Schering-Plough
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Pharmaceutical |
| Predecessor | Schering Corporation, Plough, Inc. |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Founder | Abe Plough (Plough, Inc.), Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering (Schering AG) |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Fate | Merged with Merck & Co. |
| Headquarters | United States , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Fred Hassan (CEO and Chairman) |
| Products | Pharmaceuticals (Claritin, Clarinex, Vytorin, Temodar), Consumer products (Dr. Scholl's, Coppertone) |
| Parent | Merck & Co. (after 2009) |
Schering-Plough Corporation was a U.S.-based pharmaceutical firm that initially served as the American branch of the German company Schering AG, which was established in 1851 by Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering. After being nationalized, the company gained independence. In 1971, Schering Corporation combined with Plough, Inc., a company launched in 1908 by entrepreneur Abe Plough, creating Schering-Plough. On November 4, 2009, Merck & Co. merged with Schering-Plough, continuing under the Merck name.
Among Schering-Plough's prominent pharmaceutical offerings were allergy medications such as Claritin and Clarinex, the cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin, and the brain tumor treatment Temodar, all now marketed by Merck & Co. The company also managed well-known consumer product lines including Dr. Scholl's foot care and Coppertone skin care.
By 2005, Schering-Plough commanded a 1.4% share of the U.S. pharmaceutical market, ranking seventeenth in sales among leading industry players. It was a full member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), a membership that Merck & Co. retained following their merger.
At its height, under CEO and Chairman Fred Hassan, Schering-Plough reported revenues reaching US$18.5 billion and net earnings of US$1.9 billion in 2008, demonstrating robust financial health and effective strategic management within the pharmaceutical sector.
Pharmaceuticals and consumer products
The origins of Schering trace back to 1851 when Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering founded Schering AG in Germany.
Plough, Incorporated was founded in 1908 by Memphis businessman Abe Plough, who began operations with a $125 loan from his father. Starting as a solo venture marketing "Plough's Antiseptic Healing Oil," the company expanded through acquisitions including St Joseph's Aspirin for children, Maybelline cosmetics, and Coppertone skincare products. Additionally, Plough operated a broadcasting division with radio stations located in key U.S. cities.
During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the confiscation of Schering AG’s U.S. assets, which were managed as Schering Corporation under government oversight until their privatization in 1952.
In 1957, White Laboratories was acquired by Schering. The merger between Schering Corporation and Plough, Inc. in 1971 resulted in Abe Plough becoming Chairman of the newly formed company.
In 2000, Schering-Plough purchased a facility in Summit, New Jersey from Novartis.
On March 12, 2007, Schering-Plough acquired Organon BioSciences—the pharmaceutical division of Netherlands-based Akzo Nobel—for $14.4 billion. This deal broadened its portfolio to include women’s health products and advanced-stage experimental drugs. Organon was originally founded in 1923 by Dr. Saal van Zwanenberg.
The November 4, 2009 merger with Merck & Co. was structured as a reverse merger where Merck became a subsidiary of Schering-Plough before adopting the Merck name.
Coopers Animal Health
Schering-Plough’s manufacturing facility in Upper Hutt, New Zealand stood as the world’s largest single-site producer of veterinary vaccines, benefiting from New Zealand’s natural quarantine measures that protect it from many livestock diseases. This operation was conducted under the Coopers Animal Health brand, which originated from the British company Cooper & Nephews dating back to the 1850s. The Coopers brand continued to be used by Schering-Plough within Australia.
Intervet
After Schering-Plough acquired Organon BioSciences, its animal health segment grew to encompass Intervet, a subsidiary of Akzo Nobel, Diosynth, a manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients, and Nobilon, a producer of human vaccines. Organon BioSciences consisted of Organon, Diosynth, and Intervet. The Intervet brand remains in use under Merck through the HomeAgain product line.
