Veoza

Round, light red tablets (approximately 7 mm diameter x 3 mm thickness), debossed with the company logo and '645' on the same side.
Each film-coated tablet contains 45 mg of fezolinetant.
Excipients/Inactive Ingredients: Core tablet: Mannitol (E421), Hydroxypropyl cellulose (E463), Low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (E463a), Microcrystalline cellulose (E460), Magnesium stearate (E470b).
Film coating: Hypromellose (E464), Talc (E553b), Macrogol (E1521), Titanium dioxide (E171), Iron oxide red (E172).

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Other gynaecologicals, other gynaecologicals. ATC code: G02CX06.
Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Mechanism of action: Fezolinetant is a non-hormonal selective neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist. It blocks neurokinin B (NKB) binding on the kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin (KNDy) neuron, which is postulated to restore the balance in KNDy neuronal activity in the thermoregulatory centre of the hypothalamus.
Pharmacodynamic effects: In postmenopausal women, with fezolinetant treatment, a transient decrease of luteinizing hormone (LH) levels was observed. No clear trends or clinically relevant changes in sex hormones measured (follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, oestrogen, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate) in postmenopausal women were observed.
Clinical efficacy and safety: Efficacy: Effects on VMS: The effects of fezolinetant were studied in postmenopausal women with moderate to severe VMS in two 12-week, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase 3 studies of identical design, followed by a 40-week extension treatment period (SKYLIGHT 1 - 2693-CL-0301 and SKYLIGHT 2 - 2693-CL-0302). Women who had a minimum average of 7 moderate to severe VMS per day were enrolled in the studies.
The study population included postmenopausal women defined as having amenorrhoea for ≥ 12 consecutive months (70.1%) or amenorrhoea for ≥ 6 months with FSH > 40 IU/l (4.1%) or having had bilateral oophorectomy ≥ 6 weeks prior to the screening visit (16.1%).
The study population included postmenopausal women with one or more of the following: prior hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use (19.9%), prior oophorectomy (21.6%), or prior hysterectomy (32.1%).
In the studies, a total of 1022 postmenopausal women (81% Caucasian, 17% Black, 1% Asian, 24% Hispanic/Latina ethnicity, and aged ≥ 40 years and ≤ 65 years with an average age of 54 years) were randomised and stratified by smoking status (17% smokers).
The 4 co-primary efficacy endpoints for both studies were the change from baseline in moderate to severe VMS frequency and severity to weeks 4 and 12 as defined in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) guidelines. Each study demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful (≥ 2 hot flashes per 24 hours) reduction from baseline in the frequency of moderate to severe VMS to weeks 4 and 12 for fezolinetant 45 mg compared to placebo. Data from the studies showed a statistically significant reduction from baseline in the severity of moderate to severe VMS to weeks 4 and 12 for fezolinetant 45 mg compared to placebo.
Results of the co-primary endpoint for change from baseline to weeks 4 and 12 in mean frequency of moderate to severe VMS per 24 hours from SKYLIGHT 1 and 2 and from pooled studies are shown in Table 1. (See Table 1.)

Click on icon to see table/diagram/image

Results of the co-primary endpoint for change from baseline to weeks 4 and 12 in mean severity of moderate to severe VMS per 24 hours from SKYLIGHT 1 and 2 and from pooled studies are shown in Table 2. (See Table 2.)

