Testosterone

RALEIGH, N.C., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marius Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for testosterone deficiency, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for a new patent, strengthening the company’s intellectual property protection for its proprietary oral testosterone therapy, KYZATREX® (testosterone undecanoate) CIII Capsules. This marks Marius Pharmaceuticals’ fifth U.S. patent, further reinforcing its leadership in the field of testosterone replacement therapy. The newly allowed patent specifically covers the company’s unique, novel formulation, which utilizes a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) incorporating phytosterol esters. This innovative technology enhances the bioavailability of oral testosterone, optimizing its absorption and effectiveness. The USPTO issues a Notice of Allowance after determining that a patent application has met all necessary requirements, indicating that the patent will be granted upon payment of the issuance fee. This latest patent extends protection for KYZATREX® through 2033 and will be listed in the FDA’s Orange Book, further solidifying Marius Pharmaceuticals’ competitive position in the market. This milestone supplements the company’s already robust global patent portfolio for KYZATREX®, which includes granted patents in the European Union, Canada, China, Taiwan, Japan, New Zealand, and other key markets, as well as pending applications in India and the U.S. Additionally, Marius Pharmaceuticals has multiple patent filings that could further extend protection beyond 2033, with the potential to reach 2040. About KYZATREX® (testosterone undecanoate)KYZATREX is a proprietary softgel oral formulation absorbed primarily via the lymphatic system (meaning it is not toxic to the liver) indicated in adult males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone. The safety and efficacy of KYZATREX was demonstrated in a phase 3, multi-center, open-label, six-month study in 155 hypogonadal males between 18 and 65 years of age with documented hypogonadism, as defined by a below normal serum testosterone level (≤281 ng/dL) and at least one sign or symptom of testosterone deficiency. In the efficacy population (n=139), 88 percent of hypogonadal men treated with KYZATREX achieved a mean plasma total testosterone concentration (Cavg) over 24 hours within the normal range (222-800 ng/dL) on the final pharmacokinetic (PK) visit of the study at Day 90 (primary endpoint). Based on exploratory endpoints, patients who received KYZATREX reported improvements in quality of life, energy/fatigue, erectile function, intercourse satisfaction, and positive mood. The most common side effect reported in ≥2 percent of KYZATREX patients was increased blood pressure (2.6%). The safety and efficacy of KYZATREX in males less than 18 years old have not been established. Please see additional Important Safety Information below, including Boxed Warning for potential increased blood pressure, for KYZATREX or visit www.kyzatrex.com. About Marius PharmaceuticalsMarius Pharmaceuticals strives to better the lives of men and women by focusing on therapies designed for hypogonadism or Testosterone Deficiency. Their vision is to holistically improve metabolic health and mitigate significant unnecessary costs to the global healthcare system. For more information, please visit www.mariuspharma.com. Important Safety Information for KYZATREX® (testosterone undecanoate) UseKYZATREX (testosterone undecanoate) is a prescription drug that is used to treat adult men who have low or no testosterone levels due to certain medical conditions. KYZATREX is a controlled substance (CIII) because it contains testosterone. It is not known if KYZATREX is safe or effective in males younger than 18 years old. Improper use may affect bone growth in children. KYZATREX is not meant for use by women. Important Safety Information for KYZATREX® (testosterone undecanoate) KYZATREX can increase blood pressure, which can increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke and can increase risk of death due to a heart attack or stroke. Your risk may be greater if you have already had a heart attack or stroke or if you have other risk factors for heart attack or stroke. If your blood pressure increases while on KYZATREX, blood pressure medicines may need to be started. If you are currently taking blood pressure medicines, they may need to be changed or new blood pressure medicines may need to be added to control your blood pressure.If your blood pressure cannot be controlled, KYZATREX may need to be stopped.Your healthcare provider will monitor your blood pressure while you are being treated with KYZATREX. Do not take KYZATREX if you: have breast cancer; have or might have prostate cancer; are a woman who is pregnant (KYZATREX may harm your unborn baby); are allergic to KYZATREX or any of its ingredients; or have low testosterone without certain medical conditions (e.g., do not take KYZATREX if you have low testosterone due to age). Before you take KYZATREX, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: have high blood pressure or are treated for high blood pressure; have a history of diabetes; have heart problems; have high red blood cell count (hematocrit) or high hemoglobin laboratory value; have urinary problems due to an enlarged prostate; have liver or kidney problems; or have problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea). Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking KYZATREX with certain other medicines can affect each other. Especially, tell your healthcare provider if you take: insulin; medicines that decrease blood clotting (blood thinners); corticosteroids; or medicines that increase blood pressure, such as some cold medicine and pain medicines. KYZATREX may cause other serious side effects including: Increase in red blood cell count (hematocrit) or hemoglobin, which can increase the risk of blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks. You may need to stop KYZATREX if your red blood cell count increases.If you already have an enlarged prostate, your signs and symptoms may worsen while taking KYZATREX. These may include: increased urination at night; trouble starting your urine stream; urinating many times during the day; urge to go to the bathroom right away; a urine accident; inability to pass urine or weak urine flow.Increased risk of prostate cancer.Blood clots in the legs or lungs. Signs and symptoms of a blood clot in your leg can include pain, swelling or redness. Signs and symptoms of a blood clot in your lungs can include difficulty breathing or chest pain.Abuse. Testosterone can be abused when taken at higher than prescribed doses and when used with other anabolic androgenic steroids. Abuse can cause serious heart and psychological side effects.In large doses, KYZATREX may lower your sperm count.Liver problems. Symptoms of liver problems may include: nausea or vomiting; yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes; dark urine; pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdominal pain).Swelling of your ankles, feet, or body (edema), with or without heart failure.Enlarged or painful breasts.Breathing problems while you sleep (sleep apnea). Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the serious side effects listed above. The most common side effect of KYZATREX is high blood pressure. Other side effects may include headache, joint or back pain, diarrhea, increased red blood cell count, anxiety, constipation, swelling of the legs, and increased prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels.These are not all the possible side effects of KYZATREX. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Marius by calling 1-833-949-5040. Keep KYZATREX and all medicines out of the reach of children. See Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for KYZATREX. Media Contact: Lilly Washburnlilly@mariuspharma.com

SALT LAKE CITY, March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lipocine Inc. (NASDAQ: LPCN), a biopharmaceutical company leveraging its proprietary technology platform to augment therapeutics through effective oral delivery, today announced financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024, and provided a corporate update. Oral Brexanolone LPCN 1154 is an oral formulation of the neuroactive steroid brexanolone that Lipocine is developing for the rapid treatment of postpartum depression (PPD). Lipocine held a meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first quarter of 2025 to discuss the NDA submission package for LPCN 1154 (oral brexanolone) as a treatment for PPD. In the meeting, Lipocine was advised that the FDA believes that, in addition to the previously completed PK bridge data, a safety and efficacy study of oral LPCN 1154 in the target population will be required for 505(b)(2) NDA submission. Based on observed comparable exposure of LPCN 1154 and the reference drug in the PK bridge study, the company is initiating a phase 3 safety and efficacy study with expected first patient dosed in the second quarter of 2025. The Company has completed registration stability studies required for NDA submission. A Phase 3 safety and efficacy study will provide the opportunity to generate safety and depression symptom relief data with LPCN 1154. Lipocine believes this data will be beneficial for potential inclusion in product labeling and for eligibility for clinical investigation exclusivity for a 48-hour, oral treatment option. In addition, the planned study will investigate the potential of oral brexanolone to treat anxiety disorders, representing another attractive commercial opportunity with a high unmet need. In October 2024, Lipocine announced positive data from a quantitative EEG (qEEG) study of oral brexanolone. The results indicate robust central nervous system (CNS) activity of oral brexanolone, with concentration- and time-dependent post-dose changes in qEEG. These results confirm GABAA positive allosteric modulation and support future development of oral brexanolone in neuropsychiatric indications. Lipocine is exploring the possibility of partnering