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If you’re between 40 and 50, you may be familiar with the experience of a sudden increase in heat in your upper body. Or even waking up drenched in sweat. These are widely known as hot flashes and night sweats, common symptoms of perimenopause or menopause – a stage in which women’s reproductive cycles begin to end. Transitioning is hard, especially with the stigma around it and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). While women mostly talk about their struggles in hushed tones, health organizations are increasingly looking at ways to help women better manage menopause. In a latest move, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Linquet, a new daily pill from Bayer that offers a hormone-free option to help reduce hot flashes.
What is Linquet and how does it work?
Linquat, also known as alizenant, is designed to help regulate body temperature. It is the second drug to address hot flashes by targeting the neurokinin-3 receptor in the brain. These receptors play an important role in regulating body temperature and sleep.
When women go through menopause, levels of estrogen – one of the two major sex hormones in women – drop. This may cause hot flashes. Linquat helps by blocking specific receptors in the brain, which calms the pathways that cause hot flashes and related sleep problems. The drug went through three clinical trials on more than 2,000 women who had moderate to severe hot flashes. The results, published in JAMA and JAMA Internal Medicine, showed that women taking Linquet had about 55% fewer hot flashes after just 12 weeks than women taking a placebo. Many participants began feeling relief within a few weeks.
“It is important that women know they have options for treating moderate to severe hot flashes caused by menopause. This approval further expands a woman’s options for treating these symptoms,” Claire Gill, president and founder of the National Menopause Foundation, said in a Bayer press statement.
Linquat for women with breast cancer
Linquat may help women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and who experience hot flashes from their hormone-blocking treatments. In a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, women who took Linquet reported fewer hot flashes per day than women who took a placebo.
They also experienced better sleep and improved overall quality of life. This is very important because traditional hormone therapy is not an option for women battling breast cancer. With Linquet, they will have a safe option to manage those difficult symptoms without using hormones.
Side effects of Linquet
While the news about hormone-free medication may be exciting, it is important to be cautious with any new medication and understand its safety and side effects. The trials found that some common side effects were mild fatigue, headache, and drowsiness. Bayer also reported that some participants had high levels of liver enzymes, which indicate liver problems. Because of this, the FDA recommends checking liver function before starting the drug and again after three months of treatment.
No serious liver injury was found in a year-long study of Linquat, but monitoring is still ongoing. Women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should avoid Linquat because animal studies show it may cause problems in pregnancy.
What percentage of menopausal women experience hot flashes?
According to the Journal of Midlife Health, about 80% of women are affected by hot flashes during menopause and these symptoms can last for years. “They can interfere with sleep and concentration, making daily life challenging,” Dr Pooja C Thukral, consultant – obstetrics and gynaecology, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, once told Health Shots. Some non-hormonal treatments, such as some antidepressants and gabapentin, may help, but they are often not as effective.
Linquat has been approved, which means there are now more options for treating hot flashes.
“This treatment focuses on the biological causes behind hot flashes rather than using hormonal therapy alone,” Dr. Jayashree Nagaraj Bhasgi, senior consultant, obstetrics and gynecology at Fortis Hospital, tells Health Shots. For those who cannot or do not want to take hormones, this offers a new opportunity for relief.
Availability and cost of Linquat
The new drug will be available in US pharmacies starting in November 2025, but you will need a prescription from your doctor. According to The New York Times, Bayer expects the monthly price to be around $625.
(Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you have about any medical condition.)
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