Merck 2008 Annual Report Download - page 145

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Glossary
Aromatase inhibitors
Aromatase inhibitors block estrogen formation in muscle and fatty tissue and are used
to treat hormone-sensitive breast cancer.
ASCO
American Society of Clinical Oncology – the world’s most important professional orga-
nization of physicians who treat cancer patients. Each year, an Annual Meeting of all
members is held.
Beta-blockers
A collective term for similarly acting drug substances which act as inverse agonists
on the body’s beta receptors and so inhibit the action of stress hormones (notably,
norepinephrine and epinephrine). They lower the heart rate and blood pressure, make
the heart beat less strongly, and reduce the heart’s excitability.
BH4
BH4 is a co-enzyme (tetrahydrobiopterin). The effects of BH4 deficiency include
reduced levels of dopamine and serotonin.
Biomarkers
The term refers both to substances in the body and cell properties. Biomarkers help
doctors to identify a patient’s disease. Certain genes tend to play a role in the treatment
of cancers, in terms of whether they are normal (wild type) or have undergone
transformation (mutant). A relatively simple test is usually done.
CEFIC
European Chemical Industry Council.
Credit facility
The financial scope up to which a bank has agreed to grant a loan to a borrower is
referred to as a credit line or credit facility. A credit line is a revolving credit, meaning
that the borrower can continuously draw funds and make payments until the term
expires or the credit line is terminated.
DAX®
Abbreviation for Deutscher Aktienindex (German Stock Index). Its value is based on
the stock prices of the 30 largest German companies by market capitalization.
EBIT
Earnings before interest and taxes. Equals the operating result plus exceptional items.
EBITDA
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Equals the earnings
before interest and taxes (EBIT) minus write-downs for depreciation and amortization.
EGFR
Abbreviation for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor. It is upregulated in various tumor
types and/or present in mutated form, resulting in uncontrolled growth and replication
of tumor cells. Novel cancer therapies are aimed at blocking EGFR’s oncogenic signal
and hence stopping tumor growth.
140 | Merck Annual Report 2008