Female Sexual Dysfunction Drug

A new Canadian drug to treat vaginal atrophy and female sexual dysfunction is being developed by a new partnership between Bayer Inc and EndoCeutics Inc, who are based in Quebec. The deal, believed to be worth up to three hundred and thirty million dollars, was revealed on Tuesday and concerns the Phase III development and marketing of the new Canada drug Dehydroepiandrosterone, otherwise known as DHEA.

It could cost up to three hundred and thirty million to finance research costs and pay for clinical trials of the Canadian drug in both Canada and the United States. DHEA is believed to be a major factor in menopausal problems for women, decreased levels of which can cause vaginal atrophy and sexual dysfunction. “Up to seventy five percent of post menopausal women suffer from vaginal atrophy,” claims EndoCeutics CEO Dr. Fernand Labrie. “We believe that Bayer, a world leader in women’s health, is the best partner for this partnership and the commercialization of this product worldwide.

EndoCeutics will carry out the Phase III clinical studies of the Canada drug itself, which Bayer will then pick up from by licensing and commercializing, manufacturing, marketing and distributing any products that emerge from the tests, for which they have been granted an exclusive license all over the world except for Canada itself, which EndoCeutics is reserving the right to commercialize in.

Providing it gets the go ahead by health authorities, the drug is expected to be sold under the name Vaginorm.

What is female sexual dysfunction?

It is estimated that up to 40 per cent of women have suffered from sexual problems in the past year. This might be caused by physical illness, but is often linked to psychological factors.

The female equivalent of impotence is known as female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD).

When men and women become sexually aroused, their genitals become engorged with blood. In women this normally results in:

Enlargement of the clitoris and surrounding tissues (comparable to a male erection)

Secretion of vaginal lubrication

Relaxation and widening of the vaginal opening to permit intercourse

FSAD patients have the desire to have sex but their genital area fails to respond in the normal way, making sex painful or impossible
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Posted in: Female sexual