Largest ever clinical trial in postpartum hemorrhage completed

Privately-held Switzerland-headquartered Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK), through its MSD for Mothersinitiative, today announced the completion of CHAMPION (Carbetocin Hemorrhage Prevention), a global clinical trial conducted by the Human Reproduction Program (HRP) at the World Health Organization under a collaboration initiated by the companies and the WHO in 2014.

CHAMPION is investigating whether Ferring’s proprietary and heat-stable carbetocin, marketed by Ferring as Pabal, could offer a new solution to prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth (postpartum hemorrhage or PPH).Involving nearly 30,000 women in 10 countries, it is the largest clinical trial ever conducted in PPH.

Results of the CHAMPION trial have not yet been released but, if they are favorable, Ferring will seek registration of heat-stable carbetocin on a broad basis around the world. If approved, Ferring would manufacture the product and it would be provided to the public sector of low- and lower-middle-income countries at an affordable and sustainable access price. Results from the trial are expected to be presented and published during the second half of 2018.