researchers are developing the world’s only testosterone patch for women with menopausal symptoms.
Medherant, a company founded by Professor David Hadleton of the University of Warwick, is aiming to start clinical trials in the autumn.
If the clinical trials go well and the treatment is approved by the regulatory authorities, this would be the only testosterone replacement patch available worldwide and launched first in the UK.
Prof Haddleton said the potential to improve women’s lives is “huge” by helping them with their loss of sex drive.
This is a very exciting development for us – the potential of this technology to improve women’s lives is enormous
Women seeking treatment for the effects of menopause on libido currently cannot be prescribed testosterone on the health service.
Some resort to irregular doses of gel approved only for use on men, experts say.
Testosterone is an essential hormone for women and its production drops sharply after menopause.
While estrogen and progesterone hormone replacement therapy (HRT) patches — which stick to the skin to release drugs — are available, there is no testosterone delivery patch for women who experience adverse menopausal symptoms.
Prof Haddleton said: “This is a very exciting development for us – the potential of this technology to improve women’s lives is huge.
“The work we do at Medherant and Warwick is not just theoretical, but focuses on an issue women face that can dramatically impact their daily lives and work.”
“This could produce a product that is much needed and simply not available.
“With the technology already proven to work, we can use our new patch to remove unnecessary misery from women’s daily lives.
“We hope this will change the lives of women suffering from postmenopausal issues, both nationally and globally.”
Since 2015, guidelines of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) have recommended that testosterone supplementation be considered for menopausal women with low sexual desire if HRT alone is not effective.
The new patch aims to address this gap in menopausal products, by providing a treatment specific to women that can be made widely available.
John Burt, CEO of Medherant, which raised nearly £3 million for the study, said: “Funding the first clinical trial of our testosterone patch for postmenopausal women will allow Medherant to take a big step towards registration of the product. and be able to address this significant gap in the options available to women at this very important stage of their lives.”