S1 Biopharma announces foray into male sexual health with S1P-205

S1 BiopharmaMay 14 2012

S1 Biopharma, an early-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutic solutions for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) and related sexual dysfunctions, today announced its foray into male sexual health with S1P-205, the first and only drug in development for male HSDD.

The expansion into male sexual health represents S1 Biopharma's intent to take a comprehensive and holistic approach to treating HSDD, a clinical condition marked by persistent lack of desire, personal distress, and interpersonal difficulty.

"In the case of couples with one or both partners experiencing HSDD, there is a benefit to treating both genders together rather than treating one partner alone," said Nicolas G. Sitchon, CEO of S1 Biopharma. "S1P-205 and Lorexys—our drug for female HSDD—are perfect for this dual treatment approach."

With the development of S1P-205, S1 Biopharma is taking steps to address desire disparity between partners and dispelling the myth than men don't have problems with desire.

Targeting Desire Dysfunction Desire dysfunction in males remains underserved by the biopharma community, despite the fact that PDE-5 inhibitor therapies like Viagra have a 43% non-response rate—a rate suggesting that psychogenic factors deserve more attention than they're currently receiving.

Diverse research exists to support this view of desire dysfunction in males. A study of over a hundred female nurses in a relationship with a male partner found that 29.5% reported having more desire than their male partner.

An earlier study of a representative sample of non-geriatric U.S. adults found that 10.2% of men had "trouble maintaining/achieving an erection", while 15% of the men in the study  experienced a problematic "lack of interest in sex." Put differently, the incidence of desire dysfunction in this sample of men was nearly one and a half times the incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED).

"Lack of desire—rather than some cardiovascular or physiological pathology—is a medical condition that can play a significant role in male sexual disorders," said Robert E. Pyke, Chief Medical Officer of S1 Biopharma. "PDE-5 inhibitor therapies are only half the story, and we hope to address the other half with S1P-205, helping men and their partners to have more fulfilling relationships."