Redefining Menopause Management: Addressing Gaps, Embracing Innovations, and Enhancing Outcomes

Panelists discuss how innovative neurokinin-targeted therapies for vasomotor symptoms can reshape menopause management and address unmet needs and improving patient outcomes while highlighting the importance of equity in treatment access.

Panelists discuss how underlying factors, including patient resistance to conventional treatments and the stigma surrounding menopause, contribute to the persistent undertreatment of vasomotor symptoms (VMS), which can severely impact women’s quality of life and increase their risk for long-term health issues such as cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer disease.

Panelists discuss how to improve treatment rates for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) by identifying actionable steps, examining the influence of socioeconomic status on health care access, and proposing initiatives to ensure equitable care for all women experiencing menopause.

Panelists discuss how to effectively integrate vasomotor symptom (VMS) treatment into comprehensive health management plans for women, taking into account the significant comorbidities associated with menopause, such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

Panelists discuss the role of neurokinin in the pathophysiology of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and examine the mechanisms of action of novel nonhormonal agents such as fezolinetant and elinzanetant, highlighting the advantages of targeting neurokinin pathways over traditional hormonal treatments and their potential to address related menopause issues such as mood disturbances and sleep disorders.

Panelists discuss the methodologies of the SKYLIGHT 1, SKYLIGHT 2, and SKYLIGHT 4 trials that supported the approval of fezolinetant for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and examine the key safety and efficacy results derived from these studies.

Panelists discuss the methodologies of the OASIS 1, 2, and 3 trials that investigated elinzanetant, highlighting key findings regarding its efficacy in reducing the frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) compared with other treatments, as well as its impact on quality of life and the speed at which patients experienced symptom improvement.

Panelists discuss the notable adverse events observed in the OASIS trials with elinzanetant and compare the safety profiles of elinzanetant and fezolinetant with those of traditional treatments for vasomotor symptoms (VMS).

Panelists discuss the importance of addressing sleep disturbances in menopause management, even in the absence of vasomotor symptoms (VMS), and explore how emerging research on elinzanetant could impact sleep quality and its links to mood disorders, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer disease, while also contemplating the potential shift in the treatment paradigm for VMS with the introduction of new neurokinin-targeted therapies as either standard of care or in combination with other treatments.

Panelists express their gratitude for the informative discussion and share their final thoughts on the evolving landscape of menopause management and the potential impact of new therapies on improving patient outcomes.