Approximately 3300 women will be enrolled into two global studies to evaluate the contraceptive reliability of the patch starting in May 2009. The patch will be applied once per week, that is three patches per cycle (for 21 days) and one week off.
The company plans to submit the new patch for registration worldwide. First filing is expected in 2012.
Phil Smits, head of women’s healthcare at Bayer Schering Pharma, said: “Bayer Schering Pharma is looking forward to progressing to Phase III trials with our novel patch. It will be the smallest, lowest dosed and the only transparent patch for female contraception on the market. We are optimistic that these attributes will make it an attractive option for women seeking alternative routes of hormonal contraception.”