LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BPAX - News) announced today that it successfully has completed and reached an additional agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) process for its LibiGel (transdermal testosterone gel) program in the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), specifically, hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in “naturally” menopausal women. Previously, BioSante received an SPA for LibiGel’s use in “surgically” menopausal women.
“In addition to being another major milestone for BioSante, receiving a second SPA for naturally menopausal women is a significant development for the entire FSD category,” said Stephen M. Simes, BioSante’s president & CEO. “This action by the FDA once again confirms FDA’s position that FSD and HSDD are true diagnosable conditions that women experience, with measurable endpoints that can be evaluated and which deserve therapeutic options. Importantly, the FDA now officially has opined on this position for both surgically and naturally menopausal women.”
“With our two SPAs and meeting minutes received from FDA, we have a clearly defined, reasonable and feasible LibiGel development path that can lead to the approval of LibiGel to provide potential benefit for an even broader population of menopausal women. Since no pharmaceutical product is approved for the treatment of FSD or HSDD in the U.S., LibiGel, if approved by the FDA, will address a truly unserved market. BioSante is committed to the development of LibiGel, which ultimately could be the first product approved by the FDA for this treatment in the U.S.”
In addition to the LibiGel Phase III safety and efficacy trials, two of which are in progress, BioSante is enrolling in a Phase III cardiovascular safety study of LibiGel. Pursuant to a written agreement with the FDA, this one safety study will serve as the basis of safety for both surgically and naturally menopausal women. The safety study is 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. At the end of the 12 months, BioSante intends to submit a LibiGel New Drug Application (NDA) for review and possible approval by FDA. BioSante will continue to follow the women enrolled in the safety study for an additional four years after the NDA submission and possible approval of LibiGel.
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<0.0001); this increase also was significant versus placebo (p<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 testosterone designed to be quickly absorbed through the skin after application of a pea-sized dose of gel 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. According to IMS data, 2.0 million testosterone prescriptions were written off-label for women by U.S. physicians in 2007. 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 a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing products for female sexual health, menopause, contraception and male hypogonadism. BioSante’s lead products include LibiGel® (transdermal testosterone gel) in Phase III clinical development by BioSante under a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) SPA (Special Protocol Assessment) for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), and Elestrin™ (estradiol gel) developed through FDA approval by BioSante, indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause, currently marketed in the U.S. Also in development are Bio-T-Gel™, 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 billion. The company also is developing its calcium phosphate technology (CaP) for novel vaccines, drug delivery and aesthetic medicine (BioLook™). 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 “will,” ”potential”, “could,” “can,” ”intends,” “continue,” “plans,” “expects” or comparable terminology, are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the expected timing of the initiation of clinical trials and the submission of regulatory applications. 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.
Contact:
McKinney/Chicago Alan Zachary (312) 944-6784 ext. 316 azachary@mckinneychicago.com or Investor Relations: The Investor Relations Group Investors: Adam S. Holdsworth / Erica Ruderman 212-825-3210 or Media: Laura Colontrelle / Janet Vasquez 212-825-3210
Source: BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
