Guy sex problems generate billions of profits... Not so much for women. AMAG is trying to change that with "Vyleesi," which just earned FDA approval to treat premenopausal Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. That affects 5.8M American women, yet only 1 other type of therapy is available on the market. But here's how it's different from Viagra:
- Viagra treats arousal problems. When you want to have sex.
- Vyleesi treats desire problems. When you want to want to have sex.
The 2nd problem is harder to cure... This isn't a pill. Vyleesi requires injection in the thigh or abdomen 45 minutes before sex. And it actually affects the brain (unlike Viagra, which affects one thing). Vyleesi's branding though looks strategically more like a new direct-to-consumer soap startup, brushed with hints of Millennial pink.
The news didn't go down as planned... Two key stocks are involved in this story: Palatin Technologies (which developed the drug) and AMAG (the just-outside-of-Boston company licensing/marketing it). Their stocks were up as high as 39% and 12% after the news... until this article. A science reporter panned the drug for its brutally pill-less injection and unpleasant side effects. Wall Street is concerned.