Beyaz(R): One Of The World's Leading Oral Contraceptive YAZ(R) Is Approved In The US With Metafolin(R)

Bayer Schering Pharma AG has been granted US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Beyaz®, the first oral contraceptive worldwide to contain folate, in the form of Merck & Cie's Metafolin®. Metafolin® is the pure crystalline form of the naturally occurring active folate species, L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate. Unlike folic acid, it can directly be used by the body.


"Health authorities throughout the world encourage women of childbearing age to take folate supplements. But compliance is very low. Taking oral contraceptives (OCs) containing folates in a combination product makes perfect sense: High compliance is guaranteed", commented Prof. Klaus Pietrzik of Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Bonn, Germany.


Typically women take the "pill" over an extended period. If they choose Beyaz® incorporating the premium folate Metafolin® their folate stores will be raised over time. Folate stores only deplete slowly after the discontinuation of the "pill". Since a large percentage of women become pregnant within the first three months after stopping their oral contraceptive, their folate stores have been raised prior to pregnancy. Prenatal vitamin supplements (including folate) should be started immediately after oral contraceptives are discontinued.


"Folates are very critical during early pregnancy", commented Dr. Rudolf Moser from Merck & Cie, co-innovator of Metafolin®. "The combination of YAZ® and Metafolin® is a targeted approach to provide folates to those individuals in whom they are highly recommended and so urgently needed: women of child-bearing age."


Bayer Schering Pharma AG has an exclusive worldwide commercial licence to utilize Metafolin® in oral contraceptives.


About Metafolin®


Metafolin® (L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolic acid, calcium salt or levomefolate calcium) is the pure stable crystalline form of the naturally occurring predominant folate species. Folates are essential water-soluble B vitamins, which play a key role in central metabolic pathways. They are needed, for example, for normal cell division and growth. Metafolin® is the body's preferred form of folate which is directly usable by the organism.


Source:

Merck & Cie