For those who struggle with hot flashes and night sweats, there are promising advances in menopause treatments. In a phase 3 clinical trial, researchers found that the new non-hormonal drug Elinzanetant reduced the frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women.
Women often experience nightmarish discomfort during menopause, including symptoms such as hot flashes, heart palpitations, blood pressure changes and night sweats. These problems, also known as vasomotor symptoms, are caused by the constriction or dilation of blood vessels caused by falling estrogen levels during menopause.
Current treatment options often involve hormonal therapy, but many women avoid hormonal therapy due to concerns about potential side effects. This is where the importance of new, effective, non-hormonal treatments comes into play.
a new one study The efficacy and safety of Elinzanetant, a non-hormonal drug that blocks brain chemicals that cause vasomotor symptoms, was studied. Two randomized phase 3 trials by drug manufacturer Bayer involved approximately 796 postmenopausal participants aged 40 to 65 years with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms. Jama Network published results showing that Elinzanetant not only alleviated these symptoms but also significantly improved sleep and menopause-related quality of life in these women.
Bayer has submitted its study data to the FDA for approval.
“These results are clinically relevant because vasomotor symptoms often have a significant impact on menopausal individuals' overall health, daily activities, sleep, quality of life, and work productivity,” the researchers wrote in the study published in Jama Network. “
During the trial, participants took 120 mg of Elinzanetant or placebo once daily for 12 weeks, after which all participants took Elinzanetant for an additional 14 weeks. Participants were asked to record the frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms at baseline and at weeks 4 and 12.
The researchers observed a significant reduction in the frequency and severity of hot flashes during the first week of both trials. By week 12, sleep quality and overall quality of life improved.
“The effectiveness of elinzenetant in relieving hot flashes in women with severe symptoms, as well as improvements in sleep and mood in multiple trials, and elinzenetant's favorable safety profile, suggest its potential as a non-estrogen treatment for women suffering from bothersome menopause. Symptoms in women, Dr. V. Pinkerton said in a report. Press release.