Female Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) includes treatment of climacteric complaints such as hot flushes and urogenital atrophy and can be used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Estrogens (E) are the treatment of choice for climacteric complaints. In women with a uterus, estrogens have to be combined with progestogens (P) to protect against endometrial cancer. Disadvantages of such treatment are the recurrence of vaginal bleeding, side effects, contra-indications for use, and emotional resistance against hormonal treatment such as the fear of breast cancer. For prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, E/P combinations can also be used. Recent studies have shown that individual prescribing of HRT is important to judge the individual risks and benefits.

The relevance of male HRT is heavily under discussion. The absence of a safe and effective oral compound plays an important role in this discussion.

Pantarhei Bioscience has designed and/or tested new treatments for climacteric complaints, the prevention of osteoporosis, breakthrough bleeding during HRT and male HRT including:

• Estetrol for climacteric complaints.
• Estetrol for the prevention of osteoporosis.
• Inhibition of breakthrough bleeding during HRT using an undisclosed compound.
• An orally bioavailable natural androgen for HRT in aging males.