Ulcer Education Greens Up

Educational Resources for ULCERGARD® (omeprazole)

Use Recycled Materials

DULUTH, GA.  July 22, 2009 The only FDA-approved product to help prevent stomach ulcers in horses ULCERGARD® (omeprazole) once again breaks ground. Educational materials for the brand will now be printed on environmentally responsible materials.

“We are committed to educating horse owners about stomach ulcers, but we’re also dedicated to providing that education in a responsible way,” says Amanda J. McAvoy, product manager, Equine Pharmaceuticals, Merial. “Environmentally friendly efforts are important to the veterinarians and horse owners who use our product every day. Now, our customers can feel even better about their use of ULCERGARD.”

As new educational pieces are developed for ULCERGARD, they will be printed on paper approved by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) wherever possible. FSC-certified papers are independently certified to help ensure the forests that they come from are managed responsibly.

Because of the prevalence of stomach ulcers in horses “93 percent of racehorses1 and 63 percent of nonracing competitive horses’ veterinarians and horse owners are continually interested in the most current research and medical information to help keep their horses healthy. Now this information is being delivered in a more environmentally friendly way.

Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,400 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2008 sales were over $2.6 billion. Merial Limited is a joint venture between Merck & Co., Inc. and sanofi-aventis. For more information, please see http://www.merial.com/ .

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ULCERGARD can be used in horses that weigh at least 600 pounds. The effectiveness of ULCERGARD in the prevention of gastric ulcers in foals and weanlings has not been evaluated. ULCERGARD may be used safely in breeding stallions. Safety in pregnant mares has not been determined.

*When treated for 8 to 28 days, ULCERGARD is proven to effectively prevent stomach ulcers in horses exposed to stressful conditions.

1Murray MJ, Schusser GF, Pipers FX, Gross SJ. Factors associated with gastric lesions in thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J 1996;28:368-374.

2Mitchell RD. Prevalence of gastric ulcers in hunter/jumper and dressage horses evaluated for poor performance. Association for Equine Sports Medicine, September 2001.

®ULCERGARD is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca Group of Companies. ã2009 Merial Limited. Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. EQUIUGD927 (04/09)