Phase II study of fezolinetant for treatment of vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause in Japan

ObjectiveThe phase II STARLIGHT study was conducted to investigate the efficacy/safety of fezolinetant in Japanese women and identify the optimal dose for future evaluation.MethodParticipants were perimenopausal/postmenopausal women aged >= 40 to <= 65 years from 36 centers in Japan seeking treatment/relief for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause. After screening, participants were randomized 1:1:1, stratified by menopausal status, to receive fezolinetant 15 or 30 mg or placebo orally once daily for 12 weeks. Participants completed a daily VMS diary. The primary endpoint was mean change in frequency of VMS of any severity from baseline to week 8. Secondary endpoints included mean change in VMS frequency from baseline each week up to week 12 and frequency/severity of adverse events.ResultsA total of 147 participants were randomized (placebo, n = 47; fezolinetant 15 mg, n = 53; fezolinetant 30 mg, n = 47). Fezolinetant 15 and 30 mg demonstrated statistically significant reductions in mean VMS frequency at week 8 versus placebo. Least-squares mean estimates of mean change in frequency of VMS from baseline to week 8 were -7.04 for fezolinetant 15mg, -6.31 for fezolinetant 30mg, and -4.55 for placebo. The difference in least-squares mean estimates was -2.50 (95% CI: -4.03, -0.96), p = 0.002 for fezolinetant 15mg and placebo, and was -1.76 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.35, -0.17), p = 0.030 for fezolinetant 30mg and placebo. Reductions from baseline in mean VMS frequency versus placebo were seen after week 1 of treatment, maintained throughout 12 weeks. Fezolinetant was well tolerated, with no safety signals of concern for either dose to week 12.ConclusionOral fezolinetant at once-daily doses of 15 or 30 mg was efficacious and well tolerated for treatment of mild, moderate and severe VMS associated with menopause in this Japanese study.