Bayer Schering Pharma to market new contraceptive in Europe

Bayer Schering Pharma has announced that it is to market its new low-dose orally-administered contraceptive Yaz in the EU.

The compound will be the first orally-administered contraceptive on the European market that contains a combination of the unique progestin drospirenone combined with a low dose of estradiol.

Yaz is taken by women in a new dosing regimen including 24 days of active hormone tablets and four days of placebo.

The drug has been available in the US since 2006 and will be launched in all key European markets in autumn in 2008.

Philip Smits, head of women’s healthcare at Bayer Schering Pharma, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the pan-European approval of Yaz, the latest member of our blockbuster drospirenone-based product family.”

He added that the compound offers an innovative contraception method with further benefits not provided by other orally-administered contraceptives.

In the US, the drug is also approved for the treatment of moderate acne and the emotional and physical symptoms associated with premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Yaz received its first EU approval in July 2007 in the Netherlands, with the country acting as a reference member state for the subsequent mutual recognition for the drug in the EU.