Exhibit 10(e)(ix)

FIRST AMENDMENT TO
SUPPLEMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This FIRST AMENDMENT to the Supplement to the Employment Agreement by and
between Schering-Plough Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the “Company”),
and Joseph C. Connors (the “Executive”), dated as of January 1, 2002 (the
“Supplement”), is dated as of the 16th day of December, 2003.

     The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined that it would be in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders for the Executive to remain in the Company’s employment. Therefore,
the Compensation Committee has determined to offer to the Executive, and the
Executive has agreed, to enter into this First Amendment to the Supplement in
order to enhance the incentive for the Executive to remain in the employ of the
Company.

     NOW, THEREFOR, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

  1.   Section 7(c) of the Supplement is hereby amended to read in its entirety
as follows:              Highest Annual Bonus: the higher of (i) the Executive’s
highest Annual Bonus for the last three full fiscal years prior to the Date of
Termination (annualized in the event that the Executive was not employed by the
Company for the whole of any such fiscal year) and (ii) the Executive’s Annual
Bonus for the fiscal year 2000.     2.   The Supplement is otherwise ratified
and confirmed without amendment.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and, pursuant to the authorization from
the Compensation Committee of its Board of Directors, the Company, have caused
this Amendment to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

              /s/ Joseph C. Connors        

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Joseph C. Connors               SCHERING-PLOUGH CORPORATION              
By:   /s/ C. Ron Cheeley        

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        [name] C. Ron Cheeley         [title] SVP Global Human Resources