Merck's Singulair wins new asthma indication

NEW YORK, April 25 (Reuters) - Merck & Co. (MRK.N) on Wednesday said U.S. regulators have approved use of its blockbuster Singulair asthma drug to prevent asthma attacks caused by exercise among patients 15 and older.

Merck said a single Singulair tablet in clinical trials prevented such attacks when taken two hours before exercise, with some patients protected for up to 24 hours.

The company noted that Singulair, which works by blocking the protein leukotriene, should not be taken for relief of asthma attacks. Instead, patients are typically instructed to take fast-acting inhaled corticosteroids.

((Reporting by Ransdell Pierson, editing by Gerald E. McCormick; Reuters Messaging: ransdell.pierson.reuters.com@reuters.net; 646-223-6034; ransdell.pierson@reuters.com)) Keywords: MERCK SINGULAIR/

(C) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution ofReuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expresslyprohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuterssphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group ofcompanies around the world.nWEN7003