Merck KGaA announces EU approval for Pergoveris

Merck KGaA has announced that its fertility treatment Pergoveris has been granted marketing authorisation in the European Union (EU) from the European Commission.

This decision applies to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, in addition to all 27 member states of the European Union, with Merck planning the launch of Pergoveris across the continent in the third quarter of this year.

Hans Christian Rohde, head of global therapeutic area reproductive health at Merck Serono, said: “Pergoveris is the only fertility treatment which combines the benefits of two consistent and pure recombinant products ? r-hFSH and r-hLH.

“The development of Pergoveris shows our innovative leadership in fertility treatments and ability to provide pure and high-quality products”.

He added that the approval for the compound is good news for infertile patients across Europe suffering sever deficiencies of endogenous FSH and LH.

Merck Serono is a world-leading reproductive health firm, offering a comprehensive portfolio of fertility drugs addressing all stages of the reproductive cycle.

These compounds include Gonal-f FbM (follitropin alfa), Luveris (lutropin alfa), Cetrotide (cetrorelix acetate), Ovitrelle (choriogonadotropin alfa) and Crinone (progesterone gel), which are used to treat a range of complications in female fertility.

Merck Serono purports to be the world leader in reproductive health, offering a comprehensive portfolio of fertility drugs addressing all stages of the reproductive cycle.

In January 2007, scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health reported that women suffering ovulation-related fertility problems consumed more trans fat that those that do not.