Results showed that on a 14-item questionnaire, 73% of the women reported an increased level of genital arousal while on bremelanotide, compared with 23% of women on placebo.
In addition, 46% of women on bremelanotide reported an increased level of sexual desire, while only 19% of women responded similarly after placebo treatment. Subjects receiving bremelanotide also reported a higher incidence of engaging in sexual activity compared to placebo.
The current study follows a similarly designed clinical study conducted with pre-menopausal patients with female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD).
“The results of this study in post-menopausal women corroborate the previous results reported in pre-menopausal women and supports the further advancement of bremelanotide for the treatment of FSAD,” said Dr Trevor Hallam, executive vice president of R&D at Palatin.
The companies are currently enrolling subjects in a 100- patient, phase IIb at-home clinical trial in pre-menopausal FSAD patients at approximately 20 clinical sites throughout the US.