PR Newswire via NewsEdge Corporation :

ROCKLAND, Mass., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- EMD Serono, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, is supporting the $2-million commitment of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research for research toward therapies to alleviate Parkinson's disease (PD)-related cognitive dysfunction and mood disorders. The funding is to be awarded under a new initiative, Cognitive Deficits and Mood Disorders in Parkinson's Disease.

"Most people think of Parkinson's disease as a motor disorder, but time and again, patients tell us that the cognitive and mood-related symptoms of PD -- including depression, anxiety and executive dysfunction -- are some of the most disabling aspects of the disease," said Katie Hood, the Foundation's interim CEO. "These symptoms frequently affect patients early in their disease and don't respond to dopamine replacement therapy. With the Cognitive Deficits and Mood Disorders in Parkinson's Disease initiative, we hope to invigorate research and therapeutic development in this very important area."

Elmar Schnee, Merck's Executive Board Member responsible for Pharmaceuticals, commented: "We recognize the urgent need for new therapies to alleviate PD-related mood disorders and cognitive dysfunction, and look forward to supporting The Michael J. Fox Foundation in pursuit of effective treatments for these under-addressed aspects of Parkinson's disease. Our support of the Foundation is just one example of our commitment to driving innovative science that will allow every individual to live a fuller and more satisfying life."

Cognitive dysfunction, which includes difficulty in planning, sequencing, initiating and sustaining behavior toward a given goal, and incorporating feedback to make adjustments along the way, is estimated to occur in up to 80 percent of people with PD. Depression is thought to affect up to 50 percent of Parkinson's patients. Anxiety and apathy also are often associated with PD.

"While treatments for classic forms of depression or anxiety have been developed, little evidence exists that they are optimal when used in Parkinson's patients," said Dr. Todd Sherer, the Foundation's vice president, research programs. "Additionally, while information from other fields must be leveraged in pursuing treatments for PD's cognitive and psychiatric symptoms, simple extrapolation of this knowledge to Parkinson's is not possible - perhaps due to the pathology of PD and its treatments."

Sherer noted that MJFF and EMD Serono hope, through their innovative partnership, to encourage Parkinson's scientists to collaborate with researchers from other areas, including psychiatry, in order to capitalize on work already done and to obtain different perspectives on cognitive and psychiatric disorders in Parkinson's disease.

The Foundation will accept proposals for clinical research projects or for basic or translational research in relevant preclinical models of PD. Priorities for funding include:

    -- Novel approaches to understanding the pathophysiology of cognitive
       dysfunction and psychiatric disorders in PD
    -- Development and characterization of pre-clinical models for these
       symptoms
    -- Examination of the role of cognitive dysfunction and psychiatric
       disorders in disease onset, progression and prognosis
    -- Development or validation of tools to predict or assess early
       development of cognitive dysfunction and psychiatric disorders in PD
    -- Detailed evaluation of the impact of existing PD treatments on these
       symptoms
    -- Pre-clinical and clinical testing of available and experimental
       treatments for cognitive dysfunction and psychiatric disturbances in PD

       patients

A conference call with MJFF Research Programs staff to further clarify the aims and goals of this initiative will be held Tuesday, January 22 at 12 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Researchers wishing to participate in the call must RSVP to conferencecalls@michaeljfox.org and will receive an e-mail reply with call-in details.

The overall selection of program awardees will be made exclusively by the Foundation under its standard peer-review process. Letters of Intent under this initiative are required and are due at 6 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. Funding is anticipated in July 2008. Full information on how to apply is available on the Foundation's Web site, http://www.michaeljfox.org.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is dedicated to ensuring the development of a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research agenda. To date, the Foundation has funded over $98 million in research directly or through partnerships.

About EMD Serono

EMD Serono, Inc., headquartered in Rockland, Massachusetts, is an affiliate of Merck KGaA in Darmstadt, Germany. EMD Serono is a leader in fertility treatments, with Gonal-f(R) (follitropin alpha for injection), Luveris(R) (lutropin alfa for injection) and Ovidrel(R) Prefilled Syringe (choriogonadotropin alpha injection). The company has strong market positions in neurodegenerative diseases, with Rebif(R) (interferon beta-1a), as well as in endocrinology, with Saizen(R) (somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection), Serostim(R) (somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection) and Zorbtive(TM) (somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection).

About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with sales of EUR 6.3 billion in 2006, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by 30,962 employees in 61 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.emdserono.com or http://www.merck.de

SOURCE EMD Serono, Inc.

CONTACT: Renee Connolly of EMD Serono, Inc., +1-781-681-2340

<<PR Newswire -- 12/14/07>>