Schering-Plough Corporation, a worldwide research-based pharmaceutical company, on Tuesday said its experimental treatment for infertility, a follicle stimulant called corifollitropin alfa, met its main goals in a late-stage study.

The data were presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Barcelona.

The company said the ongoing pregnancy rate, the primary endpoint of this non-inferiority trial, obtained in the 150 mcg corifollitropin alfa treatment arm (38.9 per cent per started cycle) was similar to that achieved in patients receiving 200 IU recombinant FSH (follitropin beta) (38.1 percent per started cycle).

The number of oocytes retrieved (co-primary endpoint) was within the limits of clinical equivalence, and the estimated difference of +1.2 was in favor of the corifollitropin alfa 150 mcg treatment arm.

Further results will be submitted for presentation at a future medical meeting, it added.