Schering-Plough asenapine trial meets endpoint

Schering-Plough’s novel psychopharmacologic agent asenapine has reached its primary endpoint in a trial.

The drug, which is a sublingual fast-acting tablet, has a “unique” human receptor signature, the corporation said.

It met the primary endpoint in a randomised, placebo-controlled, multinational, multicentre long-term schizophrenia relapse prevention trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of asenapine administered sublingually compared to a placebo.

The results found asenapine to be “statistically significantly more effective” than a placebo when it came to preventing schizophrenia relapse.

Schering-Plough said a regulatory submission for the drug is scheduled for a later date, following the full presentation of data.

Asenapine was actually acquired by Schering-Plough when it bought Organon BioSciences last year.

The company was sold alongside Intervet and Nobilon as they are all businesses of Azko Nobel.

Chairman and chief executive officer of Schering-Plough, Fred Hassan, described Organon BioSciences as an “excellent fit”.

Other products included in the acquisition were muscle relaxant Esmeron/Zemuron and contraceptive NuvaRing, among others.