Organon: First asenapine results due soon

Organon, the pharmaceutical division of Dutch chemical group Akzo Nobel, has said that the topline results for the phase III clinical trial programme for asenapine will be delivered in “a couple of weeks”.

Asenapine, described by the company as a fast-dissolving psychopharmacoloic compound with a unique human receptor target, is being developed in conjunction with Pfizer for the treatment of schizophrenia and acute mania associated with bipolar I disorder.

Organon admits that the data collated for asenapine use in schizophrenic patients has been “mixed”, which may delay the filing of the drug with regulators while the data is being analysed.

However, the drug demonstrated both efficacy and tolerability in its indication for acute mania associated with bipolar I disorder in two short-term studies and a nine-week extension.

Organon says the possible delay in submitting a new drug application for asenapine is unlikely to affect the company’s planned divestment from its parent group, Akzo Nobel, which reported its quarterly results yesterday – highlighted by a six per cent growth in Organon’s revenues.

Hans Wijers, chief executive officer of Akzo Nobel, commented: “We enjoyed a strong third quarter, building on an excellent first half year which demonstrates the company’s growth potential.”

In particular, Organon has recorded a year-on-year growth of 66 per cent for its NuvaRing contraceptive, while anaesthetic revenues increased by almost a third.

Last month, Akzo Nobel’s shareholders voted to divest Organon from the group into an independent business, with the intended result of creating two strong and independent companies.