Palatin Technologies Inc announced the publication of a manuscript in The Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) detailing the results of preclinical studies evaluating PT-141 effects on the sexual behaviour of female rats.

The research that resulted in the manuscript titled "Selective Facilitation of Sexual Solicitation in the Female Rat by a Melanocortin Agonist" was conducted in collaboration with scientists at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec Canada. PT-141 is Palatin's lead drug candidate under development for the treatment of both male and female sexual dysfunction (FSD).

The study evaluated PT-141 in two rat models of female sexual behaviour. PT-141 had a significant effect on the solicitation behaviour of the female animals in both models. Specifically, PT-141 increased the number of solicitations performed by the female in the presence of a male partner. In these animal models, solicitation is a sexual behaviour used by females to arouse the male prior to copulation. The effect showed a dose response and did not affect the copulatory behaviour of the females.

James Pfaus, associate professor at Concordia University and the lead author of the manuscript stated, "I am particularly excited by the results reported here because they show a dramatic effect on solicitation or pre-copulatory sexual behaviours in animals. This may indicate that PT-141 will have effects on desire in human females. Our current thinking is that potential treatments for FSD need to affect desire if they are going to show broad efficacy in human females."

Carl Spana, president and CEO of Palatin Technologies stated, "We are excited by the potential of PT-141 as a treatment for FSD. The results of this preclinical research presented in the PNAS manuscript, in conjunction with our clinical studies in normal women, indicate that PT-141 is a promising drug development candidate. Our next step is to evaluate PT-141 in women with FSD during a phase 2 clinical trial that will be initiated in the next few weeks."

Palatin's research suggests that PT-141 works through activation of melanocortin receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) rather than acting directly on the vascular system. Activation of melanocortin receptors by PT-141 results in the specific stimulation of vasodilatation in the male and female genitalia. Based on PT-141's CNS site of activity, animal studies and early clinical work may be effective in treating the desire as well as arousal components of FSD. PT-141 is also in development as a treatment for Erectile Dysfunction (ED).

Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) is a multi-factorial condition that has anatomical, physiological, medical, psychological and social components. Studies estimate FSD is prevalent in approximately 50 per cent of women over the age of 30 and that greater than 35 million women in the United States may be afflicted with some form of FSD. FSD includes disorders associated with desire, arousal, orgasm and pain.