New Hormone Treatment for Female Infertility

Clinical studies show that a recombinant human luteinizing hormone (LH) is a safe, effective treatment for women with an endocrine form of infertility. Given in addition to Gonal-F (recombinant human FSH), the drug promoted hormone production by the ovaries, so that follicular development and preparation of the uterine lining took place in a majority of patients.

The drug, called Luveris (lutropin alfa), will allow doctors to individualize dosing of LH and FSH, offering greater treatment flexibility. Developed by Serono S.A. (Geneva, Switzerland), Luveris is suitable for subcutaneous injection by the patient. Serono says it will obviate the need for doctors to use urine-derived human menopausal gonadotropins, which contain only a limited amount of gonadotropins. According to the company, Luveris is the first pure luteinizing hormone available for the treatment of female infertility. The drug has been recommended for marketing by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA).

In 1995, Serono introduced Gonal-F, the first product derived from recombinant DNA technology for the treatment of infertility. With Luveris, the company will become the first to offer a totally recombinant gonadotropin portfolio.