Schering-Plough Seeks Federal OK for Hepatitis Therapy

Schering-Plough Corp. filed for U.S. regulatory approval of a hepatitis C therapy that includes its drug Intron A and a drug manufactured by ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc.

In studies, the combination has shown promise for patients who have relapses after being treated. The two companies announced in September that they planned to seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the combination this year.

At the time, Schering-Plough said two trials with patients showed that combining its Intron A with ICN’s drug Rebetol works better than Intron A alone against the hepatitis C virus. Intron A, which had worldwide sales of $524 million in 1996, is currently one of the leading treatments for hepatitis.

Rebetol is currently sold by ICN in a different version under the brand name Virazole as a treatment for respiratory tract infections.

Shares of New Jersey-based Schering fell 25 cents to $61 Tuesday, while shares of Costa Mesa-based ICN fell $1.69 to $52.94.