(Bloomberg) -- Bayer AG reported positive results for elinzanetant in women with or at high risk of a type of breast cancer, broadening the use case for the menopause treatment expected to launch as early as this year.
The German company’s drug met all the goals of a late-stage study for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms, also known as hot flashes, caused by breast-cancer treatments. Besides reducing the frequency of the symptoms compared to placebo, it also showed improvements in sleep disturbances and menopause-related quality of life, Bayer said in a statement Thursday.
With elinzanetant, Bayer is developing an alternative to hormones for some of the billions of women experiencing menopause symptoms that can affect sleep, mood and quality of life, forcing some out of the workforce. The results of this study add to previous trials. The drug could become the first approved treatment option for women who suffer from hot flashes as they undergo adjuvant endocrine therapy — a treatment for breast cancer.
Bayer is facing several challenges, including expiring patents for some of its top-selling drugs. Elinzanetant, which has blockbuster potential, is one of the new medicines expected to help cushion the revenue decline. The company has applied for market authorization in the European Union based on earlier studies for the once-daily pill as well as for a new drug application in the US.
©2025 Bloomberg L.P.