christina will drive our efforts to contribute to our customers creating breakthrough advancements by providing innovative solutions from our high-quality products, technical expertise from our specialist sales force and seamless support from our global network,” said Meiken Krebs, President and Chief Executive Officer, EMD Chemicals. “We have a long-term commitment to serving the bioscience market that will be realized through Christina’s leadership.”

Before joining EMD Chemicals in 2007 in her previous role of General Manager, Laboratory Business, Shasserre held senior leadership positions in marketing, business development and licensing at Sigma-Aldrich. She was also Director of Marketing for Vysis, Inc. and held positions in marketing and quality assurance for Amoco Technology. Shasserre has an MBA from Olivet University, an M.S. in Molecular Biology / Cancer Genetics from the University of Tulsa and a B.A. in Biology from the University of Missouri.

About EMD Chemicals Inc.

EMD Chemicals represents the North American chemical sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. It is an international organization with nearly 1,000 employees and revenues of more than $US 300 million in 2008, providing specialty chemicals for pharmaceutical, biotech, cosmetic, automotive, plastics and other industrial applications. With headquarters in Gibbstown, N.J., EMD Chemicals is also engaged in the development, manufacture and distribution of a broad array of reagents used for life science research. Its sister company, EMD Crop BioScience located in Milwaukee, Wis., specializes in plant growth enhancement products for agricultural applications, including Optimize®. EMD Chemicals is known in the market by its product brands including Iriodin®, Xirallic®, Rona®, Calbiochem®, Novabiochem® and Novagen®, among others.

About Merck KGaA

Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of € 7.6 billion in 2008, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by 32,800 employees in 59 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.