Exhibit 99.1

[SCHERING-PLOUGH LOGO]


                                                                    NEWS RELEASE
                                                     Schering-Plough Corporation
                                                        2000 Galloping Hill Road
                                               Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033-0530


For Release: IMMEDIATELY                                 Contact: Denise K. Foy
                                                                  (908) 298-7616

                   FRED HASSAN ELECTED CEO OF SCHERING-PLOUGH,
                       TO BE ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

KENILWORTH, N.J., April 20, 2003 - Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) today
announced that its Board of Directors has elected Fred Hassan to be the
company's chief executive officer (CEO) and president, effective immediately.
The Board intends to elect Hassan, 57, a director and chairman of
Schering-Plough's Board of Directors on April 22, 2003, following the company's
annual meeting. Hassan succeeds Richard Jay Kogan, Schering-Plough's former CEO
and president, who announced his intention to retire in November 2002.

         "Today marks the beginning of a new era for Schering-Plough. Fred
Hassan is a proven leader, with the experience, business acumen and
organizational skills to fully realize the potential of this great organization
and its people," said Richard de J. Osborne, Schering-Plough director and
chairman of the Board. "The Board is confident that Fred Hassan, with his
exceptional leadership ability and success in managing a global pharmaceutical
company, is the right executive to lead Schering-Plough into the future," he
added.

         "I am excited to be joining Schering-Plough," said Hassan.
"Schering-Plough is a company with a proud heritage. I believe in its long-term
future. While there are significant challenges, my goal will be to deal with the
urgent issues and establish strategies for growth. Business integrity, quality
and compliance will be at the top of our agenda. I look forward to working with
the people of Schering-Plough as we meet the challenges and subsequently get on
to a long-term growth track."


                                    - more -



         In light of today's announcement, Schering-Plough now intends to report
its first quarter 2003 financial results in conjunction with the filing of its
first quarter Form 10-Q on May 13, 2003. This will allow Hassan time to
participate in the company's customary review of financial information before
the 10-Q is filed. The company was previously scheduled to report first quarter
2003 results on April 22, 2003.

         Before joining Schering-Plough, Hassan was chairman and CEO of
Pharmacia. He joined the former Pharmacia & Upjohn in May 1997 as CEO and was
elected to the Board of Directors. In February 2001, Hassan was named chairman
of the Board of Pharmacia. Prior to joining Pharmacia and Upjohn, he was
executive vice president of Wyeth, formerly known as American Home Products. He
was elected to Wyeth's Board of Directors in 1995. Earlier in his career, Hassan
spent 17 years with Sandoz Pharmaceuticals (now Novartis) and headed its U.S.
pharmaceutical business.

         Hassan received his B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the
Imperial College of Science and Technology at the University of London and an
MBA degree from Harvard Business School.

         DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The information in this press release includes
certain "forward-looking" statements concerning, among other things, the future
prospects of the company, which the reader of this release should understand are
subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. The company's business prospects
may be adversely affected by general market and economic factors, competitive
product development, product availability, current and future branded and
generic competition, market acceptance of new products, federal and state
regulations and legislation, the regulatory review process in the United States
and foreign countries for new products and indications, existing manufacturing
issues and new manufacturing issues that may arise, timing of trade buying,
patent positions, litigation and investigations. For further details and a
discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see the company's
Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the company's 2002 annual
report on Form 10-K and current reports on Form 8-K.

         Schering-Plough Corporation is a research-based company engaged in the
discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products
worldwide.
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