EMD Serono Supports Military Community By Providing Access to Fertility Care Through Focused Patient Assistance Programs

"More than 2,200 service people have suffered catastrophic injury which has rendered them infertile, and many of these patients have been medically retired, which compromises their coverage for infertility treatment," said Alan Copperman, MD, Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at The Mount Sinai Hospital and Medical Director of Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York. "It's crucial that the infertility community work together to help increase access to fertility treatment for these men and women, who have made such great sacrifices for our country."

Since launching less than two years ago, EMD Serono's Compassionate Corps program has helped more than 70 veterans obtain medication for IVF/advanced reproductive technology (ART), and over 50 fertility clinics in the U.S. have signed up to partner with EMD Serono to provide access to the program. EMD Serono's Compassionate Care program, which helps uninsured, income-eligible patients receive discounted fertility medications, has helped more than 30,000 underserved patients gain access to fertility medications. Of these, more than 1,400 are active U.S. military or veterans.

"EMD Serono has a legacy of leading efforts to increase access to medications for underserved patients," said Craig Millian, Senior Vice President, Head of U.S. Endocrinology and Fertility.  "With more than a million Gulf War veterans living in the U.S., many of whom are still of child-bearing age, the veteran community is significant in number and highly in need of increased access to family-building resources.  Through the Compassionate Corps and Compassionate Care programs we have advanced our mission of advocating for people who want to have a child."

To be eligible for the Compassionate Corps program, patients must:

• Be a retired member of the military or the spouse of one;
• Be a veteran or the spouse of a veteran who is:
  • Infertile due to a service-related injury;
  • Not privately insured for infertility medications;
  • Medically retired;
• Have been diagnosed by a physician as infertile and requiring IVF/ART.

Uninsured active U.S. military as well as uninsured military veteran patients who do not qualify for the Compassionate Corps Program are encouraged to apply for EMD Serono's Compassionate Care Program in which they will now receive a minimum discount of 25% off the self-pay price of EMD Serono medicines if eligible, and can also qualify for 50 to 75% off of EMD Serono medications if they meet financial eligibility criteria.

EMD Serono collaborates with Veteran Support Organizations to raise awareness of issues facing U.S. veterans attempting to build families, and to enhance the impact of their programs.

For more information about the Compassionate Care and Compassionate Corps programs, and about infertility, treatment options, and to find a specialist near you, please visit www.FertilityLifelines.com.

About EMD Serono, Inc.
EMD Serono is the North America biopharma business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany - a leading science and technology company - focused exclusively on specialty care. For more than 40 years, the business has integrated cutting-edge science, innovative products and industry-leading patient support and access programs. EMD Serono has deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as a robust pipeline of potential therapies in oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology as R&D focus areas. Today, the business has more than 1,100 employees around the country with commercial, clinical and research operations based in the company's home state of Massachusetts.

www.emdserono.com

About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2015, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of € 12.8 billion in 66 countries. Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, holds the global rights to the Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

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