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| |  First International Study To Evaluate HRT Benefits PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 18, 1996 -- Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories announces it will support the first international study to assess the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women. The Women's International Study of long Duration Oestrogen after Menopause (WISDOM) will be conducted over a ten-year treatment period and will be coordinated by the London-based Medical Research Council (MRC). Wyeth-Ayerst is supplying its hormone replacement therapies (Premarin(R) (conjugated estrogens tablets, USP) and Prempro(TM) (conjugated estrogens/medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets)) to the study, which will evaluate a variety of women's health concerns, including cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Participation in WISDOM is planned for 34,000 postmenopausal women in 14 countries. Initial results are expected in the year 2012. "As a global health care company and a world leader in women's health, we are pleased to contribute to this landmark, worldwide study evaluating the impact of HRT on postmenopausal women," said Marc Deitch, MD, Senior Vice President and Medical Director, Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories. "For the first time, we will have the opportunity to further observe the benefits as well as any potential differences that may exist among women from various cultural backgrounds who are using HRT." Long Research History Since its introduction in 1942, Premarin has been used in more than 3,000 scientific studies of estrogen and has been the subject of nearly 90 percent of the estrogen studies cited in medical literature over the past five years. These studies have helped physicians to understand the science and to shape women's health care. This most recent clinical study -- the WISDOM study -- is comparable to the U.S.-based Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a landmark study organized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that is examining the impact of HRT in more than 27,000 postmenopausal women. In 1992, Wyeth-Ayerst committed to supplying more than 110,000,000 tablets of Premarin and one-tablet Prempro to the WHI study. Wyeth-Ayerst is also funding an ancillary study to the WHI trial to evaluate the role of HRT in Alzheimer's disease. The WHI Memory Study (WHI-MS) is a six-year study involving 8,000 postmenopausal women, age 65 and older. It is being administered at 39 clinical centers throughout the United States. Wyeth-Ayerst is the sole sponsor of the Heart and Estrogen-Progestin Replacement Study (HERS), a five-year, $40 million study designed to examine whether HRT will reduce the frequency of new cardiovascular disease incidents in women with preexisting cardiovascular disease. In addition, Premarin was the estrogen used during the Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Intervention (PEPI) trial. This study, funded primarily by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the NIH, was designed to determine the efficacy and safety profile of combination HRT. Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is used to help treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (such as hot flashes and night sweats) and to help prevent osteoporosis. Studies have shown that women who took estrogen after menopause had approximately 60 percent fewer hip and wrist fractures than women who had not taken estrogen. Contraindications Some women should not take HRT. A woman should make sure her doctor or health care provider is aware of her personal or family health history before taking HRT. This history should include instances of breast cancer, breast lumps, abnormal vaginal bleeding, abnormal blood clotting, severe headache, dizziness, and liver disease. Women who are pregnant should not take HRT because of possible risks to the fetus. The use of estrogens without progestins has been reported to increase the risk of cancer of the uterus in non-hysterectomized postmenopausal women. Major Research Company Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, a division of American Home Products Corporation (NYSE: AHP), is a major research-oriented pharmaceutical company with leading products in the areas of women's health care, cardiovascular and metabolic disease therapies, weight loss treatments, central nervous system drugs, anti-inflammatory agents, vaccines, and generic pharmaceuticals. As a world leader in women's health care, Wyeth-Ayerst is committed to improving the health care options available to women through ongoing research efforts and patient education programs. Wyeth-Ayerst is the only U.S. company with a major research facility devoted exclusively to women's health. The Wyeth-Ayerst Women's Health Research Institute is actively engaged in research that addresses the health care needs women face during all phases of their lives. American Home Products Corporation is one of the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical and health care products companies and is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications. It is also a leader in vaccines, biotechnology, crop protection products, animal health care, and medical devices.
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