Merck and Johnson & Johnson Reach Agreement on Distribution Rights for REMICADE® and SIMPONI® (MRK, JNJ)

Merck MRK, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Johnson & Johnson JNJ and its subsidiary Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc., today announced that the companies have reached agreement to amend the distribution rights to REMICADE and SIMPONI, which treat chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. This agreement concludes the arbitration proceeding Johnson & Johnson initiated in May 2009, requesting a ruling related to the distribution agreement following the announcement of the proposed merger between Merck and Schering-Plough.