LPCN 1154 with a third party. LPCN 2401 for Obesity Management LPCN 2401 is targeted to be a once daily oral formulation comprising a proprietary anabolic androgen receptor agonist for obesity management. It is expected to have a favorable benefit to risk profile as an oral option for use as an adjunct to GLP-1 receptor agonist chronic weight management therapies and/or as a monotherapy post cessation of GLP-1 receptor agonist therapies, with demonstrated benefits to the liver. Lipocine is exploring the possibility of partnering LPCN 2401 with a third party. LPCN 2401 was featured in a virtual key opinion leader (KOL) event hosted by Lipocine in October 2024 The event highlighted positive data from the Phase 2 study of LPCN 2401 which support the potential for the product to be used as an adjunct with incretin mimetics (GLP-1/GIP agonists) or as a monotherapy post incretin mimetic discontinuation. A poster "Oral LPCN 2401 Reduces Fat Mass and Increases Lean Mass in Men with Obesity" featuring the Phase 2 data was presented by Dr. Frank Greenway (Chief Medical Officer at Pennington Biomedical Research Center) at the Obesity Society's Annual Obesity Week conference in November 2024, in San Antonio, TX. LPCN 1148 LPCN 1148 is targeted to be a "First in Class" product candidate with a novel mechanism of action for the management of decompensated cirrhosis. A manuscript "Oral LPCN 1148 Improves Sarcopenia and Hepatic Encephalopathy in Male Patients with Cirrhosis: a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial" was published in the journal Hepatology and also discussed at The Liver Meeting (AASLD) 2024 Editor's Cut: Clinical Study Session in November 2024. The publication and conference discussion highlighted updated results from Lipocine's Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical trial (LPCN 1148-21-001) that evaluated LPCN 1148 in men with decompensated cirrhosis and sarcopenia awaiting liver transplantation. The results at 24 weeks showed that LPCN 1148 therapy resulted in a significant improvement in sarcopenia when compared with placebo. Participants receiving LPCN 1148 also experienced significantly fewer episodes of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) compared to those on placebo, even though most participants were already on background therapies for HE. The US FDA granted fast track designation to LPCN 1148 as a treatment for sarcopenia in patients with decompensated cirrhosis in December 2024. Lipocine is exploring the possibility of partnering LPCN 1148 with a third party. TLANDO™ Lipocine entered into an exclusive License Agreement with Verity Pharma in January 2024 under which Verity Pharma has the rights to market its oral testosterone replacement therapies TLANDO and, if approved, TLANDO XR, in the United States and Canada. Under the terms of the License Agreement, Verity Pharma agreed to pay Lipocine license fees totaling $11 million. Of this amount, Lipocine received payments totaling $10 million during 2024 and is to receive a further payment of $1 million in 2025. Lipocine is entitled to receive up to $259 million in development and sales-based commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalty payments ranging from 12% up to 18% on net sales of TLANDO franchise products. In September 2024, we entered into a distribution and license agreement with SPC Korea Limited for the development and commercialization of TLANDO for TRT in South Korea. In October 2024, Lipocine signed an exclusive supply and distribution agreement with Pharmalink to commercialize TLANDO in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries consisting of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The Company is exploring further partnerships for TLANDO outside of North America, South Korea and the GCC countries. Testosterone On February 28, 2025, the FDA informed sponsors of testosterone products about new labeling changes following the agency's review of the findings from the Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Assessment of Long-term Vascular Events and Efficacy Response in Hypogonadal Men (TRAVERSE) clinical trial and the results from required post-market ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM) studies. The changes include adding the TRAVERSE trial results to testosterone products, retaining "Limitation of Use" language for age-related hypogonadism, and removal of language from the Boxed Warning related to an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes for all testosterone products, in addition to other changes led by results of the ABPM studies. Year Ended December 31, 2024 Financial Results As of December 31, 2024, Lipocine had $21.6 million of unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable investment securities compared to $22.0 million as of December 31, 2023. Lipocine reported a net income of approximately $8,400 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared with a net loss of $16.4 million, or ($3.14) per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2023. The company recognized revenue of $11.