Developing Hormone Patches: Consumer products giant Procter...

Developing Hormone Patches: Consumer products giant Procter & Gamble Co. said this week that it will team up with TheraTech Inc. to develop hormonal skin patch products to treat women’s menopausal symptoms and prevent post-menopausal osteoporosis. Under the agreement, Procter & Gamble will have exclusive rights to sell the products worldwide, except in Asia. TheraTech, based in Salt Lake City, develops products based on controlled-release drug-delivery technologies. The companies are developing the patch products, which administer the hormones estrogen and progestin to treat menopausal symptoms and prevent post-menopausal osteoporosis. Worldwide hormone replacement therapies represent a $1.7-billion market, with sales expected to exceed $2 billion by 2000, Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble said.