Lipocine Oral Progestogen for the Prevention of Preterm Birth:
Lipocine is developing a natural bio-identical oral progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth.
More than a half-million babies, or some 12% of live births, occur before a full 37-week term. Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Preterm birth increases infant risk for development abnormalities as well as health problems. Increased morbidity is associated with low birth rate, immature lung development and birth defects. Increased mortality causes approximately 8,000 unnecessary deaths annually. Cost for preterm babies in Neonatal Intensive Care exceeds $17 billion annually in the US alone.
1 Behrman RE et al, in: Behrman RE, Butler AS, eds. (Preterm Birth: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention) Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2006: 329-354
