New Treatment for Menopause Symptoms
New Treatment for Menopause Symptoms
June 4, 2007 -- Women seeking to quell the symptoms of menopause and build stronger bones may soon have a new treatment option -- possibly with fewer risks normally associated with traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
In two two-year studies of nearly 4,000 women researchers from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals reported on a new class of drugs known as tissue selective estrogen complex (TSEC) -- medications said to offer the benefits of traditional estrogen while minimizing troubling side effects and risks of traditional HRT. The studies were presented this week at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Toronto.
"We're seeing a number of what I think are going to be significant improvements over the previous generation of HRT. This is really a new generation of treatment," says study researcher James H. Pickar, assistant vice president of clinical research and development at Wyeth Research.
In the research, the TSEC drug, yet to be named, combined a conjugated estrogen (Premarin) with basedoxifene, a drug commonly known as a SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator). SERMS have some of the benefits of estrogen -- such as helping to increase bone density -- without increasing the risk of breast or endometrial cancer.
But rather than just seeing the benefits of combining two separate medications, Pickar says the surprising effect was greater than the sum of its parts.
"What you get is not simply the addition of one to the other, but a brand new profile. That's what makes it so exciting," says Pickar.
That new profile, he says, appears to offer women all the benefits of HRT -- including better bone density -- while minimizing the risks normally associated with hormone therapy.
NYU professor Steven Goldstein, MD, says if the claims are true, then women might indeed have reason to celebrate. But he cautions that questions on long-term use -- particularly effects on breast tissue -- still hang in the balance.
"If we truly can combine the benefits of estrogen -- relief of hot flashes and vaginal dryness -- with the benefits of a SERM -- including decreased bone fracture with breast and uterine protection -- and not increase the risks previously associated with both treatments ... then this will indeed be a revolution in menopausal medicine," says Goldstein.
But he cautions that questions on long-term use - including any impact on breast tissue -- can only be answered with further research.
In two two-year studies of nearly 4,000 women researchers from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals reported on a new class of drugs known as tissue selective estrogen complex (TSEC) -- medications said to offer the benefits of traditional estrogen while minimizing troubling side effects and risks of traditional HRT. The studies were presented this week at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Toronto.
"We're seeing a number of what I think are going to be significant improvements over the previous generation of HRT. This is really a new generation of treatment," says study researcher James H. Pickar, assistant vice president of clinical research and development at Wyeth Research.
In the research, the TSEC drug, yet to be named, combined a conjugated estrogen (Premarin) with basedoxifene, a drug commonly known as a SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator). SERMS have some of the benefits of estrogen -- such as helping to increase bone density -- without increasing the risk of breast or endometrial cancer.
But rather than just seeing the benefits of combining two separate medications, Pickar says the surprising effect was greater than the sum of its parts.
"What you get is not simply the addition of one to the other, but a brand new profile. That's what makes it so exciting," says Pickar.
That new profile, he says, appears to offer women all the benefits of HRT -- including better bone density -- while minimizing the risks normally associated with hormone therapy.
NYU professor Steven Goldstein, MD, says if the claims are true, then women might indeed have reason to celebrate. But he cautions that questions on long-term use -- particularly effects on breast tissue -- still hang in the balance.
"If we truly can combine the benefits of estrogen -- relief of hot flashes and vaginal dryness -- with the benefits of a SERM -- including decreased bone fracture with breast and uterine protection -- and not increase the risks previously associated with both treatments ... then this will indeed be a revolution in menopausal medicine," says Goldstein.
But he cautions that questions on long-term use - including any impact on breast tissue -- can only be answered with further research.