BOCA RATON, Fla. & CHARLESTON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TherapeuticsMD, Inc. (NASDAQ: TXMD), an innovative women’s healthcare company, and Afaxys Pharma, LLC, a pharmaceutical company focused on serving women in the public health system, announced today that they have entered into an agreement to expand access to ANNOVERA® (segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol vaginal system) in the United States public health sector. The arrangement combines Afaxys' unique experience and capabilities serving the United States public health contraception market with TherapeuticsMD’s commitment to supply ANNOVERA to the United States public health system. TherapeuticsMD and Afaxys believe the arrangement will make ANNOVERA more widely accessible to patients in the United States. ANNOVERA is the first FDA-approved long-lasting reversible birth control that is patient-controlled and procedure free to provide a full year (13 cycles)* of protection against unintended pregnancy while fully under a woman’s control.
"We are pleased to be working with Afaxys, a recognized leader in serving women in the public health system,” said TherapeuticsMD Chief Executive Officer, Robert Finizio. “We have a strong and shared commitment to advancing women's health and increasing patient awareness of and access to ANNOVERA. We plan to leverage our arrangement with Afaxys to meet the needs of public health clinics, college and university health clinics, and city, county, state and federal facilities.”
“The alliance with TherapeuticsMD allows Afaxys to expand its commitment to public health patients and the providers who care for them. We’re excited to work with TherapeuticsMD to broaden availability of ANNOVERA and provide a new treatment option for patients who want a long-lasting reversible contraceptive. We believe our expertise in contraceptive care and established relationships with public health providers will support a strong commercial presence for ANNOVERA in the market. This new alliance helps Afaxys deliver on its mission to bring innovative products to the public health family planning community and the patients they serve,” explained Ronda Dean, President and CEO of Afaxys, Inc.
*For each cycle, ANNOVERA is inserted and left in place for 21 continuous days and then removed for 7 days.
About ANNOVERA
INDICATION
ANNOVERA is a progestin/estrogen combination hormonal contraceptive indicated for use by females of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy.
Limitation of Use: ANNOVERA has not been adequately studied in females with a body mass index of >29 kg/m2.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNING: CIGARETTE SMOKING AND SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS
See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
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CONTRAINDICATIONS
ANNOVERA is contraindicated and should not be used in women with a high risk of arterial or venous thrombotic diseases; current or history of breast cancer or other estrogen- or progestin-sensitive cancer; liver tumors, acute hepatitis, or severe (decompensated) cirrhosis; undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding; hypersensitivity to any of the components of ANNOVERA; and use of Hepatitis C drug combinations containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
- Stop ANNOVERA if a thrombotic or thromboembolic event occurs,and at least 4 weeks before and through 2 weeks after major surgery. Start ANNOVERAno earlier than 4 weeksafter delivery, in females who are not breastfeeding. Consider cardiovascular risk factors beforeinitiating in all females, particularly thoseover 35 years.
- Discontinue if jaundice occurs.
- Stop ANNOVERA prior to starting therapy with the combination drug regimen ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir. ANNOVERA can be restarted 2 weeks following completion of this regimen.
- Do not prescribe ANNOVERA for females with uncontrolled hypertension or hypertension with vascular disease. Monitor blood pressure and stop use if blood pressure rises significantly in females with well-controlled hypertension.
- Monitor glucose in pre-diabetic or diabetic females taking ANNOVERA. Consider an alternate contraceptive method for females with uncontrolled dyslipidemias.
- Patients using ANNOVERA who have a significant change in headaches or irregular bleeding or amenorrhea should be evaluated. ANNOVERA should be discontinued if indicated.
- Other warnings include: gallbladder disease; depression; cervical cancer; increased serum concentrations of binding globulins; hereditary angioedema; chloasma (females who tend to develop chloasma should avoid exposure to the sun or UV radiation while using ANNOVERA); toxic shock syndrome (TSS) (if a patient exhibits symptoms of TSS, remove ANNOVERA, and initiate appropriate medical treatment); vaginal use (ANNOVERA may not be suitable for females with conditions that make the vagina more susceptible to vaginal irritation or ulceration).
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions reported in at least 5% of women who received ANNOVERA were: headache/migraine, nausea/vomiting, vulvovaginal mycotic infection/candidiasis, lower/upper abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, vaginal discharge, urinary tract infection, breast pain/tenderness/discomfort, bleeding irregularities including metrorrhagia, diarrhea, and genital pruritus.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Drugs or herbal products that induce certain enzymes, including CYP3A4, may decrease the effectiveness of ANNOVERA or increase breakthrough bleeding. Counsel patients to use a back-up or alternative method of contraception when enzyme inducers are used with ANNOVERA.
Please note that this information is not comprehensive. For Full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING, please visit annovera.com/pi.pdf.
About TherapeuticsMD, Inc.
TherapeuticsMD, Inc. is an innovative, leading healthcare company, focused on developing and commercializing novel products exclusively for women. Our products are designed to address the unique changes and challenges women experience through the various stages of their lives with a therapeutic focus in family planning, reproductive health, and menopause management. The company is committed to advancing the health of women and championing awareness of their healthcare issues. To learn more about TherapeuticsMD, please visit www.therapeuticsmd.com or follow us on Twitter: @TherapeuticsMD and on Facebook: TherapeuticsMD.
About Afaxys
Afaxys is a mission-driven, social business enterprise dedicated to serving the women's healthcare needs of the public health community and their patients. Afaxys subsidiaries include a Group Purchasing Organization, which negotiates favorable pricing across a broad base of mission-critical products and services for its members; and Afaxys Pharma, the number one provider of oral and emergency contraceptives in U.S. clinics. Afaxys focuses on supporting the needs of community health centers, family planning clinics, college and university health centers, non-retail prescribers, as well as city, county, state and federal facilities. To learn more, visit www.afaxys.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release by TherapeuticsMD, Inc. may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to TherapeuticsMD’s objectives, plans and strategies as well as statements, other than historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the company intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are often characterized by terminology such as “believes,” “hopes,” “may,” “anticipates,” “should,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “positioned,” “strategy” and similar expressions and are based on assumptions and assessments made in light of management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the company undertakes no duty to update or revise any such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the company’s control. Important factors that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from forward-looking statements are described in the sections titled “Risk Factors” in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as reports on Form 8-K, and include the following: the company’s ability to maintain or increase sales of its products; the company’s ability to develop and commercialize IMVEXXY®, ANNOVERA™, BIJUVA® and its hormone therapy drug candidates and obtain additional financing necessary therefor; whether the company will be able to comply with the covenants and conditions under its term loan facility, including the conditions to draw additional tranches thereunder; the potential of adverse side effects or other safety risks that could adversely affect the commercialization of the company’s current or future approved products or preclude the approval of the company’s future drug candidates; whether the FDA will approve the efficacy supplement for the lower dose of BIJUVA; the length, cost and uncertain results of future clinical trials; the company’s reliance on third parties to conduct its manufacturing, research and development and clinical trials; the ability of the company’s licensees to commercialize and distribute the company’s products; the ability of the company’s marketing contractors to market ANNOVERA; the availability of reimbursement from government authorities and health insurance companies for the company’s products; the impact of product liability lawsuits; the influence of extensive and costly government regulation; the volatility of the trading price of the company’s common stock and the concentration of power in its stock ownership. PDF copies of the company’s historical press releases and financial tables can be viewed and downloaded at its website: www.therapeuticsmd.com/pressreleases.aspx.
