Organon Inc. and Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. Announce Co-Promotion of New Treatment Option for...

Business Editors

STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 7, 2001

Organon Inc. Launches Remeron SolTab TM, the First Orally

Disintegrating Tablet for the Treatment of Depression

Organon Inc., the U.S. human healthcare business of Akzo Nobel, announces that

its new drug formulation for treating depression, Remeron SolTab, is now available in pharmacies throughout the U.S. Concurrently, Organon Inc. and Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. have contracted to co-promote Remeron SolTab (mirtazapine) orally disintegrating tablet, which is the first and only orally disintegrating antidepressant on the market.

Through this new arrangement, Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. mental health sales representatives will co-promote Remeron SolTab together with Organon Inc.'s dedicated CNS sales representatives. This combined, professionally trained field sales force of approximately 900 representatives will ensure that the 19 million people suffering from depression in the U.S. will have immediate access to Remeron SolTab, offering them an additional form of treatment. Solvay Pharmaceuticals' medical liason group will also provide support for the product in the medical community.

Unlike other antidepressant tablets, which must be swallowed whole, Remeron SolTab dissolves on the tongue within 30 seconds. It can also be swallowed with or without water, or allowed to disintegrate.This easy delivery method may enhance patient compliance, particularly for patients who find it difficult to swallow tablets. Improved patient compliance allows doctors to manage the treatment of depression more effectively and maximize success rates.

"Remeron SolTab has the potential to help the many millions of Americans who suffer from depression, an often debilitating disease," said Hans Vemer, M.D., President of Organon Inc. "This latest treatment advancement and our co-promotion with Solvay demonstrates our strong commitment to improving mental health."

"We are pleased to join Organon in their commitment to the treatment of mental health," said Harold Shlevin, President and CEO, Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc.

"This co-promotion partnership increases the value of our efforts in physicians' offices, while allowing us to broaden our array of mental health products available to patients."

Remeron SolTab, in addition to its unique delivery system, offers a novel pharmacological profile that increases the levels of both norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain to fight depression more effectively; many antidepressants increase only serotonin.

Launch of Remeron SolTab in selected European countries is expected later in 2001.

The U.S. antidepressants market was estimated at EUR 7.5 billion (USD 7 billion) in 2000. Worldwide, the antidepressant market is expected to grow from EUR 12 billion in 2000 to EUR 14.5 billion in 2003, with continuous growth predicted until 2009.

Note for the editor

Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Marietta, GA, is a research-based pharmaceutical company active in the therapeutic areas of cardiology, gastroenterology, mental health, and women's health. It is a member of the worldwide Solvay Group of chemical and pharmaceutical companies, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

Organon Inc. of West Orange, NJ, is the U.S. affiliate of N.V. Organon, a renowned international ethical pharmaceutical company. Organon maintains a strong commitment to healthcare, conducting research in the areas of psychiatry, contraception, fertility, anesthesiology, thrombosis, immunology, osteoporosis prevention, and treatment of post-menopausal symptoms.

N.V. Organon is one of the business units of Akzo Nobel. Akzo Nobel, based in the Netherlands, serves customers throughout the world with healthcare products, coatings and chemicals. Consolidated sales for 2000 will total some EUR 14 billion (USD 13 billion, GBP 8.5 billion). The Company currently employs 68,000 people in 75 countries. Financial results for the year 2000 will be announced on February 23, 2001.

Visit our websites at: http://www.akzonobel.com

http://www.organon.com

http://www.organoninc.com

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