Organon's Once-a-Month Contraceptive Ring, NuvaRing(R) Completes European Authorization

Oss, The Netherlands (ots/PRNewswire) - Organon announced today
that NuvaRing(R) (etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring), the
company's once-a-month contraceptive, has successfully completed the
European Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP) in an additional 13
countries (1).

NuvaRing is already approved in 14 European Union territories
using the Mutual Recognition Procedure with the Netherlands as the
Reference Member State. National marketing authorizations for the
latest countries - including the UK, Poland and Czech Republic - have
been applied for, and will extend NuvaRing's availability throughout
the EEA (EU countries and Iceland and Norway) to over 40 countries
globally.

NuvaRing was developed to increase the convenience of
contraceptive use. It is a flexible ring that is inserted into the
vagina by a woman herself and remains there for 21 days. It combines
protection against pregnancy with a low incidence of side effects.
Compared to commonly used combined oral contraceptives, in addition
to its once-a-month contraceptive regimen, NuvaRing reduces women's
estrogen exposure, providing 15 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and 120 mcg
etonogestrel daily.

"We are delighted to be able to extend the availability of
NuvaRing throughout Europe," said Emile van Dongen, executive vice
president Global Sales at Organon. "Its uptake is increasing in all
European countries where it is already available and even more in the
US. There is an exciting momentum growing around this product, used
by more than 1.5 million women."

Since its introduction in 2002, sales of the once-a-month ring
have grown strongly year-on-year - from slightly more than EUR 6
million in 2002 to EUR 216 million at the close of 2006 - as
awareness has gradually increased among women and the medical
fraternity. Currently used by over 1.5 million women worldwide, the
uptake of NuvaRing(R) is continuing to grow by at least 25 percent in
all major markets. Latest figures even show a 42 percent increase in
sales in the U.S. market.

Notes

(1) A national marketing authorization for NuvaRing was granted in
the Netherlands on February 14, 2001. A mutual recognition procedure
was subsequently completed on June 12, 2001 with the Netherlands
acting as Reference Member State. A repeat use/second wave mutual
recognition procedure was undertaken in 2003 leading to NuvaRing's
approval and subsequent introduction in France. This latest repeat
use mutual recognition procedure was approved in and applies to
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovenia,
the UK, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovak Republic.

About Organon

Organon creates, manufactures and markets innovative prescription
Medicines that improve the health and quality of human life. Through
a combination of innovation and business partnerships, Organon seeks
to leverage its position as a leading biopharmaceutical company in
each of its core therapeutic fields: fertility, gynecology and
selected areas of anesthesia. It has extensive expertise in
neuroscience and a rich and focused R&D program. Research areas also
include immunology and specific areas of oncology. Organon products
are distributed in over 100 countries worldwide, of which more than
50 have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human healthcare
business unit of Akzo Nobel.

www.organon.com

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ots Originaltext: N.V. Organon
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
For more information: Monique Mols, Director Media Relations,
+31-(0)412-665440, monique.mols@organon.com


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