Spontaneity can play a large part in intimacy. But when spontaneity hinges on the timing and mechanism of a slow-acting oral pill, things can flop. LTR Pharma believes it\u2019s cracked the code with a revolutionary erectile dysfunction nasal spray called Spontan.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Notwithstanding spontaneous combustion, flatulence in lifts, and in-law pop-ins, spontaneity is usually viewed as a positive.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s well established, for instance, that spontaneity is a highly conducive ingredient when it appears a bonk could be on the cards. Or the table. Maybe a sturdy card table. Okay, a bed would be better. <\/span><\/p>\n And that, somehow, leads us to erectile dysfunction (ED). The topic of it, just to be clear. Although if we were being more literal, thankfully there are ways to deal with the issue. <\/span><\/p>\n To be even clearer, the worldwide prevalence of ED has doubled in the past 30 years and is expected to increase to 322 million in 2025 \u2013 think huge demand in a huge market.<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ve been able to pop a little pill for the big ED problem since about 1998 \u2013 when a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors hit the market, including household names like Viagra. <\/span><\/p>\n But these sexy pills \u2013 now pretty old and mainly in the land of generics \u2013 look set for semi-retirement, as a newer, sexier and faster tool of the trade is launched by an Australian company, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm LTR Pharma.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That new-look tool? It\u2019s a \u201cfirst in class\u201d rapid, on demand nasal spray dubbed Spontan<\/strong>, which is positioning as a vastly improved treatment for ED. And it\u2019s a product that\u2019s risen quickly in development and testing, and is firming (yep) to hit the market within 1-2 years.<\/p>\n Its market launch will transpire after LTR Pharma\u2019s IPO and raise (led by Alpine Capital \u2013 see further below) when the company lists on the ASX in December, and after a final trial and regulatory approvals are in place.<\/p>\n From what we\u2019ve been told, Spontan works within just 10 minutes \u2013 about six times faster than the blue pills of yore and other options currently at market.<\/p>\n Sprayed directly into nostrils, it\u2019s said to dramatically improve the effectiveness of an (already proven and regulatory-cleared) ED drug, bypassing the impact of things like food and booze on ingested pills. Smart, huh?<\/p>\n It seems about time. And we thought it was about time, too, to speak to a doctor about all this \u2013 LTR Pharma\u2019s Dr Julian Chick \u2013 to get the full-blooded info.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n According to the company\u2019s investor presentation, LTR Pharma is gearing up to commercialise Spontan. It notes, in simple terms, that the product\u2019s IP lies in \u201cthe ability to convert the active ingredient in the ED pill to a fast-onset nasal spray\u201d.<\/p>\n Useful? Potentially market disrupting? Super easy to understand for investors? Yep, yep and yep.<\/p>\n Dr Julian Chick is on the company\u2019s board as an independent non-executive director, and confirmed with us that LTR Pharma\u2019s product is indeed a world first, has gone through clinical testing, and is set to put the Aussie company in a firm position in what is already a blockbuster global market.<\/p>\n Says the good doctor, at the core of Spontan \u201cis a very simple proposition\u201d, a simple unique selling point \u2013 speed and spontaneity.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the name suggests, the main factor is this is a product that helps those with ED to engage in the level of spontaneity they need for the drug to be effective in their environment,\u201d said Dr Chick.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Source: LTR Pharma<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt was when we started to dig further into the ED market we realised how prolific not only the ED condition is [it affects more than 60% of Aussie men over 45]<\/em>, but also how big the issue of spontaneity is for that market. It\u2019s a significant proportion of the market that views that as an extremely important component.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more we spoke to people about it, we\u2019d hear these stories,\u201d continued Dr Chick. \u201cFor example, one person told me: \u2018Yeah, look I tried Viagra once and took it the night we were going out\u2026\u2019 and he said it didn\u2019t actually work on the night but the next day he woke up with a raging\u2026 positive response!\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Essentially it\u2019s different strokes for different folks when it comes to response times on ED treatments to date. Most of them take about an hour to work, though, before users are able to function at, let\u2019s say, full-barred sexual capacity. Sometimes it can take a lot longer than that.<\/p>\n \u201cHang on a sec\u2026 [checks watch]<\/em> I\u2019ll be ready in about\u2026 42 minutes\u2026 Shall we watch a Scandi crime show first?\u201d \u2013 this probably isn\u2019t the greatest pillow talk.<\/p>\n Dr Chick notes that a couple of sprays through the mucosal layer of the nose, however, brings on far more rapid onset of delivery than a slowly dissolving pill taken orally \u2013 and with what amounts to a lower dosage, too, and no severe adverse effects.