Ferring debuts new fertility treatment in USA

Ferring Pharmaceuticals, the US unit of Denmark's Ferring Group, has launched Menopur (menotropins for injection, USP), a purified human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) indicated for the development of multiple follicles and pregnancy in patients undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology, such as in vitro fertilization.

The company says that Menopur is the first and only fertility treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on the basis of pregnancy rates; all other currently-marketed gonadotropins gained FDA clearance on the basis of oocytes retrieved. Menopur is a preparation of naturally-derived gonadotropins that has undergone an exacting purification process. In clinical studies, it was shown to be comparable in efficacy to recombinant follicle stimulating hormone while demonstrating fewer injection site reactions than the currently-available hMG.

The agent, which received approval from the FDA on October 29, 2004, contains equal amounts of FSH and luteinizing hormone.