Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms (VMS; hot flashes and night sweats) are common and bothersome, affecting up to 80% of US women. VMS contribute to sleep disturbances, anxiety, mood changes, fatigue, and cognitive impairment, impacting quality of life and work productivity. Fezolinetant is an oral, nonhormonal, neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist treatment option for moderate to severe VMS due to menopause and is approved in the US, Europe, and Australia at a dose of 45 mg once daily. We evaluated the impact of fezolinetant versus placebo on work productivity and indirect costs among women with moderate to severe VMS.
METHODS: In a post hoc analysis of data from the phase 3 SKYLIGHT 1 (NCT04003155), SKYLIGHT 2 (NCT04003142), and DAYLIGHT (NCT05033886) trials, the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire specific to VMS was used to compare absenteeism, presenteeism, and overall productivity loss between fezolinetant and placebo groups (SKYLIGHT 1/2), and in a group unsuitable for hormone therapy (HT; SKYLIGHT 1/2 and DAYLIGHT). Indirect costs were estimated for fezolinetant- and placebo-treated women based on total work productivity impairment in SKYLIGHT 1/2, employment rate, and country-specific salary.
RESULTS: Based on the SKYLIGHT 1/2 population, 1 year of treatment with fezolinetant (n=188) versus placebo (n=171) was associated with improved work productivity, more hours worked, and reduced indirect costs among women with moderate to severe VMS. Productivity benefits, including improved presenteeism, were also observed in the HT-unsuitable population (fezolinetant, n=313; placebo, n=301) and remained significant after adjusting for baseline differences. Absenteeism was numerically lower with fezolinetant than with placebo (NS). Consistent with productivity improvements, fezolinetant was associated with an additional annualized cost savings of $779,062 USD vs placebo.
CONCLUSIONS: Fezolinetant, which alleviates VMS frequency and severity, offers meaningful work productivity benefits and reduced indirect costs for women with moderate to severe VMS, underscoring a potential economic value in managing menopause-related symptoms.