Biopharmaceuticals

 News Release - June 19, 2006

New Study Showed VYTORIN(R) (ezetimibe/simvastatin) Significantly More Effective than Crestor(R) (rosuvastatin) at Lowering LDL 'Bad' Cholesterol at All Doses Compared

Greater LDL Cholesterol Reduction with VYTORIN Compared to Crestor Resulted in Greater LDL Cholesterol Goal Attainment

ROME, June 19 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- Results from a new clinical study which included 2,855 patients with high cholesterol showed that VYTORIN® (ezetimibe/simvastatin) was significantly more effective than Crestor® (rosuvastatin) in reducing LDL "bad" cholesterol across all study dose comparisons, 52-61 percent for VYTORIN 10/20 mg to 10/80 mg and 46-57 percent for Crestor 10 mg to 40 mg. In addition, both VYTORIN and Crestor raised HDL "good" cholesterol by 8 percent, averaged across all doses studied. The primary endpoint of the study was LDL cholesterol reduction from baseline averaged across all doses. Key secondary endpoints included LDL cholesterol reductions from baseline at each dose comparison. With the results of this study, VYTORIN now has been shown in clinical studies to provide greater LDL cholesterol lowering efficacy versus Zocor (simvastatin), Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin) at all study dose comparisons.

In a post-hoc subgroup analysis of 715 high risk patients included in the study, the results revealed that VYTORIN, as a result of greater LDL cholesterol reduction, helped significantly more high-risk patients achieve an LDL cholesterol of less than 70 mg/dL and less than 100 mg/dL compared to patients taking Crestor (50 percent vs. 29 percent; p <0.001 and 90 percent vs. 82 percent, p<0.05 respectively) averaged across the doses studied.

"In this study, VYTORIN was significantly more effective than Crestor in reducing LDL cholesterol and averaged across the doses in attaining an LDL cholesterol goal of less than 100 mg/dL and LDL cholesterol of less than 70 mg/dL in high-risk patients," said Michael Davidson, M.D., professor of medicine, director of Preventive Cardiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago. "These data provide further evidence that VYTORIN is an excellent option to help lower the LDL, or bad, cholesterol levels of patients with high cholesterol."

The results were presented today at the International Symposium on Atherosclerosis (ISA 2006) meeting in Rome.

VYTORIN, which contains ezetimibe and simvastatin, is the first and only product approved to treat the two sources of cholesterol by inhibiting the production of cholesterol in the liver and blocking the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine, including cholesterol from food. VYTORIN is marketed as INEGY outside the U.S.

"Recent data shows that many patients do not reach recommended LDL cholesterol treatment goals," added Dr. Davidson, who was the principal investigator of the study. "Now with the new recommendations from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology calling for more aggressive treatment of high cholesterol in certain high risk patients, physicians should consider providing more patients with greater LDL cholesterol lowering right from the start to help more patients reach recommended LDL cholesterol treatment goals."

About the study

This double-blind, six-week, parallel-group study included 2,855 patients. Patients were randomized equally to one of six treatment groups.

VYTORIN provided significantly greater LDL cholesterol reduction, compared to Crestor, when averaged across all dose comparisons (56 percent vs. 52 percent; p<0.001), and at all individual dose comparisons. The LDL cholesterol reductions for VYTORIN compared to Crestor were 52 percent, VYTORIN 10/20 mg vs. 46 percent, Crestor 10 mg, 55 percent, VYTORIN 10/40 mg vs. 52 percent, Crestor 20 mg and 61 percent, VYTORIN 10/80 mg vs. 57 percent for Crestor 40 mg. In addition, VYTORIN provided greater reductions compared to Crestor in total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and non-HDL cholesterol when averaged across all doses studied and at each dose comparison. VYTORIN also lowered triglycerides by similar levels compared to Crestor when averaged across all doses studied. Effects on HDL cholesterol were similar between VYTORIN and Crestor, each raising HDL cholesterol by 8 percent averaged across the doses studied. High triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The relationship between treatment-induced changes in triglycerides, HDL, and apolipoprotein B and reduction of CVD risk has not been established. Also, the clinical significance of the above comparisons has not been established.

