Organon to submit antidepression drug in Japan

AMSTERDAM Jan 11 (Reuters) - Dutch chemical group Akzo Nobel NV's (AKZO.AS)AKZOY.O Organon pharma unit said on Thursday it expected to submit its antidepressant mirtazapine to Japanese health authorities in mid 2007, three years earlier than expected.

Mirtazapine has been available in other countries since 1994, Organon said in a statement. "The Japanese market is an important market and we are confident that mirtazapine's fast onset of action and tolerability will make it a first line option for the treatment of depression in Japan," said Emile van Dongen, Organon's executive vice president of global sales.