Menopause drug that ‘switches off’ hot flushes could be available by the end of the year
Menopausal drug that ‘turns off’ hot flashes in just days could be available by year’s end after being approved in the US as a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of women unable to take hormone replacement therapy
- The first non-hormonal drug for menopause, called fezolinetant, acts on the brain
- Women reported a reduction in hot flash severity and better sleep quality
By the end of the year, an anti-menopausal drug could be available that “turns off” hot flashes in just days.
The ‘game-changing’ drug, called fezolinetant, acts directly on the brain and could be a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of women unable to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Earlier this month, the US approved fezolinetant, the first non-hormonal menopause drug.
Its makers describe it as a therapy “based on our understanding of the biology behind hot flashes.”
The drug works by blocking a brain protein called neurokinin 3, which plays a role in regulating body temperature in menopausal women.
An anti-menopausal drug that ‘turns off’ hot flashes in just days could be available by the end of the year (file image)
The ‘groundbreaking’ drug, called fezolinetant, could be a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of women unable to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (file image)
A large study published this year found that taking the pill once a day for 12 weeks reduced the frequency of hot flashes by about 60 percent in women with moderate or severe symptoms, compared with a 45 percent decrease in those taking a placebo. got.
Women also reported a reduction in hot flash severity and better sleep quality.
“This is going to be a complete blockbuster drug,” said Professor Waljit Dhillo, an endocrinologist at Imperial College London.
“It’s like a switch. Within a day or two the hot flashes disappear – it’s amazing how well these drugs work.
“It will completely change for many women.”
Fezolinetant, made by the Japanese company Astellas Pharma, is now under review by the European Medicines Agency.
A decision is expected this year, followed by the UK several months later.
The drug does not affect estrogen levels – which drop sharply during menopause – so will not address symptoms of fatigue and mood swings the way HRT does.
But HRT isn’t for everyone, including people with a history of breast or ovarian cancer.
‘If you can’t take HRT, there aren’t many really effective options,’ says Professor Annice Mukherjee, a consultant endocrinologist at Coventry University. “Women need options.”