Sugammadex is specifically designed to rapidly reverse the effects of certain muscle relaxants, rocuronium bromide (marketed in the US as Zemuron and in Japan as Eslax), as well as vecuronium bromide (marketed in Japan as Musculax). Muscle relaxants are used as part of general anesthesia during surgical procedures.
Schering-Plough acquired sugammadex through its combination with Organon BioSciences on November 19, 2007.