Dose-response efficacy of a new estradiol transdermal matrix patch for a 7-day application

The efficacy and safety of new 7-day estradiol (E2) transdermal matrix patches releasing 25 or 50 mu g/day E2 (7D-25 and 7D-50), were evaluated in comparison with Placebo and a reference 50 mu g/day twice weekly matrix patch (DERM-50), in 311 postmenopausal patients suffering from a minimum of 7 hot flushes per day. Treatment was continuous for 12 weeks and without progestin opposition. 7D-25 resulted progressively and significantly more effective than Placebo, with a final decrease of 78% in the daily number of hot flushes, vs. 59% (p<0.05). There was a good dose-response relationship with 7D-50 (93% improvement, p<0.05 vs. 7D-25), whose efficacy was similar to DERM-50 (97% final decrease in the daily number of hot flushes). The systemic and the local tolerability of the E2 matrix patches were good and did not differ from those of Placebo.