Women’s health pharma company Theramex and ObsEva, a biopharma company developing and commercializing novel therapies for women’s health have entered into a licensing agreement to commercialize and launch Linzagolix, an oral GnRH antagonist. The launch will be for global markets outside of the U.S., Canada, and Asia. Linzagolix is a GnRH receptor antagonist for the treatment of uterine fibroids. Linzagolix is also in development as a potential treatment for endometriosis-associated pain. Linzagolix is not currently approved for any indication anywhere in the world.
Theramex CEO Robert Stewart explains: “ObsEva is an ideal partner for Theramex given their focus on developing novel treatments to meet unmet medical needs of women suffering from uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and pre-term labour. Uterine Fibroids affect 25% of women within reproductive age, many with severe symptoms requiring surgery. By licensing Linzagolix we can potentially offer a new treatment option for physicians in managing women with uterine fibroids to provide symptomatic relief and delay or avoid surgery. Additionally, we will continue to work with our partner ObsEva for follow-on indications, such as endometriosis, another area of women’s health with limited treatment options. This marks an important therapeutic extension for Theramex to widen our portfolio and provide gynaecologist’s support for unmet medical needs.”
Brian O’Callaghan, ObsEva CEO, adds: “Theramex is a proven global leader in women’s health and the ideal partner to maximize the opportunity for Linzagolix in key international markets. By leveraging Theramex’s extensive global commercial infrastructure, ObsEva hopes to bring more individualized treatment options to women suffering from uterine fibroids and endometriosis, both of which represent large, underserved markets. This partnership provides ObsEva with a strong foundation to realize the full value of the Linzagolix program.”
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. The growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue and vary in size. Many women are unaware they have fibroids because they do not have any symptoms. Symptoms of uterine fibroids include heavy periods, abdominal pain, lower back pain and constipation, but this list is not exhaustive.