This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

It's good to see that someone benefits from MS therapies - the companies who produce them. But also of interest, is that a Phase III study for Campath will commence in 2006.

Bromley


AFX News Limited
Schering confirms 18 pct opg margin target in 2006; 16.5-17.0 pct in 2005
09.29.2005, 07:55 AM

MUNICH (AFX) - Schering AG reiterated its target to achieve an 18 pct operating margin in 2006 as well as its 16.5-17.0 pct margin target for the current year during a presentation at the HVB German Investment Conference in Munich today.

The Berlin-based pharmaceutical company also said it still sees high-single digit sales growth this year for its multiple sclerosis drug Betaferon (Betaseron).

Meanwhile, the company confirmed that it intends to submit a new drug application in 2006 for its benign tumour treatment Asoprisnil, which has a peak sales potential of 250 mln eur.

At the conference, Schering said it will file for US approval for its Leukine drug to treat Crohn's disease in the fourth quarter 2006, and that it plans to initiate a phase III study for its Campath drug to treat multiple sclerosis in 2006.

Earlier this month, Schering said it and its partner Genzyme Corp had suspended dosing with Campath due to patient safety concerns in a Phase II trial comparing Campath with Serono SA's drug Rebif.

Schering said that while trial data after one year of treatment showed a 'large treatment effect in favour' of Campath, there were three confirmed cases of severe idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a bleeding disorder characterized by too few platelets in the blood as the immune system destroys platelets.

However, the two companies will continue to collect both efficacy and safety data from this trial while preparing to initiate a Phase III trial.

Earlier today, Schering said it and its US partner Berlex Laboratories has received regulatory approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for its hormone replacement therapy Angeliq to treat severe menopausal symptoms.

Schering targets launch of the drug in the US by mid-2006.

Angeliq has an annual peak sales potential of 250 mln eur, with the lion's

share expected to come from the US.

The drug is currently available in Europe and South Africa.

ragnhild.kjetland@afxnews.com

rkj/bam



COPYRIGHT



Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved.