Merck at In-Cosmetics 2001 in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Business Editors

DUSSELDORF & DARMSTADT, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 2001

Innovation in Cosmetics: Merck launches Emblica, a New Plant-Derived,

Free-Radical-Fighting Ingredient for Skin-Care Products

At the occasion of the international trade show In-Cosmetics 2001, being held in Dusseldorf/Germany from April 24-26, Merck KGaA today announced that it will launch Emblica, a patented combination of active ingredients extracted from the fruit of Phyllanthus emblica.

Emblica is one of Merck's innovative market introductions for the international cosmetics industry. The plant-derived ingredient possesses all the properties that make it ideal for capturing free radicals while at the same time preventing further metal-induced oxidation. Both free radicals and oxidation are blamed for speeding the skin-aging process.

Phyllantus emblica is a plant with important healing properties and has been used for generations for this purpose in the Indian life science Ayurveda for the treatment of numerous diseases and disabilities. Emblica is extracted from the fruit of Phyllanthus emblica using a gentle water-based process. A specially validated process ensures a high concentration of active components in the final preparation.

"Customers are actively looking for new innovative cosmetic substances for anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, skin protection and care claims in general. Merck's strategy in cosmetics is to focus on new active ingredients that are well defined, documented and derived from Nature," said Klaus Bischoff, head of Merck's global Cosmetics business.

"Emblica is a perfect example of this strategy," Bischoff added. The ingredient is recommended for skin care and skin protection, particularly in anti-aging and sunscreen formulations.

The principal components of Emblica are the low molecular-weight tannins Emblicanin A and Emblicanin B. Emblica forms complexes with the iron and copper that are present in the skin. This chelating process prevents the formation of hydroxy radicals that would otherwise cause damage to the skin. This particular property differentiates Emblica from other established antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E which, when present in certain concentrations, promote the reduction of metal ions and, thus, the formation of radicals.

The essential advantages of Emblica are its stability and efficacy over a long period of time. While the effect of most antioxidants decreases rather rapidly, the individual components of Emblica continue to be effective in a cascade fashion. The sequential effects of such a cascade thus guarantee long-term and high level antioxidative protection.

RonaCare Ectoin uses natural substance to protect skin, retain moisture, prevent premature aging

RonaCare Ectoin, which also is being presented at In-Cosmetics 2001, is another new cosmetic ingredient from Merck that uses natural means to achieve long-term protection of skin cells. Ectoin has been discovered in a special type of bacteria, enabling them to withstand damaging environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, dryness and UV radiation. RonaCare Ectoin was first introduced to the market by Merck at the International Cosmetic Congress IFSCC 2000 in Berlin.

Micro-organisms, which produce Ectoin for their own protection, have existed in extreme and hostile environments for thousands of years. They live quite happily in salt lakes, saturated rock salt solutions, the bitter cold and the intense heat of the desert. Ectoin guarantees their survival in all of these hostile settings.

Now these natural survival benefits of the bacteria are being utilized by Merck for human skin with the new cosmetic active ingredient. Major international cosmetic makers have already expressed their intention to use RonaCare Ectoin in creams and other skincare products, as well as shampoos and lipsticks.

"Ectoin protects the skin from being damaged by stress factors like heat, cold and harmful chemicals in the environment by supporting the repair and protective mechanisms of the cells," said Merck researcher Dr Joachim Buenger. Furthermore, the new cosmetic raw material regulates the natural moisture of the cells, thereby preventing them from drying out. The result: the skin remains moist and supple for a longer period of time.

Merck has been developing the new active ingredient in co-operation with Bitop GmbH, a biotechnology company based in Witten, Germany, which holds the patent for the production process. Large-scale biotech manufacturing of the substance is done at Merck's Darmstadt production site.

Emblica(tm) and RonaCare(tm) Ectoin are trademarks of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt.

Headquartered in Darmstadt/Germany, the Merck Group generates annual sales of EUR 6,7 billion in the fields of Pharmaceuticals, Specialty Chemicals, Lab Products and Lab Distribution. Founded in 1668, the Merck Group is represented today by more than 200 operating companies in 52 countries and employs 33,500 people world-wide. The company groups its operating activities under Merck KGaA, in which E. Merck, as a general partner, holds the Merck family's 74 percent equity interest in Merck KGaA. The Merck Group strongly believes that promotion of its employees' self-initiative and self-responsibility, application-oriented research and development and close customer relationships in the markets are the keys to long-term corporate success.