Design of OASIS 1 and 2: phase 3 clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of elinzanetant for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause.

OBJECTIVE: Elinzanetant is a selective neurokinin-1,3 receptor antagonist in development for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause. The pivotal, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 studies Overall Assessment of efficacy and Safety of elinzanetant In patients with vasomotor Symptoms (OASIS) 1 and 2 will assess the efficacy and safety of elinzanetant in women with VMS. METHODS: The OASIS 1 and 2 pivotal studies are designed in accordance with regulatory guidance. Postmenopausal women with moderate/severe VMS are randomized to receive 120 mg elinzanetant or placebo once daily for 12 weeks, followed by a 14-week active treatment extension. Primary endpoints are the mean change in frequency and severity of moderate/severe VMS from baseline to weeks 4 and 12. Key secondary endpoints will assess the onset of action and effects on sleep disturbance and menopause-related quality of life. Primary and key secondary endpoints will be analyzed using a mixed model with repeated measures. Feedback from postmenopausal women with VMS was used during protocol development. RESULTS: Women confirmed the relevance of endpoints that assess the impact of VMS, sleep disturbance, and mood changes, and the need for new nonhormone treatments. Educational materials around study design, conduct and expected assessments and procedures were developed based on questions and concerns raised by women. CONCLUSIONS: The OASIS 1 and 2 pivotal phase 3 studies will enable assessment of the efficacy and safety of elinzanetant as a treatment for VMS, together with its effect on sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, and menopause-related quality of life. Feedback from postmenopausal women with VMS was used to maximize patient centricity in the trials.

A Systematic Approach for Post Hoc Subgroup Analyses With Applications in Clinical Case Studies.

BACKGROUND: The analysis of subgroups in clinical trials is essential to assess differences in treatment effects for distinct patient clusters, that is, to detect patients with greater treatment benefit or patients where the treatment seems to be ineffective. METHODS: The software application subscreen (R package) has been developed to analyze the population of clinical trials in minute detail. The aim was to efficiently calculate point estimates (eg, hazard ratios) for multiple subgroups to identify groups that potentially differ from the overall trial result. The approach intentionally avoids inferential statistics such as P values or confidence intervals but intends to encourage discussions enriched with external evidence (eg, from other studies) about the exploratory results, which can be accompanied by further statistical methods in subsequent analyses. The subscreen application was applied to 2 clinical study data sets and used in a simulation study to demonstrate its usefulness. RESULTS: The visualization of numerous combined subgroups illustrates the homogeneity or heterogeneity of potentially all subgroup estimates with the overall result. With this, the application leads to more targeted planning of future trials. CONCLUSION: This described approach supports the current trend and requirements for the investigation of subgroup effects as discussed in the EMA draft guidance for subgroup analyses in confirmatory clinical trials (EMA 2014). The lack of a convenient tool to answer spontaneous questions from different perspectives can hinder an efficient discussion, especially in joint interdisciplinary study teams. With the new application, an easily executed but powerful tool is provided to fill this gap.

A Systematic Approach for Post Hoc Subgroup Analyses With Applications in Clinical Case Studies.

