NMS Pharmaceuticals Seeks OK for Home Test

NMS Pharmaceuticals Inc. said it has asked for Food and Drug Administration approval of its home ovulation test, Fortel, and expects to have clearance for over-the-counter sales of the product in 90 days.

The Newport Beach-based company said it estimates the annual domestic market for the tests at $325 million and projects growth of 10% a year beyond that. The test predicts the exact time of the month when a woman ovulates and thus is likeliest to conceive.

In addition to the ovulation test, NMS develops, makes and sells diagnostic test kits for certain types of cancers and blood disorders. The company said it also expects approval later this year for home test kits that detect pregnancy.

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1985, the company had a net loss of $1.4 million on revenue of $3.3 million, compared with a net loss of $1 million on sales of $4.1 million for the prior year.