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Schering-Plough facts

  • Story Highlights
  • Schering began as U.S. subsidiary of German-based pharmaceutical company
  • In 1971 Schering Corp. merged with Plough Inc. to create Schering-Plough
  • In 2003 Fred Hassan joined Schering-Plough as CEO and launched Action Agenda
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(CNN) -- Based in New Jersey, USA, Schering-Plough is a pharmaceutical company that employs some 55,000 people, operating in more than 140 countries worldwide. Conducting research in the areas of cardiovascular disease, central nervous system disorders, immunology and infectious disease, oncology, respiratory diseases and women's health, its best-selling products are Vytorin, Zetia, Remicade and Nasonex.

Schering Corporation was established in the late 1800s as the U.S. subsidiary of Schering AG, a German-based pharmaceutical and chemical company. It was incorporated in New York City in 1928 and in New Jersey in 1935. Schering Corporation was nationalized by the U.S. government during World Wars I and II, and in 1952, the company passed into the private sector.

Schering Corporation become a global research-based pharmaceutical firm in the 1950s and '60s based on both research and development and acquisitions. In 1971 Schering Corp. merged with Plough Inc., a worldwide manufacturer of consumer products, to create Schering-Plough Corporation.

During the 1980s and '90s, Schering-Plough refined its focus on four key therapeutic areas and integrating new technologies to achieve important pharmaceutical advances in antihistamines, corticosteroids, antibiotics, anti-infectives and antiviral products.

In April 2003, Fred Hassan joined Schering-Plough as chief executive officer and was elected chairman by the Board of Directors. Under his direction, Schering-Plough began a journey of transformational change, with the six-to-eight year Action Agenda as the road map.

A new chapter in Schering-Plough's history began in March 2007, when the company announced its intention to purchase Organon BioSciences NV (OBS). OBS is comprised mainly of Organon, the human pharmaceutical business, and Intervet, the animal health business. It also includes Nobilon, the human vaccine development unit, and Diosynth, the third-party manufacturing unit of Organon. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

All About Schering-Plough CorporationFred HassanSchering AGVytorinZetiaN.V. Organon

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