Daré Bioscience, Inc. Announces Asset Transfer Agreement with Hydra Biosciences, Inc. for CatSper Contraceptive Target
July 16 2018 - 8:00AM
CatSper antagonist has
potential to provide pregnancy prevention via administration to
either women or men as a novel, rapidly reversible, non-hormonal
contraceptive
Daré Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:DARE), a clinical-stage, women’s
biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has entered into
an asset transfer agreement with Hydra Biosciences, Inc. for
the transfer of all of Hydra’s interest in certain intellectual
property relating to Hydra’s CatSper ion channel target portfolio.
“CatSper represents a novel target for
non-hormonal contraceptives for both men and women,” said Dr. David
Friend, Chief Scientific Officer of Daré Bioscience. “Inhibiting
CatSper prevents sperm from achieving the hyperactive motile state
required for fertilization. With the acquisition of Hydra’s
intellectual property surrounding the CatSper target, we can begin
to identify therapies that could potentially provide a
contraception solution that both men and women could utilize.
The potential for a first-in-class non-hormonal male or female
contraceptive option aligns with the objectives of the foundations
and government agencies that fund contraceptive research, and as
such we will be pursuing grant funding to support the near-term
research.”
“Hydra Biosciences is excited to be providing
these assets to Daré, whose focus on women’s reproductive and
sexual health makes it a natural fit for this novel approach to
non-hormonal contraception,” said Russell Herndon, Hydra
Biosciences President and CEO. The sperm-specific ion
channel, CatSper, was discovered by David Clapham, M.D., Ph.D.,
co-founder of Hydra Biosciences and currently the Vice President
and CSO of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Initial studies
carried out by Dr. Clapham and others suggest that pharmacological
agents that block CatSper may serve as viable contraceptives. The
target is well-validated with more than eight years of testing in
mice that has demonstrated that genetic deletions of CatSper lead
to complete male infertility, while female fertility is
normal. CatSper expression is confined to sperm, so a drug
targeting CatSper could potentially be delivered to males or
females, and one that is fast-acting would only be needed
immediately prior to intercourse. Research suggests that CatSper
based contraceptives would not affect sperm development, so
resumption of full fertility could occur as soon as dosing
stops.
“Our human clinical development activities
remain focused on our lead programs Ovaprene® and Topical 5%
Sildenafil Citrate Cream. In parallel, we continue to screen,
identify, and access technology that is highly differentiated and
novel,” said Sabrina Martucci Johnson, President and CEO, Daré
Bioscience. “With the CatSper intellectual property from Hydra
Biosciences we are delivering on our commitment to advance unique
innovation that addresses persistent unmet needs and that provides
us with strategic optionality.”
About Hydra Biosciences
Hydra Biosciences is a biopharmaceutical company
based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that develops novel drugs to
treat pain, inflammation, anxiety and other diseases using its
expertise in novel ion channels. Hydra's intellectual property
portfolio, significant ion channel expertise, and flexible
screening systems have the potential to develop selective and safer
ion channel drugs. Hydra has over 75 filed patents covering the use
of TRP modulators to treat diseases as well as compositions of
matter and methods of use claims for specific molecules.
About Daré Bioscience
Daré Bioscience is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company committed to the advancement of
innovative products for women’s reproductive and sexual health. The
company’s mission is to identify, develop and bring to market a
portfolio of novel, differentiated therapies that expand treatment
options, improve outcomes and facilitate convenience for women in
the areas of contraception, vaginal health, sexual health, and
fertility.
Daré’s product portfolio includes two potential
first-in-class candidates currently in clinical development:
Ovaprene®, a non-hormonal, monthly contraceptive vaginal ring, and
Topical 5% Sildenafil Citrate Cream, a potential treatment for
female sexual arousal disorder utilizing the same active ingredient
as Viagra®. To learn more about Daré’s full portfolio of women’s
health products, and mission to deliver novel therapies for women,
please visit www.darebioscience.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements contained in this press release,
other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements
relating to Daré's ability to leverage assets acquired from Hydra
Biosciences to develop novel, non-hormonal contraceptives, to
access non-dilutive funding to advance development of CatSper-based
product candidates, and to continue to identify, access and advance
development of other novel assets that have the potential to
address unmet needs in women’s reproductive and sexual health.
Because forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such statements as a result of various
important factors, including the uncertainties inherent in the
development of novel pharmacological agents, such as the timing of
initiation and completion of clinical trials, whether preliminary
research or results of early clinical trials will be indicative of
results of later clinical trials, and expectations for regulatory
approvals and market demand; availability of non-dilutive funding
for CatSper-based contraceptives research; availability of
additional capital necessary to advance Daré’s product candidates
through development and support expansion of its product candidate
portfolio; and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors"
section of Daré's quarterly report on Form 10-Q and annual report
on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 14, 2018 and March 28, 2018, respectively. Additional
information concerning factors that could cause actual results to
materially differ from those in the forward-looking statements is
contained in Daré's reports to the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including Daré's reports on Forms 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K.
In addition, any forward-looking statements included in this press
release represent Daré's views only as of the date of this release
and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any
subsequent date. Daré specifically disclaims any obligation to
update any forward-looking statements included in this press
release, except as required by law.
Contacts:
Investors on behalf of Daré Bioscience, Inc.:Ami
BavishiBurns McClellanabavishi@burnsmc.com212-213-0006
OR
Media on behalf of Daré Bioscience, Inc.:Amanda
GuisbondCanale Communicationsamanda@canalecomm.com781-405-8775
Source: Daré Bioscience
Dare Bioscience (NASDAQ:DARE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Dare Bioscience (NASDAQ:DARE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024