BioSante developing testosterone gel for women

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. Women with HIV who take testosterone over a long period of time experience “significant” improvement in body composition, bone mineral density and quality of life indices, according to a study published in the May 15 issue of AIDS, the Journal of the International AIDS Society.

Conducted over an 18-month period among 25 women, ages 43 to 45 living with HIV, the randomized, placebo-controlled study found that testosterone was well-tolerated.

Drug maker BioSante Pharmaceuticals, which is developing a testosterone gel for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in menopausal women called LibiGel, commented on the publication.

“These newly published testosterone data are very exciting for many reasons,” BioSante president and CEO Stephen Simes said. “BioSante is in late-stage development of LibiGel testosterone, at the same dosage employed in the published study, for the treatment of HSDD in menopausal women.”