Asenapine Meets Primary Endpoint in Long-Term Schizophrenia Relapse Preven...( KENILWORTH N.J. Oct. 23 /- Scheri...)

KENILWORTH, N.J., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) today announced that its novel psychopharmacologic agent asenapine has met the primary endpoint in a long-term schizophrenia relapse prevention trial. Asenapine, which is administered as a fast-dissolving sublingual tablet, is a psychopharmacologic compound with a unique human receptor signature.

The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter, multinational clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of sublingually administered asenapine (5 or 10 mg BID) compared to placebo in the prevention of relapse in subjects with schizophrenia. A total of 700 subjects entered the open-label treatment with asenapine for up to 26 weeks. Of these, a total of 386 subjects met criteria for stabilization on asenapine and were randomized to treatment in the 26-week double-blind placebo-controlled phase of the trial.

Asenapine was statistically significantly more effective than placebo in preventing relapse, the primary endpoint of the trial. Asenapine was generally well tolerated during the trial. Full results of the trial, including efficacy, safety and tolerability data will be presented at a later date. These data are planned to be used to support a regulatory submission for the approval of asenapine in Europe.

Schering-Plough acquired asenapine in November 2007 through its acquisition of Organon BioSciences, which developed the product. Asenapine is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of schizophrenia and acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder.

Schering-Plough is an innovation-driven, science-centered global health care company. Th
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