Ferring to commercialize Apricus’ Vitaros ED cream in Latin America

Under the deal, Ferring will pay Apricus $2.25m and about $16m in regulatory and sales milestone payments, apart from royalties depending on the product’s net sales.

Ferring will have the exclusive right to commercialize Vitaros in Latin America, including several Caribbean countries. The company will also secure all required regulatory approvals.

Vitaros is a topical ED cream that delivers quick onset, treatment duration of about one hour with a favorable safety profile.

It is locally applied and features alprostadil and Apricus’ novel excipient. Vitaros is approved in Europe and Canada.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals president of the executive board and COO Michel Pettigrew said: "Vitaros will provide an alternative treatment for men suffering from erectile dysfunction in Latin America, while also allowing us to strengthen our presence in the region."

Apricus Biosciences CEO Richard Pascoe said: "We are pleased that we have been able to license Vitaros in yet another important market outside of Europe as we seek to make Vitaros available to men with erectile dysfunction throughout the world who have yet to be treated satisfactorily."

Earlier this month, Apricus licensed the US development and commercialization rights to Vitaros from Allergan.

It is estimated that 150 million men suffer with erectile dysfunction globally. It is also identified in men with cardiovascular disease.

Medical history, tobacco use and age are considered to be some of the factors for the disease or its severity.