JANUARY 2019
FDA denies Pfizer Petition asking for new method of assessing Premarin generics
The FDA has denied a citizen petition from Pfizer calling on the agency to use the company’s method for assessing sameness in generics for its estrogen drug Premarin (conjugated “equine” estrogens).
Pfizer had appealed to the FDA to force sponsors of generics for Premarin to use the “Pfizer method” for assessing sameness rather than the method recommended in FDA draft guidance.
Pfizer claimed that the FDA’s December 2014 draft guidance for establishing sameness is “fundamentally flawed”. Additionally claiming that not only does it lack a critical level of sensitivity on API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) steroidal composition, but also it does not account for all classes of components in the API or the non-steroidal components.
They maintained that guidance should instead use the “Pfizer Method” that the company developed at the FDA’s request and with their input, which permits a determination of sameness between a proposed generic for the company’s drug Premarin and the reference drug based upon the mixture as a whole, while allowing a comparison across all categories of components making up the API.
APRIL 2019
Bijuva launched for moderate to severe hot flashes in menopause
TherapeuticsMD announced the launch of Bijuva (estradiol and progesterone) capsules for use in women with a uterus for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes) due to menopause. It initially received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2018.
Bijuva is the first bio-identical hormone therapy that combines estradiol and progesterone in a single capsule. Compared with synthetic hormone products, the estradiol and progesterone found in Bijuva are structurally identical to the hormones naturally circulating in the woman’s body.
Bijvua carries a Boxed Warning regarding cardiovascular disorders, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and probable dementia. Breast tenderness, headache, vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, and pelvic pain were the most common adverse reactions associated with Bijuva.
JUNE 2019
PMU Ranchers feel pinch as cuts announced
Pfizer Canada’s cuts to pregnant mares’ urine production will force four Manitoba ranches and one Saskatchewan ranch out of the industry.
The reduction affects three ranches in southwestern Manitoba, one in the Interlake region of Manitoba, and one in Saskatchewan. Of those five, three producers raised registered Quarter horses, one bred purebred Percherons, and one raised sport horses.
Pfizer has initiated a review of its inventory management and determined they are able to satisfy market demand by working with fewer ranchers.
The latest reduction leaves 19 producers still involved in PMU production in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with most ranches located in southwestern Manitoba, four each in south-central Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan and one in the Interlake.
JULY 2019
Pfizer’s Wyeth loses bid to duck hormone-therapy lawsuit
Pfizer Inc’s Wyeth unit must face a class action alleging that the drugmaker misled California women by downplaying risks including breast cancer associated with its hormone-replacement therapy products, a federal judge has ruled.
U.S. District Judge John Houston in San Diego on Monday ruled the plaintiffs presented sufficient evidence for a jury to decide whether Wyeth’s alleged misrepresentations caused women to buy Prempro, Premarin and Premphase.
To read the full story on Westlaw Practitioner Insights, click here: bit.ly/2FOpbRU »
New Book — Flash Count Diary: Menopause and the Vindication of Natural Life, by Darcy Steinke
“What orcas can teach humans about menopause and matriarchs” — A new book argues for a sea change in the way our culture views older women.
Her research unearthed a long history of dubious “cures,” from transfusions of dog’s blood to vinegar sponge baths to putting a magnet in your underpants. All of which, she says, seem a little less strange once you realize that the most popular hormone replacement treatment, Premarin, is made from the urine of pregnant horses. Source: Crosscut »
AUGUST 2019
Hormone therapy during menopause raises breast cancer risk for years, study finds
New analysis adds to the evidence that many women who take hormone therapy during menopause are more likely to develop breast cancer — and remain at higher risk of cancer for more than a decade after they stop taking the drugs.
The study, in the Lancet, looked at data from dozens of studies, including long-term data on more than 100,000 women who developed breast cancer after menopause. The longer women took the medicine, the more likely they were to develop breast cancer. Experts say the findings could shape how women and their health care providers decide how to manage symptoms of menopause.
