A Melbourne-based pharmaceutical company has developed a spray-on menopause treatment that tests show has reduced hot flushes in women by 78 per cent in some cases.
Shares in Acrux Ltd soared as much as 40 per cent today following positive phase III trial results for its "easy-to-use" menopause spray, Evamist.
The stock jumped as high as 93 cents, a 40 per cent gain, before closing at 82 cents, up 15.5 cents or 23.31 per cent.
Evamist is a daily skin spray used to prevent symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flushes.
Acrux said the 12-week trial, involving 457 menopausal women, showed that the most effective Evamist dose decreased the number of hot flushes by 78 per cent.
Conducted by its United States commercial partner, VIVUS, the study also found irritation at the application site was less than one per cent and mild.
"We believe these positive trial results, along with this novel patient-preferred transdermal delivery system, will establish Evamist as a superior oestrogen therapy for the treatment of menopausal symptoms," VIVUS chief executive officer Leland Wilson said.
VIVUS will now file a marketing application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the second half of 2006.
Annual sales of oestrogen-only replacement therapies in the US are estimated to be about $US1.4 billion.
Acrux said Evamist could be available in the US in the second half of 2007.
The company develops and commercialises its products using technology to administer drugs through the skin that would otherwise need to be injected or which can cause side effects when swallowed.
Earlier this year, Acrux gained the rights to develop and commercialise Nestorone, the world's first spray-on contraceptive.
The company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in September 2004.
AAP
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