This dose-finding study is being conducted to select the daily oral dose of estetrol (E4) for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) in post-menopausal women.
Oestrogen therapy is the most consistently effective treatment used in the US and Europe for menopausal VMS. Following the safety issues reported in the primary Women's Health Initiative publications and with continued subject requests for treatment, a challenge to clinicians has been to identify the lowest effective dose of oestrogen for alleviating menopausal symptoms. In addition, it is a challenge to develop a safer oestrogen than those currently used. For this purpose, the minimum effective dose (MED) of E4 has to be defined for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. The present study is intended to evaluate changes in frequency and in severity of moderate to severe VMS in order to define the MED. Subjects will be randomly allocated to either treatment group (2.5 mg E4, 5 mg E4, 10 mg E4, 15 mg E4, or placebo) in a 1:1:1:1:1 ratio. All treatments (E4 or Placebo) will be administered once daily (QD) per os for at least 12 consecutive weeks until the last biological assessments (Day 90 maximum) have been performed.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
260
All treatments (E4 \[2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg\] capsule) will be administered once daily (QD) per os for at least 12 consecutive weeks until the last biological assessments (Day 90 maximum) have been performed.
1 capsule will be administered QD per os for at least 12 consecutive weeks until the last biological assessments (Day 90 maximum) have been performed.
Donesta Bioscience BV
Liège, Belgium
Change in weekly frequency of moderate to severe VMS from baseline to week 4.
Time frame: From baseline to week 4
Change in weekly frequency of moderate to severe VMS from baseline to week 12.
Time frame: From baseline to week 12
Change in severity of moderate to severe VMS from baseline to week 4.
The Severity Scoring System of VMS will be documented by the subjects by using the following scores: None (0) = No VMS symptoms; Mild (1) = Sensation of heat without sweating; Moderate (2) = Sensation of heat with sweating. Able to continue activity; Severe (3) = Sensation of heat with sweating. Causes cessation of activity.
Time frame: From baseline to week 4
Change in severity of moderate to severe VMS from baseline to week 12.
The Severity Scoring System of VMS will be documented by the subjects by using the following scores: None (0) = No VMS symptoms; Mild (1) = Sensation of heat without sweating; Moderate (2) = Sensation of heat with sweating. Able to continue activity; Severe (3) = Sensation of heat with sweating. Causes cessation of activity.
Time frame: From baseline to week 12
Change from baseline to week 12 in genitourinary symptoms (GSM) of menopause
The following GSM symptoms will be evaluated: * Vaginal dryness (none, mild, moderate or severe) * Vaginal and/or vulvar irritation/itching (none, mild, moderate or severe) * Dysuria (none, mild, moderate or severe) * Vaginal pain associated with sexual activity (none, mild, moderate or severe) * Vaginal bleeding associated with sexual activity (presence vs. absence).
Time frame: From baseline to week 12
Change in the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) from baseline to week 5.
Time frame: From baseline to week 5
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Change in the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) from baseline to week 12.
Time frame: From baseline to week 12
Change from baseline to week 12 in Vaginal pH.
Time frame: From baseline to week 12
Change from baseline to week 12 in Vaginal Maturation Index (MI) (parabasal and superficial cells)
Time frame: From baseline to week 12
Serum concentration of triglycerides.
Time frame: From baseline to week 12
Serum concentration of low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of high density lipoprotein (HLD)-cholesterol.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of total cholesterol.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Fasting glycemia.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of glycated hemoglobin.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Activated protein C sensitivity ratio (APCsr) (Endogenous Thrombin Potential [ETP]-Based).
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of D-dimers.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG).
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of antithrombin.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of protein-C.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of free protein-S.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of factor VIII.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of free tissue factor pathway inhibitor [TFPI].
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of osteocalcin.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Serum concentration of C-terminal telopeptide [CTX-1]
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Percentage of subjects who had a change in endometrial thickness at each study visit.
Time frame: From baseline to week 16
Percentage of subjects with adverse events as a measure of safety and tolerability.
Time frame: Up to week 16
Maximum concentration (Cmax) of E4 in plasma.
Time frame: Up to 90 days
Time to Cmax (Tmax) of E4 in plasma.
Time frame: Up to 90 days
Terminal half-life (T1/2) of E4 in plasma.
Time frame: Up to 90 days
Area under the plasma concentration-time curve from baseline to the last quantifiable concentration following dosing (AUCtau) of E4.
Time frame: Up to 90 days