For years, research has suggested a potential link between MHT and an increased risk of breast cancer. But there wasn’t much information on whether that risk persisted, or how it differed based on the type of MHT a woman took. So, an international group of researchers pulled together data from dozens of studies — published and unpublished — to examine the issue more closely.
The researchers found that compared with women who never used MHT, women who did had a significantly higher risk of developing invasive breast cancer. Also, the longer women used MHT, the greater their risk of breast cancer.
OCTOBER 2019
Premarin sales figures continue to decline
The Premarin family of hormone replacement products was the 11th best seller in 2018 at $832 million, a decline of 14.8 percent. Sales in the first six months of 2019 were $361 million, 10 percent less than in same period of 2018.
Third quarter sales of Premarin (conjugated estrogens tablets, USP) family — $182 million, down 11%.
Data as of 12.31.19
LEARN MORE
About Premarin Horses
Premarin®, Prempro®, Premphase® and Duavee® are examples of the Premarin® family of drugs which are made with the the estrogen rich urine of pregnant mares.
In the ‘pregnant mare urine’ (PMU) industry, horses are repeatedly impregnated so their urine can be collected and made into hormone replacement products.
Some of the foals are rescued. Most, however, who can not be ‘repurposed’ in some way are sent to slaughter — seen as a byproduct of the industry much like male calves are in the dairy industry.
Alternatives to PMU Drugs
There are many alternatives to drugs made from the urine of pregnant mares.
Talk to your doctor. Visit your local pharmacy. There are prescription free over-the-counter treatments for hot flashes, vaginal dryness and other menopausal symptoms.
See also our Alternatives to Drugs Made with Pregnant Mare’s Urine page. Please share this with the women and horse lovers in your life.
Thank you.
Tuesday's Horse 
In this day and age, something needs to change. So many alternatives. These drugs are not bio-identical and toxic to the womans body anyway. Change your practices.
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Thanks to all who are working so hard to help these precious mares and their babies……You are all heroes.
I used both these drugs at one time without having a clue as to where they were produced. Now, knowing breaks my heart.
It will take making women aware…….. Education is the big key.
We can never stop ! Love to our wonderful horses and their angels
Cathi
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We are there with you. Thank you for your moving comment.
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Sadly, this won’t end as Pfizer has moved to India and China, other countries, renamed Premarin so it is not recognizable. They have huge amounts of horses to do their dirty deed in other countries.
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Working as Int’l Fund for Horses we are launching a social media campaign in Chinese and English. We originally thought that might not work. How many mature Chinese women are on social media? It took us a while to get those numbers.
Then we found out that most Chinese females 40 and under have learned to read and write English. So that’s why we will send our messages in both English and Chinese. That will reach the younger women who have English who can alert their female elders; and the 40+ women who do not have English.
We are also lucky because we have been able to get images of some of the Chinese versions of Premarin type drugs. This will help enormously on social media such as Twitter.
The hugely disappointing part is that it appears the Chinese were either given, or have stolen/recreated Pfizer’s “recipe” for Premarin and are manufacturing it themselves. Those drugs will be harder to identify but we have contacts who are trying to help us with that too.
The side effects will eventually show up making women question the use of these drugs.
Additionally, we have a British contact living and working in Hong Kong who is creating dual language posters warning of the dangers of these drugs, sold under their Chinese names. We will try them out on bus shelters and train stations to start with. We have always had good outreach numbers in other countries.
We know it all looks hopeless, but we just don’t have the heart to abandon these horses (which we know you are NOT suggesting).
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..this cruel industry is beyond horrific
torture and murder of the innocent..
for money..
..while duping women..
I was one..
years and years ago..
..had I only known..
now I feel women have so many more tools
with which to educate themselves..
however..
I feel so much worse for the precious horses..
and their babies..
..they have no choice..
..my heart bleeds..
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