If hot flashes and night sweats are making menopause a misery, I have some good news for you. This week, a new form of non hormonal menopause medication has been granted approval in the UK, and it’s set to be a game changer for many women.
Fezolinetant, which is marketed under the brand name Veoza, has been shown to significantly relieve menopause-induced hot flashes and night sweats. And since 80% of women suffer from these types of vasomotor symptoms, the drug could bring relief to millions.
If you’re reading in the USA you might have already heard of Veoza. The novel medication was approved by the FDA back in May 2023. Since then, it’s helped countless American women to relieve their vasomotor symptoms and regain their quality of life. And now, our cousins across the pond in the UK will also be able to access this revolutionary drug.
Veoza is available in pill form and is designed to be taken daily. It works by shifting the temperature control mechanism in the brain; the part responsible for those sudden feelings of heat that seem to come out of nowhere. According to trial data, the effects can take hold in as little as 3 days, and provide a 75% reduction in the incidence of hot flashes.
Unlike traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT), this game-changing drug is a non hormonal medication. So, many women who are unable to take HRT due to a history of certain medical conditions could now find relief in the form of Veoza.
Of course, like any drug, this new medication does carry some potential risks. However, according to the executive director of healthcare quality and access at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), “No medicine would be approved unless it met our expected standards of safety, quality, and effectiveness, and we continue to keep the safety of all medicines under close review.”
The MHRA’s decision to approve Veoza means that the drug will be available in the UK as a private prescription-only medicine from 5th January 2024.
Astellas, the pharmaceutical company in charge of manufacturing, is also awaiting an application to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Once the application is reviewed and accepted, British women will be able to access Veoza for free at the point of use, through the UK’s National Health Service.
Meanwhile, here in the US, a 1 month’s supply of Veoza costs a fixed $ 550 USD.
