Schering-Plough says drug could be effective fertility treatment

Schering-Plough believes a single injection of corifollitropin alfa may be an effective part of fertility treatment when combined with a GnHR antagonist.

The company said this after publishing the results of its phase III Engage clinical trial, which it claimed was the largest double-blind fertility agent test of its type ever.

Corifollitropin alfa was given once to patients but delivered “similar” efficacy to a recombinant follicle stimulating hormone administered daily for seven days.

“The burden of fertility treatment is a major challenge for women experiencing difficulty conceiving,” said executive vice-president and president of the Schering-Plough Research Institute Thomas Koestler.

He said corifollitropin alfa may be an important tool in reducing the number of injections and length of treatment procedures these patients have to go through.

“Schering-Plough is committed to making fertility treatments easier,” he concluded.

The company announced last week it had received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medical Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency for Simponi (golimumab).

This is for once-monthly subcutaneous treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.