Organon and Pfizer have agreed to discontinue their collaboration in the further development of asenapine, a new drug candidate for the treatment of schizophrenia and acute mania associated with Bipolar I disorder.

Pfizer's decision to discontinue its participation in the asenapine development programme is an outcome of a commercial analysis of the compound as a part of its overall portfolio. Pfizer will return all product rights, intellectual property and data to Organon and make orderly transitions during 2007, a Pfizer press release stated.

Organon will continue to develop asenapine.