Bayer HealthCare files for EU approval of contraceptive patch

Bayer HealthCare has submitted an application for European regulatory approval of an ethinylestradiol/gestodene-based contraceptive patch for women.

France will serve as the reference member state in the decentralised procedure for gaining marketing authorisation for the new product, a transparent low-dose patch that has proven its safety and efficacy in clinical studies.

Market research has demonstrated that women increasingly prefer non-daily contraception products, meaning the weekly patch could prove a popular new option.

New clinical data on its performance will be presented at the forthcoming International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics congress in Rome.

Dr Flemming Ornskov, chief marketing officer for strategic marketing – general medicine at Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, said: "Our contraceptive patch will provide an additional choice among contraceptive methods especially for women who are looking for an aesthetic, convenient weekly transdermal application with a low hormonal dose."

Earlier this year, the company introduced a low-dose levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system that provides long-term contraception over three years.