Non-Hormonal Experimental Drug Effectively Halt Hot Flashes
Get ready to kiss those hot flashes goodbye, because a game-changing menopause treatment is about to hit the market! This week, drug giant Bayer announced successful results from two Phase III trials testing their experimental drug elinzanetant for treating hot flashes. This breakthrough non-hormonal medication could be the first of its kind to be approved worldwide!
Hot flashes and night sweats are common menopause symptoms that make life a living hell for one in three women. These pesky episodes can leave you red-faced, drenched in sweat, and struggling to get a good night's rest. And if you've experienced them for two years or more, you're in the majority! According to the Mayo Clinic, hot flashes can stick around for up to a decade!
Until now, hormone therapy has been the go-to treatment for hot flashes. By replacing the depleted estrogen and progesterone levels, hot flashes can be managed effectively. However, concerns over potential risks, such as heart disease, breast cancer, and stroke, led many to shy away from hormonal treatment. Some studies have found that these risks may be overstated, but the treatment is still less popular than before.
There are limited options for the millions of women unwilling or unable to use hormones. Low doses of certain SSRIs have been attempted, but a breakthrough finally came in the early 2010s when researchers uncovered the mechanism behind hot flashes. It turns out that a group of neurons producing kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin, are responsible for causing the flushing associated with low estrogen levels. Blocking the activity of certain receptors on these cells can safely reduce hot flashes. In May 2023, Astellas Pharma's fezolinetant became the first drug to treat hot flashes by blocking one of these receptors, NK3.
Now, Bayer's elinzanetant takes things one step further by blocking both NK3 and NK1 receptors, a dual-action design that not only reduces hot flashes but also the sleeping problems that often accompany menopause. In the largest Phase III trials of the drug, the researchers found that women taking elinzanetant (a once-daily pill) experienced a significant reduction in hot flashes and fewer sleep disturbances than control groups. Over 80% of women on the drug saw a more than 50% reduction in symptoms, and they reported a higher increase in their menopause-related quality of life. Elinzanetant appeared to be safe, with the most common adverse events including headaches and fatigue.
The research team behind the Phase III trials for elinzanetant sees this drug as a game-changer. "Elinzanetant has the potential to provide a well-tolerated and efficacious non-hormonal treatment option for addressing the unmet health needs of many menopausal individuals with moderate to severe [hot flashes]," they stated in a recent publication in the journal JAMA.
The good news doesn't stop there! Bayer's Phase III trials for elinzanetant showed equally positive findings, suggesting that approval as a treatment for moderate to severe hot flashes is well within reach. But there's one minor snag: cost! The current list price for a similar drug is around $550 a month, and insurance coverage is limited. Let's hope the price tag drops and coverage expands as competition heats up in the market for this life-changing drug!
Scientists at drug giant Bayer are aiming to revolutionize the management of menopause symptoms, as their experimental drug elinzanetant, a non-hormonal medication, shows efficacy in reducing hot flashes and sleep disturbances. This dual-action drug, which blocks both NK3 and NK1 receptors, demonstrated a significant reduction in hot flashes and improvement in quality of life for over 80% of women participating in Phase III trials. The researchers view elinzanetant as a potentially well-tolerated and efficacious non-hormonal treatment for moderate to severe hot flashes. However, the future availability and affordability of this game-changing drug remain uncertain, as the current list price for similar drugs is high.