Both medicines were generally well tolerated in this study.

As previously noted, the primary endpoint of the overall study was LDL cholesterol reduction from baseline averaged across all doses. Key secondary endpoints included changes from baseline in LDL cholesterol at each dose comparison and changes in total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol.

Important information about VYTORIN

VYTORIN contains simvastatin and ezetimibe. VYTORIN is indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet for the reduction of elevated total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Apo B(1), triglycerides and non-HDL cholesterol and to increase HDL cholesterol in patients with primary (heterozygous familial and non-familial) hypercholesterolemia or mixed hyperlipidemia.

VYTORIN is also indicated for the reduction of elevated total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g. LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable.

VYTORIN is a prescription medicine and should not be taken by people who are hypersensitive to any of its components. VYTORIN should not be taken by anyone with active liver disease or unexplained persistent elevations of serum transaminases. Women who are of childbearing age (unless highly unlikely to conceive), are nursing or who are pregnant should not take VYTORIN.

Selected cautionary information for VYTORIN

Muscle pain, tenderness or weakness in people taking VYTORIN should be reported to a doctor promptly because these could be signs of a serious side effect. VYTORIN should be discontinued if myopathy is diagnosed or suspected. To help avoid serious side effects, patients should talk to their doctor about medicine or food they should avoid while taking VYTORIN.

In three placebo-controlled, 12-week trials, the incidence of consecutive elevations (greater than or equal to 3 X ULN) in serum transaminases were 1.7 percent overall for patients treated with VYTORIN and 2.6 percent for patients treated with VYTORIN 10/80 mg. In controlled long-term (48-week) extensions, which included both newly-treated and previously-treated patients, the incidence of consecutive elevations (greater than or equal to 3 X ULN) in serum transaminases was 1.8 percent overall and 3.6 percent for patients treated with VYTORIN 10/80 mg. These elevations in transaminases were generally asymptomatic, not associated with cholestasis and returned to baseline after discontinuation of therapy or with continued treatment. Doctors should perform blood tests before, and periodically during treatment with VYTORIN when clinically indicated to check for liver problems. People taking VYTORIN 10/80 mg should receive an additional liver function test prior to and three months after titration and periodically during the first year.

Due to the unknown effects of increased exposure to ezetimibe (an ingredient in VYTORIN) in patients with moderate or severe hepatic insufficiency, VYTORIN is not recommended in these patients. The safety and effectiveness of VYTORIN with fibrates have not been established; therefore, co-administration with fibrates is not recommended. Caution should be exercised when initiating VYTORIN in patients treated with cyclosporine and in patients with severe renal insufficiency. VYTORIN has been evaluated for safety in more than 3,800 patients in clinical trials and was generally well tolerated at all doses (10/10 mg, 10/20 mg, 10/40 mg, 10/80 mg). In clinical trials, the most commonly reported side effects, regardless of cause, included headache (6.8 percent), upper respiratory tract infection (3.9 percent), myalgia (3.5 percent), influenza (2.6 percent) and extremity pain (2.3 percent).

About Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals

Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals is a joint venture between Merck & Co., Inc. and Schering-Plough Corporation formed to develop and market in the United States new prescription medicines in cholesterol management. The collaboration includes worldwide markets (excluding Japan). VYTORIN is marketed as INEGY outside the U.S.

Merck Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. The forward-looking statements may include statements regarding product development, product potential or financial performance. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Merck's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements in Item 1 of Merck's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005, and in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, which the Company incorporates by reference.

Schering-Plough Disclosure Notice

The information in this press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to VYTORIN and the potential market for VYTORIN. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations or forecasts of future events. Schering-Plough does not assume the obligation to update any forward- looking statement. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from Schering-Plough's forward-looking statements, including market forces, economic factors, product availability, patent and other intellectual property protection, current and future branded, generic or over-the-counter competition, the regulatory process, and any developments following regulatory approval, among other uncertainties. For further details about these and other factors that may impact the forward-looking statements, see Schering-Plough's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company's 2005 10-K.

Source: Schering-Plough

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