Fezolinetant Shows Promise in Alleviating Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms
Menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS), including hot flashes and night sweats, can significantly impact the quality of life of women transitioning through menopause. Fezolinetant, a novel therapeutic agent, has shown potential in alleviating these bothersome symptoms. A recent meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fezolinetant in treating moderate-to-severe VMS and associated sleep disturbances in postmenopausal women.
VMS are common during menopause and can lead to discomfort, sleep disturbances, and decreased quality of life. Hormone therapy has traditionally been used to manage VMS, but concerns regarding safety have prompted the search for alternative treatments. Fezolinetant offers a promising option with its mechanism of action targeting neurokinin receptors. This study was published in the journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology by Bonga K and colleagues.
A comprehensive literature search identified five randomized clinical trials comprising 2,168 participants that compared fezolinetant with placebo in postmenopausal women experiencing moderate-to-severe VMS. The efficacy and safety of fezolinetant were evaluated using various outcome measures, including VMS frequency, Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) scores, and sleep quality assessments.
The key findings of the study were:
• Fezolinetant demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing VMS frequency, with a pooled mean difference of 2.62 (95% CI, 1.84–3.41).
• The MENQOL scores also showed improvement with fezolinetant compared to placebo, with a pooled mean difference of −0.60 (95% CI, −0.92 to −0.28).
• Moreover, fezolinetant was associated with a mean percentage improvement in VMS frequency of 22.51% (95% CI, 15.35–29.67).
• Additionally, fezolinetant showed improvement in sleep quality compared to placebo.
This meta-analysis provides strong evidence supporting the efficacy of fezolinetant in reducing moderate-to-severe VMS frequency and improving sleep disturbances in postmenopausal women. Fezolinetant offers a promising alternative for women seeking relief from menopausal symptoms without the concerns associated with traditional hormone therapy. Further research and long-term safety evaluations are warranted to confirm these findings and establish fezolinetant as a standard treatment option for menopausal VMS.
Reference:
Bonga, K. N., Mishra, A., Maiti, R., Padhy, B. M., Meher, B. R., & Srinivasan, A. Efficacy and safety of fezolinetant for the treatment of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms: A meta-analysis. Obstetrics and Gynecology,2024;143(3):393–402. https://doi.org/10.1097/aog.0000000000005508
