Hong Kong-based specialist healthcare and life sciences investment group Regent Pacific Group has announced the launch of Fortacin in the UK for premature ejaculation (PE), a condition thought to affect around 25 million men in Europe alone.

The treatment, developed by its wholly-owned subsidiary Plethora Solutions Holdings, is a topical spray containing low doses of two anaesthetics - lidocaine and prilocaine - that takes effect almost immediately upon application, giving users more control without reducing pleasure, according to the firm.

According to Plethora, data shows that more than 85 percent of men had delayed ejaculation time of greater than one minute, and that ejaculation time continues to increase as drug treatment is continued for several months.

Regent Pacific's commercial partner Recordati will begin sales of Fortacin in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ireland, Romania and Greece next year, and roll-out in the rest of Europe, Russia, CIS and select countries of North Africa thereafter.

"Long suffering PE patients in the UK will finally have a trustworthy prescriptive remedy for the condition which is affecting one in every four men globally," said Regent Pacific's chief executive Jamie Gibson. "Our goal is to bring Fortacin to men across the world and create substantial returns for our shareholders."

The condition "creates significant burden on health, emotion, and overall quality of life of both men and their partners. We are therefore extremely excited to bring Fortacin to the market, and serve the genuine need of sufferers for effective treatments," added Regent Pacific's chief scientific officer Dr Michael Wyllie.

Fortacin is the first EU approved prescription treatment for PE that does not act on the central nervous system.