Medherant Announces Positive Results for Initial Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Testosterone Patch for Women

  • Returns testosterone levels to within the normal pre-menopausal range
  • Excellent wearability and tolerability, with strong and consistent performance across doses
  • Multiple dose study to start Q4 2025
  • Potential first-in-class patch for testosterone delivery for women

Coventry, UK, 22nd October 2025 / Medherant, a University of Warwick spin-out company and innovator in transdermal drug delivery, today announces positive results from its initial Phase 1 clinical trial of its testosterone patch for post-menopausal women.

The study, conducted at Hammersmith Medicines Research (HMR) in London, demonstrated that Medherent’s TEPI Patch® effectively delivers testosterone through the skin, restoring blood levels to the normal pre-menopausal range. This marks a step towards giving women a simple, discreet and effective hormone therapy option that does not yet exist.

Testosterone naturally declines as women age. Combined with other hormonal changes at the menopause, this drop contributes to the symptoms many women suffer, including hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), a condition characterised by distressingly low libido. HSDD is estimated to affect more than 1 in 3 menopausal women and significantly impacts their quality of life and well-being.

Medherant’s patch could become the first-in-class testosterone patch developed specifically for women. Built on the company’s proprietary TEPI Patch technology, it provides exceptional adhesion, ensuring reliable and comfortable wear throughout daily activities. 

Medherant has secured approval from both the MHRA and the Research Ethics Committee for its clinical trial application to initiate the next multiple-dose pharmacokinetic clinical study, a follow-up study testing repeated doses, which is due to start dosing later this year. This study focuses on advancing the development of the TEPI Patch as a treatment for HSDD, marking significant progress towards a safe, effective and accessible treatment option for women affected by this condition.

In addition to these clinical studies, Medherant has obtained scientific advice from both the MHRA and the Swedish Medical Products Agency to inform the regulatory strategy for the product’s registration in UK and across the EU.

“These latest results represent another major step in the development of the testosterone TEPI Patch to address a significant condition faced by many post-menopausal women,” says Karolina Afors, Medherant’s Medical Director. “Our patch technology will provide women with a superior and convenient treatment option for testosterone as part of menopause hormone therapy.”  

David Haddleton, Chief Scientific Officer at Medherant and Professor in the Department of Chemistry at University of Warwick said: “The success of this initial trial paves the way for our upcoming multiple-dose study which starts dosing before the end of the year. We remain committed to accelerating development to bring the testosterone TEPI Patch to market swiftly and to deliver the adhesion and comfort that women deserve.”

“We are delighted to be moving forward with the development of our testosterone patch, bringing us closer to offering women a truly needed and transformative treatment option,” added Medherant’s CEO John Burt.

With continued clinical progress, strong regulatory support and further funding having recently been provided by its investors, Medherant is well positioned to deliver a uniquely available therapy that addresses a clear unmet global need. The testosterone TEPI Patch represents not just a breakthrough in hormone therapy delivery, but a meaningful step toward improving quality of life for millions of women worldwide.

About Medherant

Medherant is a clinical-stage company developing innovative treatments using its novel transdermal drug delivery technology, the TEPI Patch®.

Medherant’s lead development product is the testosterone TEPI Patch® for post-menopausal women. Despite the recommendations in the NICE Menopause Guidelines and the Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women, there is currently no approved testosterone patch product for women.

Transdermal delivery of drugs offers a way to overcome some of the disadvantages of oral administration, such as spikes in drug levels that can lead to side effects, and poor compliance. Transdermal patches are also a more convenient way to deliver drugs through the skin than gels and creams and provide better dose control.

In addition to developing its own products, Medherant collaborates with pharmaceutical companies to develop transdermal patch products for already approved drugs. In March 2024, Medherant announced a Development Collaboration Agreement with Bayer for the development of a transdermal patch product for the delivery of an already-approved oral medicine.

Medherant was founded by Professor David Haddleton, a Professor of Polymer Chemistry at the University of Warwick. The company is developing the novel transdermal TEPI Patch technology, which is designed for improved wear, strong adhesion, non-irritant properties and no adhesive residue.

TEPI Patch® is a registered trademark of Medherant Limited.

To learn more about Medherant’s TEPI Patch, visit the website: https://www.medherant.co.uk/