Sprout Gets Female Viagra Approved

24th August 2015

Posted In: VIB
cindy whitehead

After years of research and seeking FDA approval, Sprout Pharmaceuticals finally got its female viagra pill flibanserin approved.

“It has been a remarkable journey to get to this breakthrough moment. Today we celebrate what this approval means for all women who have long awaited a medical treatment option for this life impacting condition,” said Cindy Whitehead, chief executive officer of Sprout. “We applaud the FDA for putting the patient voice at the center of the conversation and for focusing on scientific evidence.”

Sprout has spearheaded this project since being founded in 2011 and describes itself as “passionate about women’s sexual health”. Once the approval was announced, multinational Valeant acquired Sprout for $1 billion, along with its star product. Sprout will remain headquartered in North Caroline, USA and become a division of Valeant.

This is the first FDA approved pharmaceutical approved to enhance women’s libido and treat the most common form of female sexual dysfunction, compared to the 24 on the market for men.

‘Addyi’, the commercial name for the drug, won’t be marketed to women for another 18 months as there needs to be an educational campaign carried out first before doctors can prescribe it.

(Photo credit: Sprout Pharmaceutical Facebook.)