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not complex, but that\u2019s why we also think it\u2019s a game changer in this area,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n \u201cThe testing data we\u2019ve got for Spontan is that it works within about 10 minutes and even quicker in some recorded instances.\u201d<\/p>\n A faster delivery and onset of effectiveness can likely solve the issue of up to 50% of ED-drug users discontinuing with treatments in the first year, believes the company.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n And regarding its testing, Spontan is a long way down the track, with a fast path to market.<\/p>\n A successful proof of concept and clinical study for the product has been conducted in the US but there are no long-winded Phase 1, 2 or 3 trials ahead as PDE5 inhibitor drugs (such as Viagra and Vardenafil), on which Spontan is based, are already cleared by regulators and primed to re-purpose. So up the nose, guided by clever nasal delivery tech, we go.<\/p>\n No extensive<\/em> trials to come, then, although Dr Chick says that \u201cpart of the reason for doing the IPO and capital raise now is to put in place a remaining five-day bioequivalence trial and then a bridging study\u201d.<\/p>\n Those will occur in February and will have the aim of providing further data and confirming existing data to submit to regulatory bodies the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) and Australia\u2019s TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) for their approvals.<\/p>\n Those trial results pending, first sales of Spontan are planned in a special-access capacity in Australia in Quarter 2 2024.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As you can see on the LTR Pharma investor presentation chart below, size matters.<\/p>\n The estimated market size for ED drugs is a grower and<\/em> a shower \u2013 we\u2019re talking a compound annual growth rate of about 7% globally and about US$6b in total by 2028.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Source: LTR Pharma<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n But adding to this: \u201cWe think it could be even bigger than we expected,\u201d noted the doctor, \u201csimply because the response we\u2019ve had from people about this has been quite amazing \u2013 and that the spontaneity factor is out there, yet it hasn\u2019t been brought properly to light.<\/p>\n \u201cI actually think that if you can provide the spontaneity that\u2019s not available right now, then this market will really open up a lot further.<\/p>\n \u201cWe think we can take significant market share globally from those generic products that are already selling $1.1, $1.2 billion dollars, with a product that we believe will be more enduring.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Working with Alpine Capital, an Australian wealth management and corporate finance firm, LTR Pharma has entered into an IPO and is looking to raise $7 million. The company plans to list on the ASX before the end of the year under the ticker code LTP.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have ASX clearance to list,\u201d notes Dr Chick, \u201cand we\u2019ve had significant interest so far as you might well expect.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a relatable story for investors. Not everyone might want to talk about it, but a lot can certainly relate to it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We asked the doctor what sort of relevant experience the company\u2019s team brings to the table\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cManagement and board have all been involved in drug development and marketing with experience across ASX listings and product launches, and we have a very strong advisory presence in the essential health and medicine spaces, and a very good regulatory team,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, boxes ticked \u2013 corporately we know how to function; marketing \u2013 we\u2019ve done this before; regulatory pathways and clinical development \u2013 we\u2019ve done this before; and then we have the support of the underlying men\u2019s health sexual community.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve purposely built the team that way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Source: LTR Pharma<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Final thoughts from you and the team, then? <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLike I said earlier, it\u2019s not a complicated story for investors, but it\u2019s an important one in that it\u2019s helping to bring back some love into people\u2019s lives,\u201d concluded Dr Chick.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The post On the rise: Erectile dysfunction nasal spray inventor LTR Pharma firms for ASX and major market disruption<\/a> appeared first on Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Set to provide stiff competition<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u2018A raging\u2026 positive response!\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Spray and pray? Nope, it\u2019s a potential game changer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u2018Even bigger than expected\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n
A healthy raise<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Bringing the experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n