ASCEND Therapeutics Acquires North American Product Rights for New Product
July 7, 2004 - Herndon, VA
- ASCEND Therapeutics, a leading researcher and developer of pharmaceutical transdermal therapies, today announced that it has secured exclusive North American development, marketing and commercialization rights to the developmental pharmaceutical product Andrin (transdermal dihydrotestosterone gel), a novel treatment for late onset hypogonadism.
ASCEND has incorporated dihydrotestosterone into its proprietary Enhanced Hydroalcoholic Gel™ (EHG) technology to create Andrin. Andrin is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of symptoms associated with low testosterone levels in older men. A growing body of clinical evidence supports the hypothesis that dihydrotestosterone may be effective in treating symptoms associated with androgen deficiency while having less of a stimulatory effect on the prostate than testosterone.
Dihydrotestosterone, the active ingredient in Andrin, is a naturally occurring androgen that cannot be taken orally due to high first-pass liver metabolism. The use of the innovative EHG™ technology as a delivery vehicle for dihydrotestosterone has enabled the development of this promising treatment, now in Phase 2 clinical trials. Andrin, along with its intellectual property, was acquired by ASCEND from Besins International Holdings, the world's leading manufacturer of prescription gels.
"We are very pleased to add Andrin to our portfolio," said Jay Bua, president and CEO of ASCEND Therapeutics. "The formula is easy to use - it is clear when applied, dries quickly and can easily be incorporated into morning hygiene routines. We believe Andrin may provide an important treatment option for older patients throughout the world who are suffering from symptoms associated with testosterone deficiency, also called late onset hypogonadism."
ASCEND's gel treatments can be applied almost anywhere on the body. Unlike transdermal patches, which need to be concealed and can cause skin irritation, EHG™ gels are completely invisible after drying and are non-irritating. Percutaneous administration also means that the treatments avoid first-pass liver metabolism, can have greater bioavailability and can potentially avoid certain gastric toxicities or other side effects often associated with oral delivery.