Newswise — Republican Sen. John McCain resisted being dragged into a discussion last week about insurance companies that will cover erectile dysfunction drugs but not birth control products.
"I certainly do not want to discuss that issue," the presidential candidate said when a reporter asked him about it on his campaign bus, the "Straight Talk Express." Carly Fiorina, a top McCain supporter, stirred talk about the topic at a recent Washington breakfast with reporters. The former Hewlett-Packard chief executive discussing consumer-driven health insurance, mentioned something "I've been hearing a lot about from women: There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won't cover birth-control medication. Those women would like a choice."
"The underlying problem here really may be that there is no female equivalent of Viagra, so women may be using birth control as the closest comparison, " says Stephen M. Simes, CEO of BioSante Pharmaceuticals. "It is shocking to some that 10 years after Viagra's introduction, there is currently no FDA approved product to treat women who suffer from low sex drive, which may affect as many as 30-40% of American women. This is the real inequality that should be addressed. Women also would like and are entitled to a choice just like men have had for 10 years."
Lincolnshire IL-based BioSante (Nasdaq: BPAX) is the only company presently addressing Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, often referred to as low sex drive, in menopausal women. BioSante's LibiGel(R) is applied once per day using a metered dose bottle to allow for quick absorption through the skin after application on the upper arm, delivering the required therapy to the bloodstream evenly and in a quick drying, non-invasive, painless manner without leaving a trace of residue. Currently undergoing Phase III clinical testing, LibiGel is designed to restore sexual desire and activity in post-menopausal women to levels they want and experienced before menopause.
Topics for discussion:
"¢ What is Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)?
"¢ Why has the quest for a viable treatment taken so long?
"¢ What are some key indicators of HSDD?
"¢ Where can women learn more about HSDD or get involved in the current LibiGel studies?
Expert Bio: Stephen M. Simes (BioSante's President and Chief Executive Officer)
Stephen M. Simes has served as Vice Chairman, President and a director of BioSante since January 1998 and Chief Executive Officer since March 1998. Mr. Simes was President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a company focused on infectious diseases, AIDS, endocrinology and oncology. Mr. Simes was previously Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gynex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a company concentrated on the AIDS, endocrinology, urology and growth disorders markets. Mr. Simes' career in the pharmaceutical industry started with G.D. Searle & Co.
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