Snapshot
- PCOS is a complex syndrome with diverse symptoms, making drug development challenging.
- Not all women with PCOS exhibit the same symptoms, further complicating treatment approaches.
- Current treatments address individual symptoms but are not comprehensive solutions.
- The goal in drug development is to bring about a meaningful change in patients’ lives, a task that’s particularly challenging for PCOS.
Overview
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted condition that affects numerous women worldwide. However, the journey to develop effective drugs for this syndrome is fraught with challenges. Dr. Javier Szwarcberg, the CEO of Spruce Biosciences, sheds light on the intricacies of this journey.
Developing drugs for PCOS is, frankly, complicated. When one delves into the options available for patients, the list is surprisingly short. PCOS is not just a disease but a syndrome. It encompasses a range of symptoms, including infertility due to anovulation, heresitism, acne, and the presence of polycystic ovaries. These ovaries likely contribute to anovulation. Moreover, a significant metabolic syndrome and component further complicate the picture.
Given the diverse symptoms, which may not manifest in every woman with PCOS, crafting effective compounds becomes a daunting task. Typically, pharmaceutical companies aim to target a symptom that holds clinical significance, is consistently present in patients, and can be addressed by the drug. The goal is to bring about a meaningful change in the patients’ lives. Achieving this for PCOS is challenging.
While acne and heresitism can often be managed with cosmetic treatments, infertility and cyclicity issues are commonly tackled with oral contraceptives and similar medications. For the metabolic syndrome associated with PCOS, drugs like metformin and spironolactone are prescribed to counteract hyperinsulinemia. There are also treatments for hyperandrogenemia, but they are not flawless.
In essence, the multifaceted nature of PCOS presents a myriad of challenges in drug development.
