Schering Plough receives Japanese approval for new Claritin formulation

Schering-Plough has announced that it has received marketing approval by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for its Claritin Dry Syrup formulation for treatment in patients aged three and older.

Claritin, a once-daily antihistamine for treatment of allergic rhinitis, urticaria and itching associated with skin diseases, is now available to children aged three to seven.

Robert Spiegel, chief medical officer at Schering-Plough’s research institute, welcomed the decision.

“Claritin Dry Syrup is an easily administered, long-lasting formulation for treating children as young as age three and approval of this new formulation provides an important treatment option for paediatric patients in Japan,” he said.

The granule formulation dry syrup is currently only available in Japan and is marketed by the company’s Japanese arm Schering-Plough KK in collaboration with Shionogi & Co.

Claritin itself is marketed in over 100 countries worldwide and is available in some countries without prescription.

First introduced in Belgium in 1988, it has been prescribed for over 14 billion patient days since its launch.

Earlier this week, Schering-Plough announced its financial results for the third quarter of the 2007 fiscal year, with the company reporting that its “solid performance” has continued throughout the quarter.