ASRM:Press Release

Embargoed for Release:
Monday, October 15, 2007 9:30 am Eastern Time

Contact:
Sean Tipton at 202-249-4200 or stipton@asrm-dc.org
Eleanor Nicoll at 202-249-4338 or enicoll@asrm-dc.org

Note: All Information is embargoed until the time of presentation at the meeting unless otherwise indicated.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 63RD ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE

Menopausal Symptoms and Treatment Effects

Washington, DC - Researchers at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine today presented several important new findings about menopause. These included investigating the association between levels of the hormone leptin and hot flashes, the impact of soy supplement on body composition, and the results of studies of a novel drug, desvenlafaxine succinate (DVS) a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) for menopausal symptoms.

Estrogen is the hormone most often associated with menopause, but investigators from Johns Hopkins University set out to measure levels of the hormone leptin to see if they were associated with levels of other hormones and the occurrence of hot flashes, a common symptom of menopause. After measuring the leptin levels in women's blood they found that leptin levels were in fact associated with levels of estrogen and other hormones and with the frequency of hot flashes.

Soy products are commonly touted as being of help to menopausal and postmenopausal women. Researchers from the University of Alabama, Birmingham and the University of Vermont examined the impact of soy supplementation on the percentage of fat found in certain parts of the body, as well as bone mineral content. Researchers divided fifteen women in their mid-fifties into two groups; one group was given a daily soy-based shake and the other was not. The research found that soy supplementation reduced the increase in subcutaneous and total abdominal fat, but did not have an effect in the arms, legs or trunks of the women. No differences were found between the two groups in bone mineral content.

In research supported by Wyeth Research, investigators examined two different aspects of a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) known as desvenlafaxine succinate (DVS).

The first study dealt primarily with the safety profile of the drug. With menopausal women under age 50 who were experiencing hot flashes as the research subjects, 300 were given the drug while 150 received a placebo. Safety was assessed by collecting information on any adverse events and by conducting physical exams including measuring the patients vital signs and doing lab tests. Most of the adverse events reported were short term and mild and no significant differences were found between the groups upon physical examinations.

The second study examined whether the SNRI was effective in treating hot flashes. The group of women given DVS was further stratified into a group getting 100 mg of the drug and one getting 150 mg. The women were given tests at the start of the study and again after four weeks and after 12 weeks. These tests measured their moods and overall level of menopausal symptoms. After the 12 week mark, the researchers concluded that DVS was effective at relieving women's menopausal symptoms, and that 100 mg was the appropriate dosage.

“Understanding menopause and being able to alleviate its symptoms is an important focus of reproductive medical research. Basic research to help us understand what happens during menopause, examining the impact of common treatments and looking for new ones are all vital pieces of the puzzle,” said Steven J. Ory, MD President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

O-16, Alexander et al, The Association of Leptin Levels, Hormone Levels and Hot Flashes in Mid-Life Women

O-22, Christie et al, Effect of Soy Supplementation on Regional Fat, Bone Mineral Content and Lean Mass in Postmenopausal Women

P-421, Farmer et al, Safety and Tolerability of Desvenlafaxine Succinate (DVS) in a double blind, placebo controlled Trial for the relief of VMS associeated with menopause.

P-422, Archer et al, Desvenlafaxine Succinate (DVS) a Novlel Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor, improves mood and menopausal symptoms in women with hot flashes associated with menopause.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, founded in 1944, is an organization of more than 8,000 physicians, researchers, nurses, technicians, and other professionals dedicated to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive biology. Affiliated societies include the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, The Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and the Society of Reproductive Surgeons.

Note: All Information is embargoed until the time of presentation at the meeting unless otherwise indicated.

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