Schering, Merck Delay Earnings Reports for Vytorin Data

Both Schering-Plough (SGP Quote) and Merck (MRK Quote) have postponed their second-quarter earnings reports until after the market close to review study results related to cholesterol drug Vytorin.

The companies postponed their reports from morning to afternoon after Terje Pedersen, M.D., the primary investigator of a study called "Simvastatin plus Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis study," or SEAS, announced plans to present a study update in London today. SEAS compares Vytorin to a placebo in patients with aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the heart's aorta.

Merck and Schering jointly market Vytorin, a drug that combines Schering's Zetia (the generic name for which is Ezetimibe) and Merck's Zocor (the generic name for which is Simvastatin). The SEAS press conference is to be held at 1 p.m. EDT.

Kenilworth, N.J.-based Schering, which had planned to report earnings before the open and hold a conference call to discuss the results at 8 a.m. EDT has rescheduled the call for 4:45 p.m.

Likewise, Merck originally had scheduled a 9:00 a.m. call, but the Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based company will now report after the market close and host its call around 5:30 p.m.

Schering-Plough was down $2.51, or 11.7%, at $18.93 in recent trading Monday morning, while Merck was trading down $1.78, or 4.7%, at $35.90.