Schering-Plough Unveils Top-Line Study Results for SAPHRIS(TM) (asenapine) Demonstrating Efficacy in Long-Term Schizophrenia Relapse ...( Company's R&D Update Today Unveil...),Health

Company's R&D Update Today Unveils Rich Development Pipeline of Compounds Meeting Important Medical Needs

KENILWORTH, N.J., Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) today revealed top-line results of a long-term Phase III clinical study of its psychopharmacologic agent SAPHRIS(TM) (asenapine) demonstrating efficacy and safety in preventing relapse of schizophrenia. In this trial, asenapine was statistically significantly more effective than placebo in preventing relapse, as measured by the primary endpoint of the trial estimated through Kaplan-Meier curves. At the 26 week endpoint, 47 percent of the placebo-treated patients relapsed, compared with only 12 percent of the asenapine-treated patients (p<0.0001). Asenapine was generally well tolerated, with somnolence and insomnia being the most frequently reported adverse events in the initial open-label treatment phase (occurring in more than 10 percent of patients).

The top-line data were presented today at the company's 2008 R&D Update meeting being hosted for analysts and portfolio managers at company headquarters. The company plans to submit results of the trial for presentation at a future medical meeting.

"Schizophrenia is a serious disease affecting millions of people worldwide, and there is a need for effective new medications with acceptable safety and tolerability profiles," said Thomas P. Koestler, Ph.D., executive vice president and president, Schering-Plough Research Institute. "Asenapine is an important late-stage compound in the Schering-Plough development pipeline, and we are encouraged by the top-line data we are sharing today. We believe that asenapine may have the potential to help relieve the burden of schizophrenia."

Asenapine, administered as a fast-dissolving subl
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