The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended a new non-hormonal pill for women experiencing menopause symptoms.
NICE stated that fezolinetant can now be prescribed on the NHS for women who are unable to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or for whom it is not suitable. The organisation explains that fezolinetant works by blocking nerve pathways in the brain that trigger hot flushes and night sweats.
According to NICE, around 500,000 women in England and Wales could benefit from the drug, which is taken as a 45mg tablet once a day. This announcement comes after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the treatment in December 2023.
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said, “We know that menopausal hot flushes and night sweats can have a profound impact on quality of life and significantly affect overall wellbeing. The evidence shows fezolinetant can meaningfully reduce symptoms and was found to be cost-effective. This decision will give much-needed relief to those for whom HRT is unsuitable.”