Schering-Plough Highlights PEGINTRON(TM) and Boceprevir Hepatitis C Data Presentations at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) Annu...( KENILWORTH N.J. May 15 /- Scherin...),Health

KENILWORTH, N.J., May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP), a leader in advancing the science and treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, announced today that data from several clinical studies with PEGINTRON(TM) (peginterferon alfa-2b) and REBETOL(R) (ribavirin, USP) combination therapy, as well as boceprevir, the company's investigational oral HCV protease inhibitor, will be presented at the 39th annual Digestive Disease Week (DDW) meeting to be held at the San Diego Convention Center, May 17-22.

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. It is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer, and the number one reason for liver transplants in the United States.

Clinical investigators will present findings from several PEGINTRON studies evaluating patient response to therapy at important treatment milestones, an approach that is aimed at individualizing treatment for patients to help improve outcomes. In particular, Schering-Plough is exploring unique treatment strategies for patients with more difficult-to-treat forms of the disease, such as patients who were nonresponders to previous therapy.

Schering-Plough also is exploring novel therapeutic approaches to treating hepatitis C with boceprevir, its investigational oral HCV protease inhibitor currently in Phase II clinical development. The final results of a Phase II dose-finding study of boceprevir with or without ribavirin in patients who were "null" responders to previous peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy will be presented.

Key Data Presentations
'/>"/>