Healthcare Industry News: LibiGel
News Release - September 11, 2007
BioSante Pharmaceuticals Announces FDA Clarity on Development of LibiGel(R) (Transdermal Testosterone Gel) in the Treatment of Female Sexual Dysfunction
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX:BPA ) announced today that it has received clarity from and is in agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on key FDA requirements for the development and approval of LibiGel in the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), specifically, hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).BioSante met with FDA representatives from the Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products, the Division of Cardio-Renal Products and the Office of Biometrics III (statistics) earlier this summer. The primary focus of the meeting was BioSante's LibiGel safety study protocol to evaluate the cardiovascular risk of using testosterone in women, a key pre-approval concern of the FDA. The study protocol presented by BioSante was based on previous company meetings and discussions with the FDA.
"We are quite gratified by the outcome of our communications with the FDA," said Stephen M. Simes, BioSante's president & CEO. "We were confident that we had submitted a proposal that provided the depth and scope of study requested by the FDA. The agreement with FDA has reaffirmed our long-held belief that development of LibiGel could be both reasonable and affordable from both the financial and timeline aspects. We have received written FDA meeting minutes that provide us with a clearly defined LibiGel development path that can lead to the approval of LibiGel for the treatment of FSD. In the U.S., no pharmaceutical product is approved for the treatment of FSD making this a truly underserved market. BioSante is committed to the development of LibiGel which ultimately may be the first product approved by the FDA for this treatment in the U.S."
In addition to two Phase III efficacy trials, BioSante will conduct one Phase III cardiovascular safety study. The safety study will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center, cardiovascular events driven study of between 2,400 and 3,100 women exposed to LibiGel or placebo for 12 months. A new drug application (NDA) can be filed and reviewed by FDA, possibly leading to approval of LibiGel, at that time. After NDA submission and potential approval, BioSante will continue to follow the women enrolled in the study for an additional four years.
The LibiGel safety study will track a list of cardiovascular events including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke in women 50 years of age or older and suffering from at least one cardiovascular risk factor including hypertension and diabetes. BioSante plans to initiate this Phase III safety study by year-end 2007 or in early 2008. The objective of the safety study is to show the relative safety of testosterone compared to placebo in the number of cardiovascular events. The incidence of breast cancer also will be tracked over the course of the study.
The Phase III efficacy trials of LibiGel® in the treatment of FSD, one of which has been initiated, are double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that will enroll up to approximately 500 surgically menopausal women each for a six-month clinical trial. The efficacy trial already initiated is being conducted under a Phase III protocol reviewed by and on file with the FDA and in which written FDA comments have been received and incorporated. BioSante hopes to initiate the second Phase III efficacy trial by year-end 2007 or in early 2008.
As previously announced by BioSante, treatment with LibiGel® in a Phase II clinical trial significantly increased satisfying sexual events in surgically menopausal women suffering from FSD. The Phase II trial results showed LibiGel significantly increased the number of satisfying sexual events by 238 percent versus baseline (p less than 0.0001); this increase also was significant versus placebo (p less than 0.05). In this study, the effective dose of LibiGel produced testosterone blood levels within the normal range for pre-menopausal women and had a safety profile similar to that observed in the placebo group. In addition, no serious adverse events and no discontinuations due to adverse events occurred in any subject receiving LibiGel. The Phase II clinical trial was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, conducted in the United States, in surgically menopausal women distressed by their low sexual desire and activity.
About LibiGel®
LibiGel is a gel formulation of bioidentical testosterone designed to be quickly absorbed through the skin after application on the upper arm, delivering testosterone to the bloodstream evenly over time and in a non-invasive and painless manner. Though generally characterized as a male hormone, testosterone also is present in women and its deficiency has been found to decrease libido or sex drive. In addition, studies have shown that testosterone therapy can increase bone density, raise energy levels and improve mood, in addition to boosting sexual desire and activity.
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 43 percent of American women (about 40 million) experience some degree of impaired sexual function. Among the more than 1,400 women surveyed, 32 percent lacked interest in sex and 26 percent could not experience orgasm. The majority of women with FSD are postmenopausal, experiencing FSD due to hormonal changes following menopause, whether natural or surgical.
About BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
BioSante is developing a pipeline of hormone therapy products to treat both men and women. These hormone therapy products are gel formulations for transdermal administration that deliver bioidentical estradiol and testosterone. BioSante's lead products include Elestrin(TM) (estradiol gel) developed through FDA approval by BioSante indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause, marketed in the U.S. by Bradley Pharmaceuticals, Inc., BioSante's licensee, and LibiGel® (transdermal testosterone gel) in Phase III clinical development by BioSante for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Also in development is Bio-T-Gel(TM), a testosterone gel for male hypogonadism, and an oral contraceptive in Phase II clinical development using BioSante patented technology. The current market in the U.S. for estrogen and testosterone products is approximately $2.5 billion and for oral contraceptives approximately $3.0 billion. The company also is developing its calcium phosphate nanotechnology (CaP) for novel vaccines, including hepatitis B, avian flu and biodefense vaccines for toxins such as anthrax, as well as a system for delivering drugs via alternative routes of administration and for aesthetic medicine. Additional information is available online at www.biosantepharma.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements regarding BioSante contained in this news release that are not historical in nature, particularly those that utilize terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "would," "likely," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," "plans," "hopes," or comparable terminology, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, and entail various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Important factors known to BioSante that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements include the difficulty of developing pharmaceutical products, obtaining regulatory and other approvals and achieving market acceptance, the success of clinical testing, and other factors identified and discussed from time to time in BioSante's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed in BioSante's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which discussions also are incorporated herein by reference. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. BioSante undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Source: BioSante Pharmaceuticals
Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its
content.
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.
