Combined estrogen/progestogen (E/P) contraceptives have been available for female hormonal contraception for more than 40 years. All presently available combined oral contraceptives (OCs) contain ethinylestradiol (EE) as the estrogenic component and different "company specific" progestogens. Furthermore, all OCs have traditionally a 21:7 regimen meaning a 21-day period of pill taking and a 7-day pill-free period (days without hormonal treatment). During the last decades, the development of new OCs has been characterised by three major trends: dose reduction of both the E and the P component, the development of new progestogens partly driven by compound patent expiry and changing the traditional 21:7 regimen. Although the dose reduction from 50 to 30 µg EE as daily dose has contributed to increased safety, the present 20 µg EE OCs are less effective (more frequent breakthrough ovulation), cause more breakthrough bleeding and spotting and may be insufficient for adequate E replacement.

Pantarhei Bioscience has designed and developed a new range of OCs characterised by a series of different improvements including:

• New continuous contraceptive pill regimen (ENDO-OC).
• Contraceptive pill with an androgen to prevent androgen deficiency (ARC).
• OC with vitamins to prevent congenital malformations (VITS).

These four new contraceptive methods are covered by five patent applications. The leading project of Pantarhei Bioscience in the field of contraception is the ARC project which is currently in Phase III of the clinical development.

In addition, the contraceptive portfolio contains a new estrogen, estetrol.

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