2024-04-04 05:00:55
Hot flashes, fatigue, change in mood, etc. between 45 and 55 years old, these first signs often announce the arrival of menopause. Even if this stage of women’s lives is not a pathology, the associated symptoms can be bothersome on a daily basis. Currently, some lifestyle advice is recommended and sometimes hormonal treatment is started. The development of a new drug candidate might disrupt this treatment. Explanations.
Menopause, symptoms that disrupt women’s daily lives
Menopause is a natural phenomenon that occurs in all women from a certain age. Gradually, the ovaries stop secreting hormones and ovulation stops. Menstruation disappears, along with menstrual cycles. This stage of women’s lives is not without consequences on their daily lives. Many people note the occurrence of more or less annoying signs:
Hot flashes and flushing (feeling of intense heat associated with redness of the neck and face); Night sweats; Urinary problems; Headaches ; Tiredness ; Irritability; Joint pain.
To relieve these symptoms, hygienic and dietary measures are recommended for all women:
Stopping smoking and reducing alcohol consumption; A healthy, balanced and diversified diet; Regular physical activity; Control of body weight, particularly in women affected by overweight and obesity. Read also – Genetic markers to predict the age of menopause
From HRT to the first drug without hormonal action?
Alongside these health and diet measures, medicinal treatments exist. These are hormonal replacement treatments, called HRT, composed of estrogen derivatives and/or progestins. These treatments are not prescribed to all women, because they expose them to adverse effects and health risks (increased risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer or ovarian cancer, risk of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or venous thrombosis (phlebitis or pulmonary embolism)). Their prescription requires a medical evaluation to assess the benefit of the treatment in relation to the risks involved.
In practice, HRT is often reserved for women who menopause at an early age, for women with signs of menopause that are very bothersome on a daily basis or for women with a high risk of osteoporosis. Recently, researchers have developed a new drug candidate, the first without a hormonal mode of action. This molecule, elinzantant, acts on the moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms of menopause, that is to say hot flashes and flushing.
Read also – Menopause/contraception: Soon a new, less risky estrogen?
Very promising clinical trials
Clinical trials carried out on this new drug candidate, on a sample of 796 women, resulted in very promising results. Women who used this treatment suffered less from vasomotor disorders, with a reduction in the severity of symptoms from the first week. They saw their sleep improve significantly, as well as their quality of life. Administered orally once a day, elinzantant might help improve the daily lives of many women, whose daily lives are strongly impacted by menopause.
The laboratory developing this drug candidate should soon submit marketing applications to the American and European health authorities.
Read also – When the thyroid is disrupted by menopause
Estelle B., Doctor of Pharmacy
Sources
– Bayer Elinzantant met all key primary and secondary endpoints in the Phase III OASIS 1 and 2 studies. www.bayer.com. Accessed March 27, 2024.
– Efficacy and safety of elinzanetant, a selective neurokinin-1,3 receptor antagonist for vasomotor symptoms: a dose-finding clinical trial (SWITCH-1). journals.lww.com. Consulté le 27 mars 2024.
– Menopause and perimenopause. www.ameli.fr. Accessed March 27, 2024.
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