Evofem Biosciences, Inc., is a small biopharmaceutical company with a single commercial product as well as a pipeline of potential winners. The company works to develop and commercialize a variety of product lines intended to address unmet needs in women’s sexual and reproductive health. The company’s motto is Science With A Soul and its aim is to improve women’s lives with innovative solutions. In fact, the sole purpose of the company is to improve the quality of women’s lives by enabling greater control of their healthcare needs.
Evofem Biosciences went public in January 2018. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California, and is led by Saundra Pelletier. Ms. Pelletier has been CEO, president, and executive director of the company since February 2015 and is instrumental in the company’s transition to a publicly traded issue. Ms. Pelletier has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and is responsible for launching and expanding the use of many brands.
Evofem’s primary commercial product is Phexxi. Phexxi is a vaginal gel for the prevention of pregnancy. Phexxi is the US first and only hormone-free prescription birth control product that is controlled by the individual. It stands out from other methods because it is hormone free, requires no daily usage, comes with no invasive procedures, and is easy to carry in a bag and use when needed.
Phexxi works by maintaining vaginal pH after intercourse and relies on 3 naturally occurring chemicals that are regularly found in food: lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate (cream of tartar for the chefs out there). The product works because sperm need a higher pH to thrive than what is normal in women’s health and that is provided by the semen. Phexxi’s acidic composition is formulated to maintain the ideal pH and keep the sperm inactive. Phexxi can also block the cervical opening and prevent sperm from entering.
Among the many advantages of Phexxi are reduced or non-existent side effects as compared to other forms of birth control which include mood swings, headaches, and irritability. The product is approved by the FDA and prescriptions can be filled via telehealth appointment. The company estimates each 100 basis points of US market share it can secure is worth $300 million in annual revenue.
The opportunity for Evofem is that its product, Phexxi, has been shown to be effective in fighting the transmission of gonorrhea and chlamydia. The transmission of both STDs has been associated with higher pH levels which Phexxi is specifically fighting. The investigational drug EV-100 (Phexxi) has made it through to Phase 3 clinical testing and regulatory filings are expected. The company also has two other products in development and they are on track to enter clinical trials.
