Divigel cuts menopausal symptoms

Data presented at this year's meeting of the North American Menopause Society in Dallas, Texas, shows that US drugmaker Upsher-Smith Laboratories' Divigel (estradiol 0.1% gel) significantly reduces the frequency and severity of hot flashes associated with the menopause. The drug, which is derived from plant sources, also demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile.

The findings are derived from a study that evaluated the product in 488 post-menopausal women suffering from moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms. Participants were randomized to receive one of three doses of the drug (1.0g/day, 0.5g/day, 0.25g/day) or placebo, for 12 weeks.

The results showed that patients treated with the two highest doses experienced a statistically-significant reduction in the frequency and severity of symptoms by week four, with patients in the 0.25g/day group achieving such improvement at week seven. The differences were maintained through to the end of the trials.