Approximately 194 million people suffer from diabetes worldwide. This number will exceed 333 million by 2025 if nothing is done to slow this destructive epidemic . In 2003, the three regions of the world with the largest numbers of diabetes sufferers were India with 35.5 million, China with 23.8 million and the United States with 16 million , with at least that same number in the European Union. In Europe, an estimated 22.5 million patients are believed to have diabetes. At least 50% of all people with diabetes are unaware of their condition and in some countries this figure may rise to 80%. MSD and the EFSD are active in trying to promote awareness of this disease and in funding research into the underlying pathologies of diabetes as well as new approaches to treatment.

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Contact: Catherine Pannell
cpannell@hillandknowlton.com
44-207-413-3059
Merck & Co., Inc.
13-Sep-2005