Futura Medical PLC (LON:FUM) unveiled a new, heavy hitting head of research and development as it outlined a strategy for its lead drug that could help significantly expand its market coverage.
The latter first: Further analysis of the September data from MED2002, a gel of erectile dysfunction (ED), reveals there may be scope to have two doses of the treatment. The higher dose would be used for severe ED cases.
In fact, the company plans to carry out a phase III clinical trials using this approach.
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"This strategy is also mindful that, with MED2002's rapid speed of onset and favourable safety profile, two dose strengths may unlock the huge potential of an over the counter treatment in an indication where only one in three men are prepared to go to a doctor to seek treatment,” said chief executive James Barder.
“The lower dosage of MED2002 could potentially address the over the counter market whilst the higher dose would be prescription only."
In a separate announcement Futura said it has recruited Ken James, currently a non-executive director, to oversee its research and development efforts.
James is the former head of consumer healthcare R&D at GlaxoSmithKline, where he brought more than 200 innovative products to market.
At Futura he will be in charge of the development, regulatory and manufacturing strategies for the company's existing pipeline of products as well as looking at earlier-stage opportunities.