The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Vyleesi
(generic name bremelanotide) for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in pre-menopausal women. HSDD, better known as low libido or low sex drive, affects 10% of all pre-menopausal women in the US.
Vyleesi joins Addyi (generic name flibanserin), the only other FDA-approved HSDD treatment for pre-menopausal women. Addyi was approved for post-menopausal women, must be taken every day and users could not drink alcohol during treatment. Vyleesi is designed to be self-administered subcutaneously with a disposable auto-injector at least 45 minutes before an anticipated sexual encounter.It has a novel mechanism of action that adjusts the balance between the neural pathways that excite and inhibit to restore sexual desire.
The manufacture expects the drug to be available by September, which is National Sexual Health Awareness month. Now, if only the FDA would approve a trans-dermal low dose testosterone replacement for women. At this time, low dose testosterone trans-dermal products are only available in compounding pharmacies.