Sumitomo Pharma America receives USFDA approval of vibegron for benign prostatic hyperplasia

GEMTESA is the first and only beta-3 agonist approved for the treatment of men with OAB symptoms who are receiving pharmacological therapy for BPH

Sumitomo Pharma America (SMPA) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved GEMTESA (vibegron), a beta-3 (β3) adrenergic receptor agonist, dosed once-daily (75 mg), for the treatment of men with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, such as urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency, who are receiving pharmacological therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

This approval marks GEMTESA as the first and only β3 agonist approved to treat patients living with OAB and being treated for BPH. It is currently available for prescription in the US.

BPH is increasingly prevalent in men as they get older, and OAB symptoms, which could be associated with BPH, can often be mistaken as a natural part of aging. There are about 14 million men in the U.S. living with BPH, and up to 75% of them have clinical symptoms of OAB. OAB symptoms may go unnoticed in men, especially if they have BPH. In fact, ~80% of OAB cases in men may go undiagnosed.

"Millions of patients suffer from OAB along with existing BPH. OAB is a urological condition that has limited treatment options to address their symptoms and impact on their social life." said Tsutomu Nakagawa, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of SMPA. "The FDA's expanded approval of GEMTESA is an important milestone for the men with unresolved symptoms of OAB while being treated for BPH, which underscores our urgency to deliver for those affected by conditions with unmet need."

"The clinical data on once-daily vibegron demonstrated clear improvements in key OAB symptoms in patients also receiving pharmacological therapy for BPH, showcasing the potential of GEMTESA to offer patients a way to gain better control of their symptoms," said Yumi Sato, Chief Development Officer, SMPA. "With this FDA approval and launch of the first β3 agonist for men with OAB symptoms being pharmacologically treated for BPH, we have the potential to give men living with this disease a life with fewer interruptions due to their OAB symptoms."

GEMTESA (vibegron) is currently approved for OAB with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency in adults, and is now available for prescription in the U.S. for the treatment of men with OAB being pharmacologically treated for BPH.