Management of Uterine Contractility 
Ferring’s research of the oxytocin receptor and its role in processes involving uterine contractility has led to the development of barusiban.

Barusiban has a higher selectivity and potency at the oxytocin receptor level which potentially could lead to a faster onset of action and longer duration of action following parenteral administration than the previous generation of peptide oxytocin antagonist. Barusiban is currently undergoing clinical phase II trials to evaluate its effect in uterine contractility.

The search for oxytocin antagonists through structural modifications of the natural hormone started in the late 1970s and has led to the development of two generations of oxytocin antagonist products.

This first generation of peptide oxytocin antagonist, tractocile, with mixed oxytocin and vasopressin antagonist activity has shown clinical efficacy in preventing imminent pre-term labour. Continued research provided a greater understanding of uterine contractility and the role of oxytocin receptors. This led Ferring’s scientists to the discovery of the second-generation peptide oxytocin antagonist family leading to development of barusiban.