Research

ROverview of Activities

 

Contrel is a research organization active in the field of women’s health care in the following area’s:   

  • Contraception

  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
  • Other gynecological conditions such as the treatment of fibroids/myomas; adenomyosis, dysmenorrhoea and  tamoxifen induced beelding
  • Premenstrual syndrome
Contrel’s aim is to find improved and more acceptable methods of contraception in order to increase contraceptive prevalence.
Contrel’s aim is also to develop methods for the prevention and treatment of gynecological conditions, such as those listed above: target drug delivery systems which provide higher levels of safety, user acceptability, compliance and quality of life for women.

 

Over the years Contrel acquired substantial expertise in research of controlled release systems for the target delivery of bioactive drug substances.The clinical development of the first intrauterine drug delivery systems (IUS) started five years ago and is ongoing and expanding.  Clinical trials in many hundreds of women, wearing the system for more than three years, suggest that the frameless drug delivery systems are safe and well tolerated. The drug delivery products are effective in suppressing the endometrium in women using estrogen replacement therapy (ERT).

Clinical studies also suggests that these products are effective contraceptives. These studies have equally demonstrated a high level of effectiveness in reducing bleeding in women with excessive menstrual flow even when medium or large fibroids were present.
Strong endometrial suppression is the principal mechanism explaining both the contraceptive effect and the effect on menstrual blood loss. The low daily release rate of levonorgestrel-releasing IUS results in a low rate of hormonal side effects.
The simple design characteristics and revolutionary anchoring system account for minimising the occurrence of complaints of pain and expulsion.

Contrel is also developing conventional T-shaped drug delivery systems. These products will be indicated for use as an intrauterine contraceptive and for the treatment of heavy bleeding (menorrhagia) and other gynecological conditions (e.g., endometrial suppression during estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), endometrial hyperplasia, dymenorrhoea).