Sprout Pharmaceuticals announces female libido drug relaunch

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Sprout Pharmaceuticals Inc. is relaunching Addyi (flibanserin), the first-ever approved drug for low libido, or hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), which affects up to six million pre-menopausal women in the U.S. HSDD is characterized by persistent low sexual desire and emotional distress that are not attributable to an existing medical condition or relationship issue.

Addyi won Food and Drug Administration approval in 2015. It is a drug that alters the balance of brain neurotransmitters linked to sexual function. As such, Addyi is not, as it is sometimes erroneously referred to, a “female Viagra.” Viagra (sildenafil) boosts blood supply, while Addyi increases sex drive. The Addyi label includes a black box warning advising against usage of alcohol while on the drug. In addition, there is a fairly long list of side effects.

The company is cutting the drug’s price by 50%. The new price will be $400, down from $800 for a monthly prescription. The uninsured and those not covered by their insurer for Addyi will pay $99 a month.

Employing a telemedicine model, Sprout Pharmaceuticals hopes to avoid some of the prescribing and supply problems that plagued its initial launch. During the first go-round, sales didn’t take off because of a general lack of demand and awareness among physicians and patients, very limited coverage by insurers and pharmacy benefit managers, and supply issues as most pharmacies didn’t carry it. Now, on a website, doctors can diagnose HSDD and prescribe the drug. Patients prescribed the drug will then be able to receive it by mail.

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