Health Canada approves non-hormonal treatment for menopause symptoms

Japanese laboratory Astellas Pharma recently announced that Health Canada has approved Veozah® (fezolinetant film-coated tablets), “the first and only non-hormonal treatment for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause,” said the company's press release, adding that this new drug, “addresses an unmet need for women affected by hot flushes and night sweats.”Already approved in the U.S., U.K., Australia and Europe, fezolinetant works by blocking the binding of neurokinin B (NKB) to kisspeptin/neurokinin/dynorphin (KNDy) neurons. In so doing, it helps restore balance in the hypothalamus, reducing the number and intensity of hot flushes and night sweats.Clinical trials named SKYLIGHT 1 and SKYLIGHT 2, the results of which were published in the Lancet and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism respectively, showed fezolinetant reduced hot flushes in around 60% of participants with moderate or severe vasomotor symptoms, compared with a 45% reduction in those given a placebo.'Unacceptable' burden“Although menopause is an inevitable part of aging, it's sad to see that the perception remains that it's a stage of life that women have to endure. The burden imposed on women is unacceptable, and they shouldn't have to suffer in silence,” observed Dr. Céline Bouchard, who practises at the Clinique de recherche en santé de la femme in Quebec City. The gynecologist is “enthusiastic” about Health Canada's approval of fezolinetant.“This new, safe and effective treatment option meets an important need to help alleviate the burden of hot flashes and night sweats in women,” she said in the Astellas Pharma release.Common side-effects of Veozah include: stomach pain, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping, back pain and hot flashes. It can also cause increased liver values in blood tests and liver disorders. Consult the Veozah® product monograph. Read more about the trials in the Lancet and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Health Canada approves non-hormonal treatment for menopause symptoms

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