A first-of-its-kind drug meant to increase libido in women is being sold by Valeant back to its former owners, according to the Financial Times, in a move that is essentially “giving it away” just a few years after it purchased the drug for $1 billion.
Sold under the brand name “Addiyi,” there are swirling rumors about why the pink pill, which is prescribed to women suffering from hypoactive sexual disorder, hasn’t met market expectations, bringing in only $10 million last year.
The FT notes that some doctors argue it is “barely effective” and works in just a few patients with any potential gain mitigated by its risks, which include low blood pressure, fainting spells, and interactions with alcohol and other drugs that can be dangerous. The FT reports that in response to these risks, the Food and Drug Administration has worked to limit the number of prescriptions written for the drug, including a required certification process for doctors and pharmacies.
Sprout Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Valeant in 2015, argues that the company just didn’t effectively market the pill though they have agreed to drop the lawsuit they filed over the matter. But no one can say they didn’t see it coming. Bloomberg made predictions about the low performance of the pill right after its launch. Take a look at the feature above.
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