WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck & Co., Inc. announced that beginning today, ZEGERID OTC(TM) (omeprazole 20 mg/sodium bicarbonate 1100 mg capsules), a new over-the-counter (OTC) option for treating frequent heartburn without a prescription, will become available in drug stores, grocery stores, mass merchandisers and club stores nationwide. The only OTC proton pump inhibitor (PPI) product with two active ingredients, ZEGERID OTC delivers relief in a different way. ZEGERID OTC has a patented dual-ingredient formula that combines omeprazole, the leading prescription acid-reducing medicine, and sodium bicarbonate, which protects the omeprazole in this product from acid in the stomach and allows it to be absorbed.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100401/MM77914 )
"To date, all other OTC PPIs have used an enteric coating to prevent the medicine from being broken down by acid in the stomach prior to absorption," explained Dr. Michael Rahmin, a prominent gastroenterologist at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey and one of Castle Connolly's 2009 Top Doctors in the New York Metro Area. "ZEGERID OTC capsules do not need an enteric coating, because the sodium bicarbonate offers built-in protection against stomach acid, so the omeprazole can be absorbed by the body and get to work treating frequent heartburn."
"With its strong history as an effective prescription product, we are excited to bring ZEGERID OTC directly to consumers," said Bridgette P. Heller, President, Schering-Plough Consumer HealthCare. "Our Consumer HealthCare division is already home to a variety of industry leading OTC products, including CLARITIN, DR. SCHOLL'S, MiraLAX, AFRIN and LOTRIMIN. We are confident that ZEGERID OTC will quickly join this list of highly regarded household brands."
Santarus will continue to manufacture, promote and sell its prescription ZEGERID (omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate) products in both 20 mg and 40 mg dosage strengths in the US. For additional information on prescription ZEGERID, please visit www.Zegerid.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the merger between Merck and Schering-Plough, including future financial and operating results, the combined company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Merck's 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov).
CONTACT: Media: Amy Rose, +1-908-423-6537; Investors: Joe Romanelli or
Carol Ferguson, +1-908-423-5185
Web site: http://www.ZegeridOTC.com/