Click on icon to see table/diagram/image

Safety: Endometrial safety: In the long-term safety data (SKYLIGHT 1, 2, and 4), endometrial safety of fezolinetant 45 mg was assessed by transvaginal ultrasound and endometrial biopsies (304 women had baseline and post-baseline endometrial biopsies during 52 weeks of treatment).
Endometrial biopsy assessments did not identify an increased risk of endometrial hyperplasia or malignancy according to pre-specified criteria for endometrial safety. Transvaginal ultrasound did not reveal increased endometrial thickness.
Pharmacokinetics: In healthy women, fezolinetant C_max and AUC increased proportionally with doses between 20 and 60 mg once daily.
After once-a-day dosing, steady-state plasma concentrations of fezolinetant were generally reached by day 2, with minimal fezolinetant accumulation. The pharmacokinetics of fezolinetant do not change over time.
Absorption: Fezolinetant C_max is usually achieved at 1 to 4 hours post-dose. No clinically significant differences in fezolinetant pharmacokinetics were observed following administration with a high-calorie, high-fat meal. Veoza may be administered with or without food (see Dosage & Administration).
Distribution: The mean apparent volume of distribution (V_z/F) of fezolinetant is 189 l. The plasma protein binding of fezolinetant is low (51%). The distribution of fezolinetant into red blood cells is almost equal to plasma.
Biotransformation: Fezolinetant is primarily metabolised by CYP1A2 to yield oxidised major metabolite ES259564. ES259564 is approximately 20-fold less potent against human NK3 receptor. The metabolite-to-parent ratio ranges from 0.7 to 1.8.
Elimination: The apparent clearance at steady-state of fezolinetant is 10.8 l/h. Following oral administration, fezolinetant is mainly eliminated in urine (76.9%) and to a lesser extent in faeces (14.7%). In urine, a mean of 1.1% of the administered fezolinetant dose was excreted unchanged and 61.7% of the administered dose was excreted as ES259564. The effective half-life (t_½) of fezolinetant is 9.6 hours in women with VMS.
Special populations: Effects of age, race, body weight, and menopause status: There are no clinically relevant effects on age (18 to 65 years), race (Black, Asian, Other), body weight (42 to 126 kg), or menopause status (pre-, post-menopause) on the pharmacokinetics of fezolinetant.
Hepatic impairment: Following single-dose administration of 30 mg fezolinetant in women with Child-Pugh Class A (mild) chronic hepatic impairment, mean fezolinetant C_max increased by 1.2-fold and AUC_inf increased by 1.6-fold, relative to women with normal hepatic function. In women with Child-Pugh Class B (moderate) chronic hepatic impairment, mean fezolinetant C_max decreased by 15% and AUC_inf increased by 2-fold. The C_max of ES259564 decreased in both mild and moderate chronic hepatic impairment groups while AUC_inf and AUC_last slightly increased less than 1.2-fold.
Fezolinetant has not been studied in individuals with Child-Pugh Class C (severe) chronic hepatic impairment.
Renal impairment: Following single-dose administration of 30 mg fezolinetant, there was no clinically relevant effect on fezolinetant exposure (C_max and AUC) in women with mild (eGFR 60 to less than 90 ml/min/1.73 m²) to severe (eGFR less than 30 ml/min/1.73 m²) renal impairment. The AUC of ES259564 was not changed in women with mild renal impairment but increased approximately 1.7- to 4.8-fold in moderate (eGFR 30 to less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m²) and severe renal impairment. Veoza is not recommended for use in women with severe renal impairment or with end-stage renal disease because of lack of long-term safety data in this population.
Fezolinetant has not been studied in individuals with end-stage renal disease (eGFR less than 15 ml/min/1.73 m²).
Toxicology: Preclinical safety data: Effects in non-clinical studies were observed only at exposures considered sufficiently in excess of the maximum human exposure indicating little relevance to clinical use.
Repeated dose toxicity: Repeated administration of fezolinetant to rats and monkeys showed the effects consistent with the primary pharmacological action (oestrous cycle disruptions, the lack of ovarian activity, decreased uterine and/or ovarian weight, uterine atrophy). These effects were observed at high exposure levels (> 10-fold of the anticipated clinical exposure at the human therapeutic dose of 45 mg). Furthermore, in rats, secondary effects were seen on the liver and thyroid which are considered to be an adaptive response to the enzyme induction and in the absence of functional impairment and accompanying necrotic changes were considered non-adverse. The finding of thyroid follicular cell hyperplasia is considered secondary to the liver enzyme induction due to the increased thyroid hormone metabolism, resulting in the positive feedback to the pituitary for the stimulation of thyroid stimulating hormone production and increased thyroid activity. It is generally accepted that rodents are more sensitive to this type of liver-mediated thyroid toxicity than humans, thus these findings are not expected to be clinically relevant.
In monkeys, thrombocytopenia, sometimes associated with haemorrhagic episodes and regenerative anaemia, was seen following repeated administration at high dose levels (> 60-fold of human exposure at the human therapeutic dose dose).
Genotoxicity: Fezolinetant and its major metabolite ES259564 showed no genotoxic potential in the in vitro bacterial reverse mutation test, in vitro chromosomal aberration test, and in vivo micronucleus test.
Carcinogenicity: An increase in the incidence of thyroid follicular cell adenoma was noted in a 2-year rat carcinogenicity study (186-fold of human exposure at the human therapeutic dose). The increase is considered to be a rat specific effect secondary to the induction of hepatocyte metabolic enzymes and does not constitute a clinical carcinogenic risk.
Additionally, increased incidence of thymomas, which slightly exceeded the historical control range, was observed in both species. However, these findings were only noted at exposure levels significantly in excess (> 50-fold) of the clinical exposure at the human therapeutic dose, and therefore are not expected to be relevant to humans.
Reproductive and developmental toxicity: Fezolinetant had no effect on female fertility or early embryonic development in the rat study at exposure levels of 143-fold of human exposure at the human therapeutic dose.
In embryo-foetal development toxicity studies, embryo-lethality was noted at the exposure levels of 128- and 174-fold at the human therapeutic dose in rats and rabbits, respectively. Rabbits also showed increased late resorption and reduced foetal weight at the exposure levels of 28-fold at the human therapeutic dose. Fezolinetant did not show teratogenic potential in either rats or rabbits. In the pre- and post-natal development study in rats, increased dose-responsive total litter loss/abortions was observed at the exposure levels of 36-fold of the anticipated clinical exposure at the maximum recommended human dose, while reduced sexual maturation in male progeny was seen at the 204-fold exposure levels at the maximum recommended human dose.
Following administration of radiolabelled fezolinetant to lactating rats, the radioactivity concentration in milk was higher than that in the plasma at all time points, indicating excretion of fezolinetant and/or its metabolites in the breast milk.
Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA): Environmental risk assessment studies have shown that fezolinetant may pose a risk to the aquatic environment (see Special Precautions for Disposal under Cautions for Usage).

