April 25, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] KwangDong Pharmaceutical said on Nov. 23 it has signed a license deal with Palatin Technologies for exclusive rights to develop and commercialize the US firm’s drug candidate for female sexual dysfunction in Korea.

KwangDong is the second Korean company to reach such a deal to introduce a so-called “female Viagra” drug, following ChongKunDang’s deal with S1 Biopharma for female libido investigational therapy Lorexys in 2015. 

“We believe that Palatin’s bremelanotide, as a niche market product, has tremendous potential,” said KwangDong CEO Choi Sung-Won in a statement. The company plans to launch the drug here in 2021.

Bremelanotide, which recently completed its phase 3 clinical trials, activates endogenous melanocortin pathways involved in sexual desire and response, according to Palatin.

A new drug application is anticipated to be filed with the US Food and Drug Administration in the first quarter of 2018. While Bremelanotide can be self-administered via an autoinjector ChongKunDang’s Lorexys is an oral therapy and is undergoing phase 2 clinical studies.

By Park Han-na (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)