Fezolinetant

Fezolinetant (INN; former developmental code name ESN-364) is a small-molecule, orally active, selective neurokinin-3 (NK3) receptor antagonist which is under development by Ogeda (formerly Euroscreen) for the treatment of sex hormone-related disorders.[1][2] As of May 2017, it has completed phase I and phase IIa clinical trials for hot flashes in postmenopausal women.[1] Phase IIa trials in polycystic ovary syndrome patients are ongoing.[1] In April 2017, it was announced that Ogeda would be acquired by Astellas Pharma.[3]

Fezolinetant
Clinical data
Other namesESN-364
Routes of
administration
By mouth
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
ChEMBL
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC16H15FN6OS
Molar mass358.40 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)

Fezolinetant shows high affinity for and potent inhibition of the NK3 receptor in vitro (Ki = 25 nM, IC50 = 20 nM).[2] Loss-of-function mutations in TACR and TACR3, the genes respectively encoding neurokinin B and its receptor, the NK3 receptor, have been found in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.[2] In accordance, NK3 receptor antagonists like fezolinetant have been found to dose-dependently suppress luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion, though not that of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and consequently to dose-dependently decrease estradiol and progesterone levels in women and testosterone levels in men.[4] As such, they are similar to GnRH modulators, and present as a potential clinical alternative to them for use in the same kinds of indications.[5] However, the inhibition of sex hormone production by NK3 receptor inactivation tends to be less complete and "non-castrating" relative to that of GnRH modulators, and so they may have a reduced incidence of menopausal-like side effects such as loss of bone mineral density.[4][5]

Unlike GnRH modulators, but similarly to estrogens, NK3 receptor antagonists including fezolinetant and MLE-4901 (also known as AZD-4901, formerly AZD-2624) have been found to alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women.[6][7] This would seem to be independent of their actions on the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and hence on sex hormone production.[6][7] NK3 receptor antagonists are anticipated as a useful clinical alternative to estrogens for management of hot flashes, but with potentially reduced risks and side effects.[6][7]

See also

References


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