Veoza is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).

Posology: The recommended dose is 45 mg once daily.
Benefit of long-term treatment should be periodically assessed since the duration of VMS can vary by individual.
Missed dose: If a dose of Veoza is missed or not taken at the usual time, the missed dose should be taken as soon as possible, unless there is less than 12 hours before the next scheduled dose. Individuals should return to the regular schedule the following day.
Special populations: Elderly: Fezolinetant has not been studied for safety and efficacy in women initiating Veoza treatment over 65 years of age. No dose recommendation can be made for this population.
Hepatic impairment: No dose modification is recommended for individuals with Child-Pugh Class A (mild) chronic hepatic impairment (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Veoza is not recommended for use in individuals with Child-Pugh Class B (moderate) or C (severe) chronic hepatic impairment. Fezolinetant has not been studied in individuals with Child-Pugh Class C (severe) chronic hepatic impairment (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Renal impairment: No dose modification is recommended for individuals with mild (eGFR 60 to less than 90 ml/min/1.73 m²) or moderate (eGFR 30 to less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m²) renal impairment (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Veoza is not recommended for use in individuals with severe (eGFR less than 30 ml/min/1.73 m²) renal impairment. Fezolinetant has not been studied in individuals with end-stage renal disease (eGFR less than 15 ml/min/1.73 m²) and is not recommended for use in this population (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Paediatric population: There is no relevant use of Veoza in the paediatric population for the indication of moderate to severe VMS associated with menopause.
Method of administration: Veoza should be administered orally once daily at about the same time each day with or without food and taken with liquids. Tablets are to be swallowed whole and not broken, crushed, or chewed due to the absence of clinical data under these conditions.

Doses of fezolinetant up to 900 mg have been tested in clinical studies in healthy women. At 900 mg, headache, nausea, and paraesthesia were observed.
In the case of overdose, the individual should be closely monitored, and supportive treatment should be considered based on signs and symptoms.

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in Description.
Concomitant use of moderate or strong CYP1A2 inhibitors (see Interactions).
Known or suspected pregnancy (see Use in Pregnancy & Lactation).

Medical examination/consultation: Prior to the initiation or reinstitution of Veoza, a careful diagnosis should be made, and complete medical history (including family history) must be taken. During treatment, periodic check-ups must be carried out according to standard clinical practice.
Liver disease: Veoza is not recommended for use in individuals with Child-Pugh Class B (moderate) or C (severe) chronic hepatic impairment. Women with active liver disease or Child-Pugh Class B (moderate) or C (severe) chronic hepatic impairment have not been included in the clinical efficacy and safety studies with fezolinetant (see Dosage & Administration) and this information cannot be reliably extrapolated. The pharmacokinetics of fezolinetant has been studied in women with Child-Pugh Class A (mild) and B (moderate) chronic hepatic impairment (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Hepatotoxicity: Elevations in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels at least 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) occurred in 2.1% of women receiving fezolinetant compared to 0.8% of women receiving placebo. Elevations in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels at least 3 times the ULN occurred in 1.0% of women receiving fezolinetant compared to 0.4% of women receiving placebo (see Adverse Reactions). ALT and/or AST elevations were not accompanied by an increase in bilirubin (greater than two times the ULN, i.e., there were no cases of Hy's law) with fezolinetant. Women with ALT or AST elevations were generally asymptomatic. Transaminase levels returned to pre-treatment levels (or close to these) without sequelae with dose continuation, and upon dose interruption, or discontinuation.
In the post-marketing setting, cases of serious but reversible hepatotoxicity have been reported within the first few weeks of treatment. Patients have experienced transaminase elevations (greater than 10 times the ULN) with concurrent elevations in bilirubin and/or alkaline phosphatase (ALP), sometimes associated with signs or symptoms such as fatigue, pruritus, jaundice, dark urine, or abdominal pain.
Evaluate hepatic function (ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin) before initiating therapy. Do not initiate fezolinetant if ALT or AST is equal to or exceeds 2 times the ULN or if the total bilirubin is elevated (e.g., equal to or exceeds 2 times the ULN).
Patients should discontinue fezolinetant immediately and seek medical attention, including hepatic laboratory tests, if they experience signs or symptoms that may suggest hepatotoxicity such as new onset fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, jaundice, pale faeces, dark urine, or abdominal pain.
Follow-up evaluation of hepatic function is recommended monthly for the first three months of initiating fezolinetant and thereafter periodically based on clinical judgement.
Discontinue fezolinetant if: transaminase elevations are greater than 5 times the ULN; transaminase elevations are greater than 3 times the ULN and the total bilirubin level is greater than 2 times the ULN.
Exclude alternative causes of hepatic laboratory test elevations.
Known or previous breast cancer or oestrogen-dependent malignancies: Women undergoing oncologic treatment (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation therapy, anti-hormone therapy) for breast cancer or other oestrogen-dependent malignancies have not been included in the clinical studies. Therefore, Veoza is not recommended for use in this population as the safety and efficacy are unknown.
Women with previous breast cancer or other oestrogen-dependent malignancies and no longer on any oncologic treatment have not been included in the clinical studies. A decision to treat these women with Veoza should be based on a benefit-risk consideration for the individual.
Concomitant use of hormone replacement therapy with oestrogens (local vaginal preparations excluded): Concomitant use of fezolinetant and hormone replacement therapy with oestrogens has not been studied, and therefore concomitant use is not recommended.
Seizures or other convulsive disorders: Fezolinetant has not been studied in women with a history of seizures or other convulsive disorders. There were no cases of seizures or convulsive disorders during clinical studies. A decision to treat these women with Veoza should be based on a benefit-risk consideration for the individual.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: Fezolinetant has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Pregnancy: Veoza is contraindicated during pregnancy (see Contraindications). If pregnancy occurs during use with Veoza, treatment should be withdrawn immediately.
There are no or limited data from the use of fezolinetant in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions). Perimenopausal women of childbearing potential should use effective contraception. Non-hormonal contraceptives are recommended for this population.
Breast-feeding: Veoza is not indicated during lactation.
It is unknown whether fezolinetant and its metabolites are excreted in human milk. Available pharmacokinetic data in animals showed excretion of fezolinetant and/or its metabolites in animal milk (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions). A risk to the suckling child cannot be excluded. A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue/abstain from Veoza therapy taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman.
Fertility: There are no data on the effect of fezolinetant on human fertility. In the fertility study in female rats, fezolinetant did not affect fertility (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions).

