Sprout Pharmaceuticals

Sprout Pharmaceuticals is a pioneering commercial-stage biotech company that successfully challenged the status quo by developing and launching Addyi, the first FDA-approved pharmacologic treatment for low sexual desire in women. Founded and led by Cindy Eckert, the company built its case through extensive clinical trials involving over 13,000 participants, establishing a new scientific paradigm that women's desire is neurologically based. A decade post-approval, Sprout continues to champion women's health, focusing on expanding access, changing care paradigms, and rewriting the narrative around female sexual wellness. The company operates as a small, private, mission-driven team based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Clinical and regulatory expertise in developing CNS-targeted therapies for complex, brain-mediated female sexual health conditions, with a focus on large-scale trial design and advocacy.

Addyi competes in a small, niche market with Vyleesi (bremelanotide), the only other FDA-approved drug for HSDD, which has a different mechanism and administration. Broader competition comes from off-label use of testosterone, bupropion, and cognitive behavioral therapy. The largest competitor remains the status quo of non-treatment, driven by lack of diagnosis and societal stigma.