Symbiomix, a women’s health biopharmaceutical company developing Solosec (secnidazole), a single-dose oral therapy for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV), announced that the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, the official publication of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), has published a consensus statement titled “State of Bacterial Vaginosis: Experts Explore Unmet Needs Facing Women and Providers” from nine leading experts in the bacterial vaginosis field.
In June of 2016, experts from across the country met to discuss the unmet needs and pathways to improve the quality of care for women with bacterial vaginosis, a prevalent gynecological infection that affects more than 21 million U.S. women each year. Despite being the most prevalent gynecological infection in the U.S., BV is underdiagnosed and often misdiagnosed.
When left untreated, women with BV are at a significantly higher risk of serious health problems such as the acquisition or transmission of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, pelvic inflammatory disease, and, if pregnant, a 100 percent increased risk of pre-term birth. Currently, four million women are treated annually in the U.S. for BV, and 50 percent of those treated experience recurrence of the infection within one year.
There has been limited research into new treatment options which are desperately needed. According to a study published by the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association, only about 50 percent of patients adhere to the leading treatment option, potentially due to side effects or length of treatment.
“Despite BV’s high prevalence, awareness is remarkably low among patients and physicians,” said Joseph Amprey, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder, head of medical affairs and chief business officer of Symbiomix. “Underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis, in tandem with poor adherence to treatment, exposes women to serious health risks. Symbiomix is passionate about raising awareness surrounding BV and is working to deliver better treatment options.”
The statement highlights three key areas for improvement: the need for greater visibility surrounding BV across healthcare providers, patients, and advocacy groups, the significance of adopting point-of-care testing for accurate diagnosis, and the importance of taking efficacy, tolerability, adherence and patient satisfaction into consideration when prescribing treatment.
“It is our hope that the statement will help to bring this pressing women’s health issue to the forefront of provider and patient conversations,” remarked Dr. Steven Chavoustie, MD, FACOG, CCRP, Board-Certified Obstetrics and Gynecology. “Awareness and education are key factors to ensuring proper diagnosis and effective treatment, thereby preventing the serious health risks associated with BV.”
(Source: Business Wire)
Filed Under: Drug Discovery
