Singapore– Daré Bioscience, a clinical-stage women’s biopharmaceutical company has agreed to merge with Pear Tree Pharmaceuticals, a development-stage women’s biopharmaceuticals company. Daré has entered into the above merger agreement in order to secure the rights to the latter's PT-101, a proprietary vaginal formulation of tamoxifen, as a potential treatment for vulvar and vaginal atrophy in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, including estrogen receptor-positive and progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer.

VVA is a chronic condition characterized by pain during intercourse, vaginal dryness and irritation brought on from reduced estrogen levels. For many women, first-line treatments typically include localized estrogen therapy. However, this therapeutic approach is often contraindicated for more than two million women diagnosed with, or at risk of recurrence of, ER-positive and PR-positive breast cancer. Daré intends to develop this novel local application of tamoxifen to mitigate the symptoms of VVA for patients with or at risk for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, including women currently on anti-cancer therapy. 

If approved, PT-101 has the potential to be the first treatment specifically developed for VVA in patients with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer.

“Adding vaginal tamoxifen to our innovative portfolio of novel women’s health products aligns perfectly with our mission of meaningfully impacting women’s lives by identifying and advancing products that address therapeutic gaps in contraception, sexual health and vaginal health,” said Sabrina Martucci Johnson, President and CEO, Daré Bioscience. “We are optimistic about the potential for this clinical candidate to become the first VVA therapy designed explicitly for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer patients.”

The closing of the merger with Pear Tree is subject to a number of conditions, including approval of the merger by Pear Tree’s stockholders.