GENEVA, October 4, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today, announced the winner of the Real MS: Your Story international script concept competition to be Sarah Mead from the UK, as selected by a judging panel. The winning script, titled 'It's a marathon, not a sprint...', will now be brought to the screen in an international short film directed by award-winning Director, Robin Sheppard, to show the world that life with MS can be redefined in a positive and fulfilling way.

Real MS: Your Story is the first element of an international campaign that aims to raise global awareness of MS and demonstrate how life can and could be improved for people living with MS, and their families and carers. Competition entrants from around the world were invited to submit their ideas for the film plot in the form of a script concept, with the winning script concept to be developed into a 3-5 minute film.

The judging panel included global film and MS experts who selected Sarah's script concept from over 120 entries. Working with Robin Sheppard, Sarah will now see her work brought to life as a short film which will be screened in a major European city, December 2010.

Director, Robin Sheppard said: The response to the Real MS script concept competition has been fantastic. We have been overwhelmed to see how many people from across the globe have wanted to get involved with this important campaign. The entries received have revealed the diverse and incredible achievements of people living with multiple sclerosis, and reinforces the need for these stories to be told to a wider audience. We believe that Sarah's winning script concept will convey a powerful, inspiring vision of life with multiple sclerosis and would like to congratulate on her well deserved success.

The Real MS campaign comprises a series of inspirational educational competitions throughout 2010 and into 2011. Real MS hopes to give a voice to those whose lives have been touched by MS.

MS affects two million people around the world. Common symptoms of MS include unexplained constant fatigue, loss of sight, loss of sensations, loss of balance, weakness and speech/swallowing problems.

The unpredictability of MS means that people have to reinvent their lives every day to overcome the daily challenges and reminders of their condition. There may not yet be a cure, but effective treatments are available and other ones are coming which might change the lives of patients. Ongoing research and development will hopefully empower people living with MS to get on with the life they envision for themselves without having to think about the daily reminders of their disease.

To find out more about the campaign and life with MS, visit http://www.realmsvoices.com

About Real MS campaign

Real MS is an international campaign that aims to raise global awareness of the disease and demonstrate how life with MS can and should be better. Comprising inspirational educational competitions throughout 2010 and into 2011, the first campaign competition (Real MS: Your Story) aims to use the power of a short film to show the world that life with MS can be redefined in a positive and fulfilling way. The Real MS: Your Story competition is not open to US residents.

About multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory condition of the central nervous system and is the most common, non-traumatic, disabling neurological disease in young adults. It is estimated that approximately two million people have MS worldwide. While symptoms can vary, the most common symptoms of MS include blurred vision, numbness or tingling in the limbs and problems with strength and coordination. The relapsing forms of MS are the most common.

About Merck Serono

Merck Serono is the division for innovative prescription pharmaceuticals of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative small molecules and biopharmaceuticals to help patients with unmet medical needs. In the United States and Canada, EMD Serono operates through separately incorporated affiliates.

Merck Serono has leading brands serving patients with cancer (Erbitux(R), cetuximab), multiple sclerosis (Rebif(R), interferon beta-1a), infertility (Gonal-f(R), follitropin alpha), endocrine and metabolic disorders (Saizen(R) and Serostim(R), somatropin), (Kuvan(R), sapropterin dihydrochloride) as well as cardiometabolic diseases (Glucophage(R), metformin), (Concor(R), bisoprolol), (Euthyrox(R), levothyroxine). Not all products are available in all markets.

With an annual RD expenditure of more than EUR 1 billion, Merck Serono is committed to growing its business in specialist-focused therapeutic areas including neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as new areas potentially arising out of research and development in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

About Merck

Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of EUR 7.7 billion in 2009, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by approximately 40,000 (including Merck Millipore) employees in 64 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and free shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.

For more information, please visit http://www.merckserono.com or http://www.merck.de

SOURCE: Merck Serono S A

CONTACT: Merck Serono S.A. - Geneva, 9 Chemin des Mines, 1202 Genève,Suisse, Media relations, Tel: +41-22-414-36-00