Schering-Plough

Schering-Plough was a US-based pharmaceutical company that was founded in 1851 by Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering as Schering AG in Berlin, Germany. The company was initially focused on producing dyes, but later shifted its focus to pharmaceuticals and was renamed Schering Corporation in 1952. Schering-Plough was formed in 1971 through the merger of Schering Corporation and Plough, Inc., a company founded by Abel Haynes Plough in Memphis, Tennessee. The company was headquartered in Kenilworth, New Jersey and was a major player in the pharmaceutical industry, with a portfolio of products that included Claritin, Nasonex, and Remicade, developed in collaboration with Centocor Ortho Biotech.

● History

The history of Schering-Plough dates back to 1851, when Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering founded Schering AG in Berlin, Germany. The company initially produced dyes, but later shifted its focus to pharmaceuticals and became a major player in the German pharmaceutical industry. In 1952, the company was renamed Schering Corporation and established a presence in the United States. Schering-Plough was formed in 1971 through the merger of Schering Corporation and Plough, Inc., a company founded by Abel Haynes Plough in Memphis, Tennessee. The company was led by Richard Jay Kogan, who served as CEO from 1996 to 2003, and was succeeded by Fred Hassan, who played a key role in the company's merger with Merck & Co. in 2009. During its history, Schering-Plough collaborated with other companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and GlaxoSmithKline, to develop and market new products.

● Products

Schering-Plough had a diverse portfolio of products, including Claritin, a popular antihistamine developed in collaboration with Bayer AG, Nasonex, a nasal spray used to treat allergies, and Remicade, a biologic used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, developed in collaboration with Centocor Ortho Biotech. The company also marketed Peg-Intron, a treatment for hepatitis C, developed in collaboration with Enzon Pharmaceuticals, and Temodar, a treatment for brain cancer, developed in collaboration with Shire Pharmaceuticals. Schering-Plough also had a significant presence in the animal health market, with products such as Nuflor, a veterinary antibiotic developed in collaboration with Intervet, and Estrumate, a veterinary hormone developed in collaboration with Merial.

● Research and Development

Schering-Plough had a strong commitment to research and development, with a focus on developing new treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, and inflammatory diseases. The company had research collaborations with academic institutions, such as Harvard University, Stanford University, and University of California, San Francisco, as well as with other pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Eli Lilly and Company. Schering-Plough also had a significant presence in the biotechnology sector, with partnerships with companies such as Biogen Idec, Genentech, and Amgen. The company's research efforts were led by Thomas P. Koestler, who served as Executive Vice President of Research and Development, and were focused on developing new treatments for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease, in collaboration with companies such as Elan Corporation and UCB Pharmaceuticals.

● Merger and Acquisition

In 2009, Schering-Plough merged with Merck & Co. in a deal worth $41.1 billion, creating one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The merger was led by Richard T. Clark, who served as CEO of Merck & Co., and Fred Hassan, who served as CEO of Schering-Plough. The combined company, which retained the Merck & Co. name, had a diverse portfolio of products, including Gardasil, a vaccine developed by Merck & Co. to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), and Januvia, a treatment for type 2 diabetes developed by Merck & Co. in collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb. The merger also created a significant presence in the animal health market, with products such as Nuflor and Estrumate, developed in collaboration with Intervet and Merial.

● Controversies

Schering-Plough was involved in several controversies during its history, including a securities fraud lawsuit filed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2004, which alleged that the company had misled investors about the safety and efficacy of its products. The company also faced criticism for its marketing practices, including the use of direct-to-consumer advertising to promote its products, such as Claritin and Nasonex, which was developed in collaboration with Bayer AG and GlaxoSmithKline. Additionally, Schering-Plough was involved in a patent dispute with Johnson & Johnson over the rights to Remicade, a biologic used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, developed in collaboration with Centocor Ortho Biotech. The company also faced challenges related to the regulatory environment, including the impact of healthcare reform legislation, such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law by Barack Obama in 2010, and the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, signed into law by George W. Bush in 2003. Category:Pharmaceutical companies of the United States