Summary of the safety profile: The most frequent adverse reactions with fezolinetant 45 mg were diarrhoea (3.2%) and insomnia (3.0%).
There were no serious adverse reactions reported at an incidence greater than 1% across the total study population. On fezolinetant 45 mg, four serious adverse reactions were reported. The most serious adverse reaction was an event of endometrial adenocarcinoma (0.1%).
The most frequent adverse reactions leading to dose discontinuation with fezolinetant 45 mg were alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased (0.3%) and insomnia (0.2%).
Tabulated list of adverse reactions: The safety of fezolinetant has been studied in 2203 women with VMS associated with menopause receiving fezolinetant once daily in phase 3 clinical studies.
Adverse reactions observed during clinical studies and from spontaneous reporting are listed as follows by frequency category in each system organ class. Frequency categories are defined as follows: very common (≥ 1/10); common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10); uncommon (≥ 1/1 000 to < 1/100); rare (≥ 1/10 000 to < 1/1 000); very rare (< 1/10 000); and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). (See Table 3.)

Click on icon to see table/diagram/image

Description of selected adverse reactions: Hepatotoxicity: Serious cases of hepatotoxicity in which ALT and/or AST elevations were accompanied by an increase in total bilirubin including symptoms have been reported post-marketing (see Precautions).
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions: Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system.

Effect of other medicinal products on fezolinetant: CYP1A2 inhibitors: Fezolinetant is primarily metabolised by CYP1A2 and to a lesser extent by CYP2C9 and CYP2C19. Concomitant use of fezolinetant with medicinal products that are moderate or strong inhibitors of CYP1A2 (e.g., ethinyl oestradiol containing contraceptives, mexiletine, enoxacin, fluvoxamine) increase the plasma C_max and AUC of fezolinetant.
Concomitant use of moderate or strong CYP1A2 inhibitors with Veoza is contraindicated (see Contraindications).
Co-administration with fluvoxamine, a strong CYP1A2 inhibitor, resulted in an overall 1.8-fold increase in fezolinetant C_max and 9.4-fold increase in AUC; no change in t_max was observed. Given the large effect of a strong CYP1A2 inhibitor and supportive modelling, the increase in fezolinetant concentrations is expected to be of clinical concern also following concomitant use with moderate CYP1A2 inhibitors (see Contraindications). The increase in fezolinetant exposure was however not predicted to be clinically relevant following concomitant use with weak CYP1A2 inhibitors.
CYP1A2 inducers: In vivo data: Smoking (moderate inducer of CYP1A2) decreased fezolinetant C_max to a geometric LS mean ratio of 71.74%, while AUC decreased to a geometric LS mean ratio of 48.29%. No significant difference in efficacy was observed between smokers and non-smokers. No dose modification is recommended for smokers.
Transporters: In vitro data: Fezolinetant is not a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Major metabolite ES259564 is a substrate of P-gp.
Effect of fezolinetant on other medicinal products: Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes: In vitro data: Fezolinetant and ES259564 are not inhibitors of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4. Fezolinetant and ES259564 are not inducers of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4.
Transporters: In vitro data: Fezolinetant and ES259564 are not inhibitors of P-gp, BCRP, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OCT2, MATE1, and MATE2-K (IC₅₀ > 70 μmol/l). Fezolinetant inhibited OAT1 and OAT3 with IC₅₀ values of 18.9 μmol/l (30 x C_max,u) and 27.5 μmol/l (44 x C_max,u), respectively. ES259564 does not inhibit OAT1 and OAT3 (IC₅₀ > 70 μmol/l).

Incompatibilities: Not applicable.
Special precautions for disposal: This medicinal product may pose a risk to the aquatic environment (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions).
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

Shelf life: 3 years.
Special precautions for storage: Store below 30°C.

Other Drugs Acting on the Genito-Urinary System

G02CX06 - fezolinetant ; Belongs to the class of other gynecologicals.

S