BACKGROUND: The analysis of subgroups in clinical trials is essential to assess differences in treatment effects for distinct patient clusters, that is, to detect patients with greater treatment benefit or patients where the treatment seems to be ineffective. METHODS: The software application subscreen (R package) has been developed to analyze the population of clinical trials in minute detail. The aim was to efficiently calculate point estimates (eg, hazard ratios) for multiple subgroups to identify groups that potentially differ from the overall trial result. The approach intentionally avoids inferential statistics such as P values or confidence intervals but intends to encourage discussions enriched with external evidence (eg, from other studies) about the exploratory results, which can be accompanied by further statistical methods in subsequent analyses. The subscreen application was applied to 2 clinical study data sets and used in a simulation study to demonstrate its usefulness. RESULTS: The visualization of numerous combined subgroups illustrates the homogeneity or heterogeneity of potentially all subgroup estimates with the overall result. With this, the application leads to more targeted planning of future trials. CONCLUSION: This described approach supports the current trend and requirements for the investigation of subgroup effects as discussed in the EMA draft guidance for subgroup analyses in confirmatory clinical trials (EMA 2014). The lack of a convenient tool to answer spontaneous questions from different perspectives can hinder an efficient discussion, especially in joint interdisciplinary study teams. With the new application, an easily executed but powerful tool is provided to fill this gap.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the lowest effective dose of drospirenone with 17ß-estradiol for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of daily drospirenone/17ß-estradiol in two low-dose combinations (0.25 mg/0.5 mg and 0.5 mg/0.5 mg, respectively) versus 17ß-estradiol (0.3 mg) or placebo in postmenopausal women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms. METHODS: Seven hundred thirty-five postmenopausal women aged 40 years or older who experienced a minimum of 7 to 8 moderate to severe hot flushes per day, or 50 to 60 moderate to severe hot flushes per week, participated in a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The primary efficacy variables were mean changes from baseline to weeks 4 and 12 in the weekly frequency and weekly mean daily severity of moderate to severe hot flushes recorded daily by the participants on diary cards. RESULTS: All active treatments were significantly more effective than placebo for the primary efficacy variables for drospirenone/17ß-estradiol (P < 0.0001), and for 17ß-estradiol (P < 0.01) at 4 and 12 weeks. Efficacy was greater for both low-dose drospirenone/17ß-estradiol combinations versus the lower-dose 17ß-estradiol. Change in vaginal pH and vaginal maturation index showed significant improvements (with P values versus placebo of <0.0001 and P ≤ 0.0028, respectively), and exploratory analysis of the Clinical Global Impressions scale score indicated an overall satisfaction of women with active treatments. All active treatments were generally well tolerated with low rates of adverse event-related dropouts, and the safety profile of drospirenone/17ß-estradiol in both low-dose combinations was consistent with previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: Drospirenone 0.25 mg/17ß-estradiol 0.5 mg is concluded to be the lowest dose with demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of postmenopausal women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms.

Population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic evaluation of low-dose drospirenone with 17ß-estradiol in postmenopausal women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to characterize the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of drospirenone and estradiol in the treatment of postmenopausal women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms and to explore the relationship between the serum exposures of estradiol and drospirenone and efficacy, measured by reductions in moderate to severe hot flushes. METHODS: Participants in a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of daily drospirenone/estradiol in two low-dose combinations (0.25 mg/0.5 mg and 0.5 mg/0.5 mg), estradiol (0.3 mg), or placebo provided infrequent serum samples for pharmacokinetic analysis of estradiol and drospirenone, with additional frequent sampling during 24 hours in a study subset. RESULTS: Estradiol steady-state serum concentrations were described by a one-compartmental model with first-order elimination and zero-order absorption. The pharmacokinetics of drospirenone was described by a linear open two-compartment model with first-order elimination kinetics from the central compartment and delayed first-order absorption kinetics. A total of 1,516 serum estradiol concentrations and 736 serum drospirenone concentrations (n = 251) from 383 women were evaluated. Baseline estradiol concentrations increased with rising body mass index, and apparent clearance of estradiol at steady state was 39% higher in smokers versus nonsmokers. The serum exposures of both estradiol and drospirenone affected efficacy, as analyzed by a generalized linear model. Smoking had a negative effect on the efficacy of hormone therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of low-dose drospirenone/estradiol for reducing vasomotor symptoms correlates with the serum exposure of estradiol and, for the first time, the serum exposure of drospirenone. Smoking adversely affects the clearance of estradiol and the efficacy of treatment.

Prevalence, symptoms and management of uterine fibroids: an international internet-based survey of 21,746 women.

BACKGROUND: In 2009 the Uterine Bleeding and Pain Women's Research Study (UBP-WRS) was conducted interviewing 21,479 women across 8 countries in order to gain patient-based prevalence data on uterine pain and bleeding indications and investigate uterine symptoms and women's treatment experiences. This article shows relevant results of the study for the indication uterine fibroids providing data on self-reported prevalence, symptomatology and management of uterine fibroids. METHODS: 2,500 women (USA: 4,500 women) in each country (Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, the UK, the USA) completed an online survey. Women included were in their reproductive age (age group 15-49 years; USA: 18-49 years) and had ever experienced menstrual bleedings. Quotas were applied for age, region, level of education and household income of respondents. Variables have been analyzed descriptively and exploratory statistical tests have been performed. RESULTS: The self-reported prevalence of uterine fibroids ranged from 4.5% (UK) to 9.8% (Italy), reaching 9.4% (UK) to 17.8% (Italy) in the age group of 40-49 years. Women with a diagnosis of uterine fibroids reported significantly more often about bleeding symptoms than women without a diagnosis: heavy bleedings (59.8% vs. 37.4%), prolonged bleedings (37.3% vs. 15.6%), bleeding between periods (33.3% vs. 13.5%), frequent periods (28.4% vs. 15.2%), irregular and predictable periods (36.3% vs. 23.9%). Furthermore women with diagnosed uterine fibroids reported significantly more often about the following pain symptoms: pressure on the bladder (32.6% vs. 15.0%), chronic pelvic pain (14.5% vs. 2.9%), painful sexual intercourse (23.5% vs. 9.1%) and pain occurring mid-cycle, after and during menstrual bleeding (31.3%, 16.7%, 59.7%, vs. 17.1%, 6.4%, 52.0%). 53.7% of women reported that their symptoms had a negative impact on their life in the last 12 month, influencing their sexual life (42.9%), performance at work (27.7%) and relationship & family (27.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Uterine fibroid is a common concern in women at fertile age causing multiple bleeding and pain symptoms which can have a negative impact on different aspects in women's life.

