PR86896

NEW YORK and BLAINVILLE, QC, Nov. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Today the Population Council and Duchesnay announce an exclusive license

agreement to make ANNOVERA(R) (segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol

vaginal system), the first and only contraceptive fully under a woman's control

to protect against unintended pregnancy for up to a year, available in Canada,

Europe, Latin America, Asia and other territories. This agreement is another

step toward bringing contraceptive choice, convenience and control to women

around the world.

ANNOVERA is the first in a new class of contraceptives. It is a soft reusable

flexible silicone ring that combines a novel progestin Nestorone(R)

(segesterone acetate) with a widely used estrogen (ethinyl estradiol), that can

be inserted and removed by a woman herself. ANNOVERA was approved by the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2018 and is now available to women

in the United States.  

"A lack of longer-lasting, women-controlled contraceptives means too many women

who want to avoid pregnancy either don't use, or stop using, contraception,

leading to more unintended pregnancies and worse health outcomes," said Jim

Sailer (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2994477-1&h=2593535911&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.popcouncil.org%2Fresearch%2Fexpert%2Fjames-sailer&a=Jim+Sailer ), vice president and executive director of the Center for Biomedical

Research (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2994477-1&h=3463924241&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.popcouncil.org%2Fcbr&a=Center+for+Biomedical+Research ) at the Population Council. "This agreement will now open up opportunities to

bring ANNOVERA to women on four continents-it's another step forward in

ensuring that women around the world have the contraceptive choices they deserve."

ANNOVERA was developed by the Population Council and supported by important

public and private donors from around the world, including the United States

Agency for International Development (USAID), The Contraceptive Clinical Trials

Network of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and

Human Development (NICHD), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Avis and

Clifford Barrus Medical Foundation and the World Health Organization (WHO).

As part of the agreement, Duchesnay will explore opportunities to register

ANNOVERA with local regulatory agencies in these regions and will invest in the

Population Council's research activities to develop new innovative contraceptive products.

"We are very excited to be a part of the Population Council's efforts to bring

important new contraceptive options to women around the world. As a company

committed to improving women's health, we believe that women deserve access to

a wide variety of innovative contraceptive options such as ANNOVERA giving them

full control of their lives," said Eric Gervais, executive vice president at Duchesnay.

About the Population Council

The Population Council confronts critical health and development issues-from

stopping the spread of HIV to improving reproductive health and ensuring that

young people lead full and productive lives. Through biomedical, social

science, and public health research in 50 countries, we work with our partners

to deliver solutions that lead to more effective policies, programs, and

technologies that improve lives around the world. Established in 1952 and

headquartered in New York, the Council is a nongovernmental, non-profit

organization governed by an international board of trustees.

Learn more at http://www.popcouncil.org.

About Duchesnay

Duchesnay is a specialty pharmaceutical company with a long-standing commitment

to women's health. Until recently, the company focused on filling the void in

terms of scientific research and education and on developing pharmacological

solutions that are safe and effective for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Today, Duchesnay has broadened its portfolio of products to offer safe and

effective therapeutic options that meet the health and quality of life needs of

women and their family members at different stages of their lives.

For more information about Duchesnay, please visit: https://www.duchesnay.com.

Contact: Dominique Touchette

         Duchesnay

         communications@duchesnay.com

         +1-877-833-7734

SOURCE:  Duchesnay inc.