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SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Statement on Acting Managing Director arrangements at SBS
The SBS Board of Directors has today confirmed it will appoint Jane Palfreyman, SBS Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, as SBS Acting Managing Director, while it conducts a global search for a new Managing Director. This arrangement follows the decision of James Taylor to step down from SBS after 13 years of service. He will remain with the organisation until November for a transition period, before taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at oOh!media. SBS Board Acting Chair, Christine Zeitz, said the interim appointment provides continuity of leadership and ensures an orderly transition until the next Managing Director is appointed. Jane Palfreyman joined SBS in 2012 and has held senior positions across Sales and Marketing. In her current role, she leads SBS's commercial strategy, brand and audience engagement, client partnerships and revenue growth. She brings more than two decades of experience in media and commercial leadership. Her appointment as Acting Managing Director will take effect from 28 August 2025. The SBS Board has commenced an independent recruitment process to select the organisation's next Managing Director. For a pdf copy of this media release, click here.
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
LTR Pharma's ED spray makes peer-reviewed journal
LTR Pharma's phase I pharmacokinetic study of nasal spray mist to treat erectile dysfunction published in leading peer-reviewed journal Publication validates five times faster onset, strengthening regulatory pathway and physician adoption LTR Pharma is targeting the US$3.7 billion ED market with SPONTAN and its other intranasal vardenafil formulation ROXUS Special Report: Results of LTR Pharma's phase I pharmacokinetic (PK) study of SPONTAN, its nasal spray mist to treat erectile dysfunction, have been published in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The publication provides independent validation of SPONTAN – LTR Pharma's (ASX:LTP) lead intranasal vardenafil formulation for ED – including ultra-rapid onset, showing peak plasma concentrations in just 10 minutes compared with 45 minutes for conventional oral ED tablets. Mean Tmax values were 12 minutes for SPONTAN versus 56 minutes for tablets, confirming consistent rapid absorption across participants. Tmax refers to the time it takes for a drug to reach its maximum concentration (Cmax) in the bloodstream after administration. The European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences is a leading international peer-reviewed publication that highlights high-impact research in pharmaceutical sciences and drug delivery. Publication in the journal requires rigorous peer review by independent scientific experts and represents significant third-party validation of clinical data quality. LTR Pharma said publication in the journal adds substantial credibility to LTR's regulatory dossier as the company advances towards full commercialisation. "This peer-reviewed validation marks a transformative milestone for LTR Pharma. We now have independent scientific confirmation that our technology delivers what ED patients have been seeking for decades - true spontaneity,' executive chairman Lee Rodne said. About the PK study The randomised crossover study in 18 healthy male volunteers compared SPONTAN nasal spray (5 mg vardenafil) with oral vardenafil tablets (10 mg). Key clinical findings included: Ultra-rapid onset – SPONTAN reached peak plasma concentration (Tmax) in a median of 10 minutes versus 45 minutes for oral tablets, with mean values of 12 minutes versus 56 minutes respectively. Superior efficiency – Despite half the dose, SPONTAN achieved higher bioavailability per milligram, with dose-normalised Cmax of 2.58 ng/mL/mg versus 1.67 ng/mL/mg for oral administration. Comparable duration – Similar half-life of ~4 hours for both formulations, supporting sustained therapeutic effect. Manageable tolerability – Safety profile consistent with the PDE5 inhibitor class, with no serious adverse events reported. While the study specifically evaluated SPONTAN, the PK data support the company's broader intranasal delivery platform for vardenafil, which also includes ROXUS. Both products leverage the same rapid-onset technology, providing LTR with multiple commercial opportunities in different market segments from a single validated drug delivery platform. Targeting increased spontaneity Importantly, the publication notes that current oral PDE5 inhibitors face significant limitations, including delayed onset of 30 minutes to two hours, reduced efficacy with food intake, and the need for careful timing around sexual activity. These factors contribute to discontinuation rates of ~4% per month, with lack of spontaneity cited as a primary reason for treatment abandonment. The study authors concluded that 'intranasally delivered vardenafil is associated with more rapid onset of action with similar plasma concentrations'. They said that 'this differential pharmacokinetic profile has potentially important clinical implications given the overall safety and efficacy profile of PDE5 inhibitors in the treatment of ED, especially in men seeking sexual spontaneity'. Chief medical officer Professor Geoff Strange noted the peer-reviewed publication provided robust scientific validation of SPONTAN's 'game-changing pharmacokinetic profile'. 'The data clearly demonstrate that our intranasal delivery technology achieves the desired therapeutic levels in under 10 minutes – addressing the spontaneity challenge that drives part of the 50% of patients discontinuing oral ED treatments within their first year,' he said. 'From a clinical perspective, this represents a fundamental advancement in how PDE5 inhibitors can be administered, with the potential to significantly improve treatment adherence and patient satisfaction." SPONTAN is currently available in Australia through the Therapeutic Goods Administration Special Access Scheme, while it is targeting approval in other key markets. LTR Pharma is advancing a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory submission via the 505(b)(2) pathway for SPONTAN approval with the US ED market valued at US$3.7 billion. The company said the journal publication strengthens its clinical evidence package for regulatory authorities. This article was developed in collaboration with LTR Pharma, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
A-League: Western United appeals against licence stripping
Western United has lodged its appeal against Football Australia's decision to strip the club of its A-League licence. Having asked for an extension, United had until 10am on Thursday to submit the appeal. The club announced on Wednesday night that the appeal had been lodged. 'As this is a regulatory process, the club will be making no further comment at this time,' a United statement said. FA, which stripped the financially embattled United of its A-League licence on August 8 for failing to meet the criteria required to compete in the national men's and women's competitions, is expected to give its verdict on the appeal next week. The club's financial woes include a multimillion-dollar tax bill reportedly owed by United chairman Jason Sourasis. Players and staff received their monthly wages late in April, May and June and were only paid overdue superannuation payments earlier this month. In May, United announced that KAM Melbourne, a subsidiary of American company KAM Sports, would become the club's new majority investor. However, the Australian Professional Leagues is yet to receive KAM Melbourne's full ownership proposal – understood to be worth $100m when including the purchase of the club's parent company Western Melbourne Group – and therefore cannot approve it. United was also banned by FIFA from registering players due to a six-figure sum that was owed to the club's former striker and 2022 A-League title-winner Aleksandar Prijovic. The ban led to United this week releasing former Sydney FC striker Jaiden Kucharski, who had only joined the club last month. Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. @marcothejourno Marco Monteverde