Normalization of blood loss in women with heavy menstrual bleeding treated with an oral contraceptive containing estradiol valerate/dienogest.

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to assess the efficacy of estradiol valerate/dienogest (E2V/DNG) administered using an estrogen step-down and progestogen step-up approach in a 28-day regimen in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) using clinical end points allowing E2V/DNG to be compared with other available medical therapies. STUDY DESIGN: This was a pooled analysis of data from two identically designed randomized, placebo-controlled, multiple center studies conducted in Europe, Australia and North America that assessed the effectiveness of E2V/DNG in reducing menstrual blood loss (MBL) in women with HMB. Women aged ≥ 18 years with objectively confirmed HMB were randomized to E2V/DNG (n=220) or placebo (n=135) for seven treatment cycles. Outcomes analyzed included absolute reduction in MBL from baseline, proportion of women successfully treated (defined as MBL below 80 mL and ≥ 50% reduction in MBL), proportion with MBL below 80 mL and proportion with ≥ 50% reduction in MBL from baseline. RESULTS: At study end, 63.6% and 11.9% of patients were successfully treated with E2V/DNG and placebo, respectively, with 68.2% and 15.6% of women with MBL below 80 mL, and 70.0% and 17.0% with MBL reduction ≥ 50% (all p<.001). CONCLUSION: E2V/DNG is highly effective for the treatment of HMB and is associated with a high rate of treatment success.

Effects of menopausal hormone therapy on hemostatic parameters, blood pressure, and body weight: open-label comparison of randomized treatment with estradiol plus drospirenone versus estradiol plus norethisterone acetate.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical studies have reported changes in hemostatic parameters in women taking menopausal hormone therapy (HT) and a small increased risk of venous thromboembolism. We compared the effects of two different HTs on hemostatic parameters in postmenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: An open-label, randomized study conducted at two centers in Germany compared continuous 28-week combined HT with 17beta-estradiol 1mg plus drospirenone 2 mg (E2/DRSP) daily versus E2 1mg plus norethisterone acetate 0.5 mg (E2/NETA) daily in healthy postmenopausal women. Changes in D-dimer levels from baseline to the end of treatment, as well as effects on further parameters of coagulation, fibrinolysis, and global hemostasis, and effects on bleeding pattern, blood pressure, and body weight were evaluated. RESULTS: D-dimer levels increased by 9.1% (median change) with E2/DRSP (n=29) and by 15.1% with E2/NETA (n=30). Other hemostatic parameters showed <10% median change from baseline in both treatment groups, except for tissue plasminogen activator antigen (E2/DRSP, -1.9%; E2/NETA, -24.2%). Systolic blood pressure decreased from baseline by 6.4 mmHg in the E2/DRSP group compared with 0.1 mmHg in the E2/NETA group at final examination. Body weight remained stable in the E2/DRSP group (+0.18 kg) compared with a slight increase (+1.00 kg) in the E2/NETA group. In nonhysterectomized women, the mean number of bleeding/spotting days was 5.2 (2.0 bleeding/3.2 spotting) in the E2/DRSP and 8.2 (4.4 bleeding/3.8 spotting) in the E2/NETA group. Most nonhysterectomized women, however, remained amenorrheic during the study period (E2/DRSP, 68%; E2/NETA, 62%). CONCLUSION: Both E2/DRSP and E2/NETA were associated with a minor increase in fibrinolytic activity and a slight change in the concentration of some coagulation factors. Both HTs were well tolerated. The decrease in systolic blood pressure and stable body weight in the E2/DRSP group are consistent with DRSP's anti-aldosterone properties.

Effect of microdose transdermal 17beta-estradiol compared with raloxifene in the prevention of bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women: a 2-year, randomized, double-blind trial.

