Merck news item

http://www.merck.com/newsroom/press_releases/product/2008_0114_pri.
Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals Provides Results of the ENHANCE Trial
Whitehouse Station, N.J., Kenilworth, N.J., Jan. 14, 2008 - Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals announcedtoday the primary endpoint and other results of the ENHANCE (Effect of Combination Ezetimibe and High-DoseSimvastatin vs. Simvastatin Alone on the Atherosclerotic Process in Patients with Heterozygous FamilialHypercholesterolemia) trial. Merck/Schering-Plough has submitted an abstract on the ENHANCE trial forpresentation at the American College of Cardiology meeting, which will be held in March 2008, and is awaitingnotification of acceptance from the College.
ENHANCE was a surrogate endpoint trial conducted in 720 patients with Heterozygous FamilialHypercholesterolemia (HeFH), a rare condition that affects approximately 0.2 percent of the population. Allanalyses were conducted in accordance with the original statistical analysis plan. The primary endpoint was themean change in the intima-media thickness (IMT) measured at three sites in the carotid arteries (the right and leftcommon carotid, internal carotid and carotid bulb) between patients treated with ezetimibe/simvastatin 10/80 mgversus patients treated with simvastatin 80 mg alone over a two year period. There was no statistically significant difference between treatment groups on the primary endpoint. The changefrom baseline in the mean carotid IMT was 0.0111 mm for the ezetimibe/simvastatin 10/80 mg group versus0.0058 mm for the simvastatin 80 mg group (p =0.29). At baseline, the mean carotid IMT measurement forezetimibe/simvastatin was 0.68 mm and for simvastatin 80 mg was 0.69 mm. There was also no statisticallysignificant difference between the treatment groups for each of the components of the primary endpoint, includingthe common carotid artery. Key secondary imaging endpoints showed no statistical difference between treatmentgroups.
The overall incidence rates of treatment-related adverse events, serious adverse events or adverse eventsleading to discontinuation were generally similar between treatment groups. The incidence of consecutiveelevations of serum transaminases (≥ 3x ULN) was 10 out of 356 for ezetimibe/simvastatin (2.8 percent) ascompared to 8 out of 360 for simvastatin (2.2 percent). Incidence of elevated creatine phosphokinase (≥10xULN)was 4 out of 356 (1.1 percent) in the ezetimibe/simvastatin group and 8 out of 360 (2.2 percent) in the simvastatingroup and two cases (0.6 percent) of CPK≥10xULN associated with muscle symptoms in theezetimibe/simvastatin group and one case (0.3 percent) in the simvastatin group. There were no cases ofrhabdomyolysis. Both medicines were generally well tolerated. Overall, the safety profiles of ezetimibe/simvastatin and simvastatin alone were similar and generally consistentwith their product labels. After washout, patients enrolled in the study had baseline LDL cholesterol levels of 319 mg/dL in the grouprandomized to ezetimibe/simvastatin and 318 mg/dL in the simvastatin group. Approximately eighty percent of thepatients enrolled in the ENHANCE trial had previously been treated with statins.
In the trial, there was a significant difference in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering seen betweenthe treatment groups -- 58 percent LDL cholesterol lowering at 24 months on ezetimibe/simvastatin 10/80 mg ascompared to 41 percent at 24 months on simvastatin 80mg alone, (p<0.01).
The incidence rates of cardiovascular clinical events in ENHANCE for the ezetimibe/simvastatin and simvastatingroups, respectively, were as follows: cardiovascular death 2 out of 357 vs. 1 out of 363, non-fatal myocardialinfarction 3 out of 357 vs. 2 out of 363, non-fatal stroke 1 out of 357 vs. 1 out of 363 and revascularization 6 outof 357 vs. 5 out of 363. There were no non-cardiovascular deaths or incidents of resuscitated cardiac arrests inthe ENHANCE trial. This surrogate endpoint study was not powered nor designed to assess cardiovascularclinical event outcomes.
Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals is currently conducting three large outcomes trials withezetimibe/simvastatin, which involve more than 20,000 high-risk patients, including the more than 10,000 patientIMPROVE-IT trial. No incremental benefit of ezetimibe/simvastatin on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality over http://www.merck.com/newsroom/press_releases/product/2008_0114_pri.
and above that demonstrated for simvastatin has been established.
About The ENHANCE Trial
ENHANCE was a multinational, randomized, double-blind, active comparator trial that used digitized single-frame
ultrasound technology for imaging purposes. There were 357 HeFH patients randomized to ezetimibe/simvastatin
and 363 HeFH patients to simvastatin. The study collected more than 30,000 carotid artery and 10,000 femoral
artery images from these patients. HeFH is characterized by markedly elevated plasma concentrations of LDL
cholesterol; typically well above the 95th percentile for age and sex.1
Single-frame ultrasound images were analyzed from the right and left carotid arteries at three sites (the commoncarotid, the internal carotid and the carotid bulb) and at numerous time points (baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24months). Images from the right and left common femoral arteries were analyzed at these same time points aswell.
Important information about VYTORIN® (ezetimibe/simvastatin)
VYTORIN contains simvastatin and ezetimibe. VYTORIN is indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet for the
reduction of elevated total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Apo B2, 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 withhomozygous 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 itscomponents. VYTORIN should not be taken by anyone with active liver disease or unexplained persistentelevations of serum transaminases. Women who are of childbearing age (unless highly unlikely to conceive), arenursing 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 (≥3 X ULN) in serumtransaminases were 1.7 percent overall for patients treated with VYTORIN and 2.6 percent for patients treatedwith VYTORIN 10/80 mg. In controlled long-term (48-week) extensions, which included both newly-treated andpreviously-treated patients, the incidence of consecutive elevations (≥3 X ULN) in serum transaminases was 1.8percent overall and 3.6 percent for patients treated with VYTORIN 10/80 mg. These elevations in transaminaseswere generally asymptomatic, not associated with cholestasis and returned to baseline after discontinuation oftherapy or with continued treatment. Doctors should perform blood tests before, and periodically during treatmentwith VYTORIN when clinically indicated to check for liver problems. People taking VYTORIN 10/80 mg shouldreceive an additional liver function test prior to and three months after titration and periodically during the firstyear.
Due to the unknown effects of increased exposure to ezetimibe (an ingredient in VYTORIN) in patients withmoderate or severe hepatic insufficiency, VYTORIN is not recommended in these patients. The safety andeffectiveness of VYTORIN with fibrates have not been established; therefore, co-administration with fibrates isnot recommended. Caution should be exercised when initiating VYTORIN in patients treated with cyclosporineand in patients with severe renal insufficiency. VYTORIN has been evaluated for safety in more than 3,800 patients in clinical trials and was generally welltolerated at all doses (10/10 mg, 10/20 mg, 10/40 mg, 10/80 mg). In clinical trials, the most commonly reportedside 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 also 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
http://www.merck.com/newsroom/press_releases/product/2008_0114_pri.
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involverisks and uncertainties, which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. Theforward-looking statements may include statements regarding product development, product potential or financialperformance. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially fromthose projected. Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as aresult of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should beevaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Merck's business, particularly those mentioned in therisk factors and cautionary statements in Item 1A of Merck's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2006, and inits 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
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to potential market for VYTORIN
and ZETIA® (ezetimibe). 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, 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 Part II, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in
the Schering-Plough's third quarter 2007 10-Q.
ZETIA and VYTORIN are registered trademarks of MSP Singapore Company LLC.
1Brown MS, Goldstein JL. A receptor-mediated pathway for cholesterol homeostasis. Science 1986;232:34-47.
2Apo B is the protein compound of lipoproteins, LDL and VLDL, which carry cholesterol in the blood COPYRIGHT 1995-2007 MERCK & CO., INC.

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