The first non-hormonal daily tablet that prevents menopause hot flushes will be made available to half a million women on the NHS.
Nice, the health watchdog, has approved the introduction of fezolinetant on the NHS for night sweats or hot flushes, which affect about three quarters of women going through the menopause.
At present, the only drug treatment for menopause symptoms is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is not suitable for women with certain medical conditions such as blood clots, or those who have had certain types of cancer.
Fezolinetant, manufactured under the brand name Veoza by Japan’s Astellas Pharma, is the first in a new class of menopause treatment that works by blocking the nerve pathways in the brain that trigger hot flushes and night sweats.
Nice said fezolinetant can meaningfully reduce symptoms, and that making the treatment available through the NHS will offer “much-needed relief to those for whom HRT is unsuitable”. The health spending watchdog added that women would need regular liver function monitoring while taking the treatment.
“We know that menopausal hot flushes and night sweats can have a profound impact on quality of life and significantly affect overall wellbeing,” Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said. “For those unable to take HRT for varying reasons, options have historically been limited, and we have heard clearly from patients how difficult that can be.
“The evidence shows fezolinetant can meaningfully reduce symptoms and was found to be cost-effective, offering value for the taxpayer. This decision will give much-needed relief to those for whom HRT is unsuitable.”
• The app for GPs promising to revolutionise menopause care
A trial of fezolinetant showed that after 12 weeks of treatment, women with moderate or severe symptoms experienced the number hot flushes dropping by about 60 per cent, compared with 45 per cent for those taking a placebo. They also reported hot flushes becoming less severe, as well as improved sleep quality.
Sue Mann, national clinical director in women’s health at NHS England, said: “Symptoms of menopause, including hot flushes and night sweats, can affect every part of a woman’s life, so this is very welcome news — especially for women who are unable to or don’t wish to take HRT.
“It’s another vital treatment option that could help hundreds of thousands of women experiencing menopause to better manage their symptoms and feel more in control of their health.”
More than 13 million women in the UK are menopausal or perimenopausal (when periods stop due to lower hormone levels). It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. HRT is taken by 2.8 million women in the UK and can replace the oestrogen that declines during the menopause.