Schering AG, Germany announced that the European Commission in a Centralized Procedure approved Schering's new drug Ventavis for marketing in all EU countries. Ventavis is an inhalation treatment for patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. It is the only prostacyclin product that targets the pulmonary vessels more directly by inhalation.

"Ventavis improves the therapy for patients affected by severe symptoms and heart failure. It is a new, convenient treatment option for patients suffering from a life threatening disease," said Dr. Hubertus Erlen, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Schering AG. "We will offer Ventavis as soon as possible to doctors and patients in the EU countries."

Schering plans to start marketing Ventavis in the first EU countries in 2003 and to roll-out the product in Europe fully by 2004. Ventavis was designated as an orphan medicinal product in December 2000 and will fall under orphan drug protection until 2013.