Merck Animal Health, MSD Animal Health
Following the merger with Merck, the animal health unit was known as Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. A proposed merger with Merial scheduled for 2010 was ultimately canceled in 2011. On June 29, 2011, the division adopted the name Merck Animal Health in the United States and Canada and MSD Animal Health internationally, highlighting its worldwide presence and strategic role within Merck’s organizational framework.
Chief executives
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| Willibald H. Conzen | 1971 – 1979 |
| Richard J. Bennett | 1979 – January 31, 1982 |
| Robert P. Luciano | February 1, 1982 – December 31, 1995 |
| Richard J. Kogan | January 1, 1996 – April 2003 |
| Fred Hassan | April 2003 – November 3, 2009 |
Prescription products
- Bridion (sugammadex)
- Cerazette
- Desloratadine (marketed as Clarinex): antihistamine agent
- Esmeron/Zemuron (rocuronium)
- Famvir (Famciclovir): antiviral for shingles developed by Novartis
- Intron A & PEG-Intron (Interferon alfa-2b): treatment for hepatitis C
- Levitra (vardenafil): therapy for erectile dysfunction; co-marketed with Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline
- Livial (tibolone)
- Marvelon/Desogen
- Nasonex and Asmanex (Mometasone furoate)
- Noxafil (posaconazole)
- NuvaRing
- Puregon/Follistim
- Quazepam (Doral)
- Remeron/Remeron SolTab (mirtazapine)
- Remicade (infliximab)
- Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone)
- Temodar (temozolomide)
- Vytorin (ezetimibe/simvastatin): combination drug to reduce cholesterol levels
- Zetia (ezetimibe): cholesterol-lowering medication
Over-the-counter products (Majority sold to Bayer, except for Coppertone)
- Afrin: nasal decongestant spray
- Claritin (loratadine): antihistamine with minimal sedative effects
- Correctol: stimulant laxative containing dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate and phenolphthalein
- Coricidin: cold remedy formulated for individuals with high blood pressure
- Coppertone: sunscreen products
- Bain de Soleil: sun protection products
- Drixoral
- Solarcaine: topical sunburn relief
- Zinka: colored sunscreen formulations
Veterinary products
- Home Again Pet Recovery System: sophisticated pet identification and recovery service
- Zubrin: NSAID indicated for treating osteoarthritis in dogs
- Mometamax: medication for acute and chronic otitis externa in dogs; contains potent corticosteroid Mometasone furoate
- Eclipse Vaccines: live modified feline vaccines available in various antigen mixes
- Galaxy Vaccines: canine vaccines offered in multiple antigen combinations
- Optimmune: ophthalmic ointment used to treat keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs
- Orbax: brand name for the antibiotic orbifloxacin (a fluoroquinolone)
- Otomax: treatment for dog ear infections; includes betamethasone valerate as an anti-inflammatory agent
- Banamine: NSAID utilized worldwide in horses, cattle, and swine
- Estrumate: synthetic prostaglandin employed in cattle reproductive management
- Trivetrin: trimethoprim sulfate formulation used in cattle and swine therapy
- Nuflor (Florfenicol): addresses bovine respiratory disease and foot rot; prescribed for high-risk cattle
Exercise drug
Schering-Plough attracted significant interest with AICAR, a pharmaceutical designed to replicate the physiological benefits of exercise, particularly when used alongside GW1516, a compound developed by GlaxoSmithKline. This breakthrough underscored the company’s commitment to pioneering drug innovation.
Collaborative research
In addition to its own research initiatives, Schering-Plough actively participated in publicly funded partnerships involving both industry and academic institutions. A key example is its involvement in the InnoMed PredTox consortium, which focused on enhancing preclinical safety evaluations during the drug development process.
Controversy
In 2004, Schering-Plough was implicated in allegations concerning the provision of incentives to physicians to promote its medications. Prior to this, in 2002, the firm entered into a consent decree with the FDA addressing manufacturing deficiencies related to its albuterol inhaler and agreed to a $500 million payment to the U.S. Treasury.