Schering-Plough Highlights PEGINTRON(TM) Clinical Data Presentations at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2007 Annu...( KENILWORTH N.J. Oct. 30 /- Leadin...),Health

KENILWORTH, N.J., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Leading researchers will present 68 data presentations involving Schering-Plough's hepatitis products, including PEGINTRON(TM) (peginterferon alfa-2b) and REBETOL(R) (ribavirin, USP) combination therapy, a current standard of care in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, at the 58th American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Annual Meeting in Boston, Nov. 2-6.

Among these are several studies discussing the predictability of response with PEGINTRON and REBETOL and assessing how results at important treatment milestones early in the course of therapy can help physicians and patients make informed treatment decisions.

Researchers will present the final results from the POWeR (Peginterferon alfa-2b Prospective Optimal Weight-based Dosing Response) program, a large observational study involving nearly 2,000 patients conducted at academic and community clinics in Canada between 2002 and 2006. In the study, PEGINTRON and REBETOL combination therapy achieved consistent sustained virologic response (SVR) rates across patient weights and consistently low relapse rates in a "real-life" treatment setting.

Investigators also will present new data on the investigational use of low-dose PEGINTRON as maintenance therapy in chronic hepatitis C nonresponder patients with fibrosis or cirrhosis. The goal of maintenance therapy in this very hard-to-treat patient population is to prevent or delay the progression of liver disease.

Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne infection in America and the most common form of liver disease, affecting nearly 5 million people in the United States and 200 million people worldwide.

For program information, please visit the American Association of Liver Disease Web site at http://www.aasld.org.

Key PEGINTRON Presentations:

Predictability of Response

Predictability of Response:
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