Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA; TASE: TEVA) announced that the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued a positive opinion in a referral procedure regarding the authorization of its oral contraceptive Seasonique. The CHMP concluded that the benefits of Seasonique outweigh its risks clearing the way for its approval by local health authorities of the European Union (EU) Member States and a launch in countries throughout Europe by the end of the year.
Seasonique is an extended regimen birth control option that contains 84 active pills made up of levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol and is followed by seven days of ethinyl estradiol tablets. The ethinyl estradiol tablets are used during the seven days, instead of a placebo interval, allowing women to have four scheduled periods a year and potentially lessening the withdrawal symptoms that result from a sudden, sharp decrease in hormones. Seasonique is backed by extensive clinical trials and real-world experience, and is more than 99% effective when taken as directed.
“Seasonique’s approval will allow physicians to prescribe their patients an oral contraceptive that offers less frequent menses and is both safe and effective," said Rossella Nappi, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Italy and investigator in the Seasonique EU study. “Women now starting on oral hormonal contraceptive will be able to choose to have a monthly menstrual period or not.”
Data demonstrate that when informed that monthly menses is not medically necessary while on the pill, seven out of 10 women prefer to have fewer periods a year. In fact, a global survey of women in the US, Brazil and Germany indicated that a majority of respondents stated a preference to have just four periods a year.
“Teva is pleased with the EMA’s CHMP opinion which allows Seasonique to be accessible to more women throughout the world,” said Aine Scibelli, Senior Director, Global Marketing Women's Health. “Many women may not be aware that they can space their periods. Seasonique will offer women a new choice in contraception to achieve greater freedom and confidence in their birth control.”
Seasonique has been available in the United States since 2006, where it gained 25% of the market share within two years, and was approved in Chile on November 28 2013 and most recently in Brazil on April 14 2014. Upon approval, it is expected to be launched in Austria, Slovakia and Poland with additional country launches to follow.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 6, 2014
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