PE treatment on the way?

New York-based Enhance Biotech has successfully completed of a 30 patient Phase IIa trial of their product LI 301 for premature ejaculation (PE).

This condition is widely recognised to be as large a market as the well established multi-billion dollar erectile dysfunction area that currently has blockbuster drugs at market such as Pfizer's Viagra, Glaxo's Levitra, and Eli Lilly's Cialis. However, it has not received the same attention from drug developers as yet despite affecting nearly a third of the male population at some time in their life and having a significant impact on relationships in couples trying to cope with its effects.

The trial was run in Europe in collaboration with an international CRO using a placebo controlled, double blind randomised cross over design. The compound LI 301, which has a unique mode of action in this condition, successfully met the endpoint demonstrating substantial effect against the placebo. With the successful results achieved, multi-centre trails are now being prepared.

Chris Every, ceo of Enhance said: 'We are delighted to have achieved this confirmation of effect enabling us to move on to extensive further trials. We have taken a unique approach in treating this condition by not following the other compounds being developed in this field that are currently achieving mixed results working chiefly with serotonin reuptake inhibitors. We believe the trial results achieved demonstrate a real opportunity to have a successful drug at market in a blockbuster sector where there are currently no other approved treatments.'