Ampio genitourinary news
Ampio will spin off its sexual dysfunction business into newco Vyrix Pharmaceuticals Inc. The newco will be funded through an IPO that Ampio expects could take up to 12 months to complete. Ampio expects to own 50-80% of Vyrix following the offering. Vyrix's assets include Zertane tramadol and Zertane-ED. Vyrix plans to begin registration trials for Zertane in the U.S. and partner with companies to commercialize the product worldwide. The oral fast-dissolving tablet formulation of tramadol has completed a pair of European Phase III trials to treat premature ejaculation (PE) and is partnered with Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (KSE:069620, Seoul, South Korea) in South Korea. The newco also plans to begin preclinical studies of Zertane-ED, a product combining Zertane with sildenafil for erectile dysfunction (ED) to treat PE and ED. Ampio said it will begin trials for both products after the close of the IPO, which it hopes to complete in 2014. Pfizer markets sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor, as Viagra to treat ED and as Revatio to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Ampio said it has patents protecting the combination of Zertane and the PDE-5 inhibitor. ...