Schering-Plough announces European launch of anesthesia-recovery drug

According to the company, the product will be available soon in the UK and Germany, with several other European markets to follow by the end of the year and in early 2009.

Bridion is said to be the first and only selective relaxant binding agent and represents the first major pharmaceutical advance in the field of anesthesia in two decades. Bridion is indicated for routine reversal of the commonly used muscle relaxants rocuronium or vecuronium and for immediate reversal of rocuronium in adults, and for routine reversal following rocuronium in children and adolescents.

According to the company, Bridion works in an entirely novel way by encapsulating the muscle relaxant molecule and rendering it inactive. It was specifically designed to reverse within minutes both moderate and deep muscle relaxation induced by rocuronium or vecuronium during general anesthesia.

Fred Hassan, chairman and CEO of Schering-Plough, said: “The introduction of Bridion in Europe represents an important advance for anesthesiologists and the patients they care for during surgery, and is a significant achievement for Schering-Plough, as we bring our first product to market since combining with Organon BioSciences.

“Bridion has the potential to transform the practice of anesthesia, and it is a tremendous example of our company’s innovation and leadership in this field.”