OBJECTIVE: Declining estrogen levels after menopause result in bone loss and increased fracture risk. This study investigated whether transdermal microdose 17beta-estradiol (E2) has efficacy and safety comparable to those of raloxifene, a selective estrogen-receptor modulator approved for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. METHODS: This study involved a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, noninferiority trial in 500 osteopenic postmenopausal women comparing transdermal microdose E2 (0.014 mg/d) versus oral raloxifene (60 mg/d), administered for 2 years. Percent change from baseline in bone mineral density at the lumbar spine was measured after 2 years of treatment. Secondary endpoints included proportion of women with no loss of bone mineral density in lumbar spine, change in bone mineral density at hip, biochemical markers of bone turnover, and safety parameters. RESULTS: In the per protocol set, lumbar spine bone mineral density increased by 2.4% (95% CI, 1.9-2.9) with microdose E2 versus 3.0% (95% CI, 2.5-3.5) with raloxifene after 2 years; 77.3% of E2 recipients and 80.5% of those taking raloxifene had no bone loss in the lumbar spine. Both treatments were well tolerated. Most women (99% in the E2 group and 100% in the raloxifene group) showed no histological evidence of endometrial stimulation after 2 years. Mean dense area in breast mammograms was 19.8% in the E2 group versus 19.0% in the raloxifene group after 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Transdermal microdose E2 was similarly effective as raloxifene in preventing bone loss at the lumbar spine. Both treatments were well tolerated, with no clinically significant effect on endometrium or breast density.

Microdose transdermal estrogen therapy for relief of vulvovaginal symptoms in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of microdose transdermal 17beta-estradiol (E2) therapy in postmenopausal women with moderate to severe vulvovaginal symptoms. METHODS: This report is based on a subset of 121 women who reported most bothersome moderate or severe vulvovaginal symptoms at baseline, from a previous randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of 425 healthy, symptomatic, postmenopausal women. Recruits had experienced at least 7 moderate or severe hot flushes daily for at least 1 week or at least 50 moderate or severe hot flushes per week for at least 1 week. Effects on coprimary efficacy variables have been reported previously. Participants received low-dose transdermal E2 plus levonorgestrel (n = 43; nominal delivery 0.023 mg/d E2/0.0075 mg/d levonorgestrel), microdose E2 (n = 42; nominal delivery 0.014 mg/d), or placebo (n = 36) for 12 weeks. Secondary efficacy variables reported herein include mean change from baseline in vaginal pH and vaginal maturation index, the proportion of women with symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy at baseline and week 12, and the proportion of women with moderate-to-severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy. RESULTS: Microdose transdermal E2 treatment was associated with a consistent benefit versus placebo in women with vulvovaginal atrophy. There was a statistically significant difference between both E2 versus placebo for changes in vaginal pH and vaginal maturation index. CONCLUSIONS: Microdose transdermal E2 offers a useful addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for postmenopausal women in whom vulvovaginal symptoms are particularly troublesome.

Lowest effective transdermal 17beta-estradiol dose for relief of hot flushes in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of micro-dose transdermal estrogen in relieving menopausal vasomotor symptoms. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial. Healthy postmenopausal women with at least seven moderate or severe hot flushes per day for at least 1 week, or at least 50 per week, applied transdermal patches with a nominal delivery of 0.023 mg/d 17beta-estradiol and 0.0075 mg/d levonorgestrel (low-dose E2/levonorgestrel; n=145), 0.014 mg/d E2 (micro-dose; n=147), or placebo (n=133) for 12 weeks. The coprimary efficacy variables were the mean changes from baseline in frequency and severity of moderate and severe hot flushes at the week 4 and 12 endpoints. RESULTS: At the week 12 endpoint, mean weekly frequencies of moderate and severe hot flushes were significantly reduced compared with placebo with low-dose E2/levonorgestrel (-51.80; P<.001) and micro-dose E2 (-38.46; P<.001). Severity scores were also significantly reduced with both treatments compared with placebo. At week 12 endpoint, 41.3% of women receiving micro-dose E2 were treatment responders (75% or more reduction from baseline in hot flush frequency; P=.003 compared with 24.2% placebo). In this group, the mean reduction in moderate and severe hot flushes from baseline was approximately 50% after 2, 70% after 4, 90% after 8, and 95% after 12 weeks. There were no differences between active treatments and placebo regarding adverse events. CONCLUSION: Micro-dose E2 (0.014 mg/d) was clinically and statistically significantly more effective than placebo in reducing the number of moderate and severe hot flushes, with a 41% responder rate, supporting the concept of the lowest effective dose. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00206622