Ezetimibe. Schering-Plough.

Ezetimibe (Sch-58235) is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor under development by Schering-Plough (SP), in collaboration with Merck, for the potential treatment of hypercholesterolemia. In late December 2001, the companies filed an NDA in the US for this indication. SP is studying ezetimibe as a monotherapy for lowering lipid levels, and also in combination with commonly used statins therapies. The company believes that ezetimibe will have additive effects with the statins, inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine, while the statins work by inhibiting the production of cholesterol in the liver. In May 2000, SP and Merck signed an agreementfor the codevelopment of ezetimibe covering its uses as a monotherapy, in combination with statins, and as a fixed combination with simvastatin. In December 2001, Merck and SP expanded their partnership launched in the US in 2000, to develop and market ezetimibe. In August and September 2001, Credit Suisse First Boston predicted ezetimibe sales of US $420 million in 2003 and US $959 million in 2004. Analysts at Salomon Smith Barney predicted in November 2001 that the product would be launched in 2003.