The prevalence of mental health disorders is increasing dramatically, according to the World Health Organization. It warns that one in every four people will suffer from a mental or neurological disorder at some point during their lifetime, and says mental illness is one of the most important contributors to the global burden of disease and disability.

Organon marketed its first antidepressant (mianserin, Tolvon®) in 1974. Twenty years later a second antidepressant was launched: mirtazapine (Remeron®). Remeron is a noradrenergic and selective serotonerigc antidepressant (NaSSA) and first in its class of antidepressants with this dual action working mechanism. Remeron SolTab®, a dissolvable tablet formulation for Remeron, was approved by the FDA in 2001. Remeron® is today marketed in more than 80 countries and more than 17 million patients have been treated with Remeron®. For more information on Remeron, see www.remeron.com.

Organon’s strategy for the medium-term focuses on the research and development of innovative drugs for the treatment of mental disorders, particularly for depression, psychosis and insomnia. Innovative is keyword in the neuroscience pipeline, which contains investigational products based on novel working mechanisms.