ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- QuatRx Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company focused on discovering, licensing, developing and commercializing compounds in the endocrine, metabolic and cardiovascular therapeutic areas, today announced that the company has licensed a portfolio of 17-beta HSD Type 1 (hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) inhibitors and related technologies from Solvay Pharmaceuticals. This technology was originally developed up to the clinical candidate stage through a collaboration between Solvay Pharmaceuticals and Hormos Medical, Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of QuatRx Pharmaceuticals.
Under the terms of this agreement, QuatRx will acquire all commercialization rights and will undertake, together with its Hormos subsidiary in Finland, all development responsibilities for HSD Type 1 inhibitors as potential treatments for endometriosis and for other indications in women’s and men’s health.
“The opportunity to advance development of a platform of HSD inhibitors expands QuatRx’s role in efforts to develop a new generation of endocrine products. We can now apply our experience in endocrinological drug development to this early stage development program,” said Robert L. Zerbe, M.D., president and chief executive officer of QuatRx Pharmaceuticals.
The 17-beta HSD Type 1 enzymes enhance the estrogen response in specific target tissues, such as breast and endometrium tissues, by converting the low- activity estrone to high-activity estradiol. Selective inhibition of this enzyme reduces the conversion and is considered a novel therapeutic approach with potential applications in treating diseases such as breast cancer and endometriosis. QuatRx is among the first companies working to bring this class of compounds into clinical development.
About QuatRx
QuatRx Pharmaceuticals Company is focused on discovering, licensing, developing and commercializing compounds in the endocrine, metabolic and cardiovascular therapeutic areas. QuatRx currently has four product candidates in clinical development and one compound that is expected to enter clinical development in mid-2006. QuatRx’s two lead compounds treat hormone deficiencies that result from aging in men and women. Ospemifene, a treatment for vaginal atrophy, a common problem associated with estrogen deficiency in post-menopausal women, has entered Phase III clinical testing. Fispemifene, a treatment for testosterone deficiency in aging males, has entered Phase II clinical testing. QuatRx also has two product candidates for the treatment of elevated cholesterol levels, QRX-401 and QRX-431, in Phase I clinical trials and preclinical development, respectively. Becocalcidiol, a topical product candidate for the treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis, has completed a Phase IIb clinical trial.
About Solvay
Solvay Pharmaceuticals is a research driven group of pharmaceutical companies that seeks to fulfill carefully selected, unmet medical needs in the therapeutic areas of neuroscience, cardio-metabolic, influenza vaccines, pancreatic enzymes, gastroenterology and men’s and women’s health. It is part of Solvay S.A., an international chemicals and pharmaceuticals group with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Details are available at http://www.solvay.com .
QuatRx Pharmaceuticals Company
CONTACT: Julia Owens of QuatRx Pharmaceuticals Company, +1-734-913-9900x121
