Bayer HealthCare submits contraceptive for EU approval

Bayer HealthCare is applying for European regulatory clearance of a new oral contraceptive regimen that will allow women to schedule their periods flexibly.

The contraceptive therapy option is based on the ethinylestradiol/drospirenone-based treatment Yaz and provides individuals with greater control over their menstrual cycles, while also reducing the overall number of annual bleeding episodes.

This submission is based on positive data collated by Bayer HealthCare during a recent phase III clinical study of the regimen, which showed that it is able to deliver a maximum period-free interval of up to 120 days.

Full results from the trial will be presented at a forthcoming scientific conference.

Dr Flemming Oernskov, head of women's healthcare and general medicine at Bayer HealthCare, said: "Many women are interested in managing their menstrual cycle individually … With our new contraceptive regimen we will address this need in addition to providing reliable contraception."

Last month, the company published positive clinical trial findings from two phase III studies of VEGF Trap-Eye, a treatment for age-related macular degeneration.