Merck Annual Report 2000

    More than 100 million people around the world suffer from asthma and three times that many suffer from allergic rhinitis (hay fever). The incidence of asthma is rising, especially among children and city dwellers. Most of these sufferers are dissatisfied with their current therapies.
    After only three years on the world market, Singulair has risen into the second spot in the field of asthma controllers. (Singulair is classified as an “asthma controller” medication because it helps to control asthma symptoms before they occur rather than treating the symptoms as they are happening). In the United States, it is the No. 1 brand of asthma controller medication prescribed by allergists.
    Even as it makes huge strides in the asthma market, Merck is positioning Singulair for broader use. Recently concluded investigational studies suggest Singulair given intravenously could be a useful addition to the hospital emergency room armamentarium for treating people suffering acute asthmatic attacks. Such attacks can be life threatening and are, for reasons not wholly understood, increasing at a rapid rate.
    Another opportunity for Singulair lies in allergic rhinitis. Between 10 and 25 percent of the global population suffers from allergies, especially in the spring, summer and fall. Singulair represents an alternative mechanism for attacking this irritating condition. Once again, patients may be generally dissatisfied with existing therapies, as is evidenced by the switching that goes on between medications. Merck is conducting clinical studies to evaluate the effects of Singulair in the treatment of allergic rhinitis with a goal of seeking regulatory approvals for this expanded use.
    The attack on allergies is two-pronged: The first is our clinical studies to determine whether Singulair can be used as a single agent to treat allergic rhinitis; the second is our joint venture with Schering-Plough, which we entered in 2000, that carries the potential for offering a therapy that combines Singulair with Schering-Plough’s antihistamine, Claritin, for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

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