Vivus returns rights to develop Luramist to Acrux

The USA's Vivus has terminated the development and commercialization agreement with FemPharm, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Australian drug company Acrux, for Luramist, a metered dose transdermal application of testosterone for women.

The deal with FemPharm was originally signed in 2004 along with another to develop Evamist, a metered dose transdermal estradiol spray for menopause. The US company will return rights to Luramist to FemPharm and focus its efforts on its late stage investigational product candidates: Qnexa (phentermine and topiramate) for obesity and avanafil for erectile dysfunction.

"The decision to terminate the agreement was made in view of the significant long-term safety requirements for the approval of testosterone products in women," stated Peter Tam, president of Vivus, adding: "We believe it is in our shareholders' best interests to pursue other therapeutic candidates."