WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. & KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 2005--Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals today announced the commencement of patient enrollment in its large-scale, clinical outcomes trial conducted for VYTORIN(R) (ezetimibe/simvastatin). IMPROVE-IT (Improved Reduction of Outcomes: VYTORIN Efficacy International Trial) will evaluate the effectiveness of VYTORIN compared to Zocor(R) (simvastatin) alone in treating approximately 10,000 high risk patients with coronary artery disease presenting with "acute coronary syndromes" (ACS). In clinical trials, VYTORIN has been shown to be superior to both Lipitor(R) and Zocor in effectively lowering LDL cholesterol.
