GlaxoSmithKline and Merck & Co., Inc. Enter Cross-License and Settlement Agreement for HPV Vaccine Patents

Business Wire, Feb 2, 2005

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. & PHILADELPHIA -- Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) and GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) have entered into a cross-license and settlement agreement for certain patent rights related to human papillomavirus ("HPV") vaccine. GSK will receive an upfront payment and royalties from Merck based upon sales of a HPV vaccine upon development and launch. Further financial details and terms were not disclosed.

The agreement announced today resolves competing intellectual property claims related to the Merck and GSK vaccine candidates, respectively.

Merck and GSK will continue with their own entirely independent research, development and, after appropriate regulatory reviews and approval, commercialization activities for their respective investigational HPV vaccine candidates.

About GSK Biologicals and GSK

GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (GSK Biologicals), one of the world's leading vaccine manufacturers, is located in Rixensart, Belgium, which is the center of all GlaxoSmithKline's activities in the field of vaccine research, development and production. GSK Biologicals employs more than 1,000 research scientists, who are devoted to discovering new vaccines and developing more cost-effective and convenient combination products to prevent infections that cause serious medical problems worldwide. For more information, visit GlaxoSmithKline's vaccine websites at www.gsk-bio.com. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals' parent company, GlaxoSmithKline PLC - one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies - is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

About Merck

Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines in over 20 therapeutic categories. The company also devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit www.merck.com.

GlaxoSmithKline Forward-Looking Statement

Under the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, GlaxoSmithKline cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GlaxoSmithKline, including those made in this Announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that may affect GSK's operations are described under 'Risk Factors' in the Operating and Financial Review and Prospects in GSK's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2003.

Merck Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. The forward-looking statements may include statements regarding product development, product potential or financial performance. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Merck's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements in Item 1 of Merck's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2003, and in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K which the company incorporates by reference.