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to a net reversal of variable consideration revenue of $2.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2023. Revenue in 2024 primarily consisted of license revenue from the company's licensees, Verity Pharma, SPC Korea and Pharmalink and royalty revenue from TLANDO sales. Research and development expenses were $7.4 million and $10.2 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. The decrease in research and development expenses in 2024 compared with the prior year was primarily due to completion of patient dosing expenses in the LPCN 1148 Phase 2 POC study in male patients with cirrhosis in 2023, a decrease in TLANDO related costs, and a decrease in personnel related costs. These decreases were offset by an increase in LPCN 1154 clinical studies, an increase in other lab supplies and research costs, and an increase in LPCN 2401 costs. General and administrative expenses were $5.0 million and $4.9 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. Interest and investment income was $1.2 million and $1.4 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. About Lipocine Lipocine is a biopharmaceutical company leveraging its proprietary technology platform to augment therapeutics through effective oral delivery to develop differentiated products. Lipocine has drug candidates in development as well as drug candidates for which we are exploring partnerships. Our drug candidates represent enablement of differentiated, patient friendly oral delivery options for favorable benefit to risk profile which target large addressable markets with significant unmet medical needs. Lipocine's clinical development candidates include: LPCN 1154, oral brexanolone, for the potential treatment of postpartum depression, LPCN 2101 for the potential treatment of epilepsy, LPCN 2203 an oral candidate targeted for the management of essential tremor, LPCN 2401 an oral proprietary anabolic androgen receptor agonist, as an adjunct therapy to incretin mimetics, as an aid for improved body composition in obesity management and LPCN 1148, a novel androgen receptor agonist prodrug for oral administration targeted for the management of symptoms associated with liver cirrhosis. Lipocine is exploring partnering opportunities for LPCN 1107, our candidate for prevention of preterm birth, LPCN 1154, for rapid relief of postpartum depression, LPCN 2401 for obesity management, LPCN 1148, for the management of decompensated cirrhosis, and LPCN 1144, our candidate for treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). TLANDO, a novel oral prodrug of testosterone containing testosterone undecanoate developed by Lipocine, is approved by the FDA for conditions associated with a deficiency of endogenous testosterone, also known as hypogonadism, in adult males. For more information, please visit . Forward-Looking Statements This release contains "forward-looking statements" that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and include statements that are not historical facts regarding our product candidates and related clinical trials, our development of our product candidates and related efforts with the FDA, including with respect to LPCN 1154, our current intention to conduct a safety and efficacy study relating to LPCN 1154, the timing and potential results of the safety and efficacy study relating to LPCN 1154, potential partnering of our product candidates with third parties, and the potential uses and benefits of our product candidates. Investors are cautioned that all such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the risks that we may not be successful in developing product candidates, we may not have sufficient capital to complete the development processes for our product candidates or we may decide to allocate our available capital to other product candidates, we may not be able to enter into partnerships or other strategic relationships to monetize our non-core assets, safety and efficacy studies, including those relating to LPCN 1154, may not be successful or may not provide results that would support the submission of a NDA, the FDA may not approve any of our products, risks related to our products, expected product benefits not being realized, clinical and regulatory expectations and plans not being realized, new regulatory developments and requirements, risks related to the FDA approval process including the receipt of regulatory approvals and our ability to utilize a streamlined approval pathway for LPCN 1154, the results and timing of clinical trials, patient acceptance of Lipocine's products, the manufacturing and commercialization of Lipocine's products, and other risks detailed in Lipocine's filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, its Form 10-K and other reports on Forms 8-K and 10-Q, all of which can be obtained on the SEC website at . Lipocine assumes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements contained in this release, except as required by law. SOURCE Lipocine Inc. WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED