Vantia Therapeutics' Pipeline - VA111913 (dysmenorrhoea)

VA111913 is a small molecule oral drug candidate, discovered by Vantia Therapeutics, which is in Phase I clinical development for prevention and treatment of dysmenorrhoea, a condition characterised by abnormal contractions of the uterus during menstruation causing severe pain.

VA111913 acts by blocking vasopressin (V_1a) receptors in smooth muscle in the uterus wall, which in response to elevated vasopressin levels lead to dysmenorrhoea.

In pre-clinical trials, VA111913 has demonstrated it can normalise smooth muscle contraction, thereby offering the potential for it to be the first licensed drug that directly targets the cause of this condition in the uterus.

A Phase I trial with VA111913 is underway and is expected to report during H1 2009, with Phase II proof of concept studies expected to start in H2 2009, involving up to 150 patients and completing in H2 2010.

Market Opportunity

Dysmenorrhoea affects a large number of women for whom there are currently no targeted therapies; treatments that are in common use, however, include over-the-counter painkillers (e.g. NSAIDS such as naproxen or ibuprofen) or oral contraceptives used 'off-label'. It is estimated that the market opportunity for a targeted drug for the prophylaxis and treatment of dysmenorrhoea is approximately $1 billion per year.