Key TakeawaysResearchers found that a drug called linzagolix effectively treated heavy bleeding due to uterine fibroids.Linzagolix targets the fibroids themselves and can be tailored to avoid putting patients into menopause, like other drugs in its class.The drug is currently authorized for use in the European Union.

Key Takeaways

Researchers found that a drug called linzagolix effectively treated heavy bleeding due to uterine fibroids.Linzagolix targets the fibroids themselves and can be tailored to avoid putting patients into menopause, like other drugs in its class.The drug is currently authorized for use in the European Union.

The drug, called linzagolix and prescribed under the brand name Yselty in Europe, is administered orally and can be dosed according to a patient’s exact needs.

“Fibroids are one of the most common conditions that effect women—it’s the number one reason for hysterectomy—and the treatments we have now just aren’t satisfactory,” study co-authorHugh S. Taylor, MD, professor and chair of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences at the Yale School of Medicine, told Verywell, adding that many medications that are currently used “just treat the symptoms—not the fibroids themselves.”

Results for the latest trial for linzagolix were published inThe Lancet. For the trial, researchers enrolled around 500 women who were diagnosed with uterine fibroids and experienced heavy, irregular bleeding. Some patients were given linzagolix and some were given a placebo.

After 24 weeks, the researchers found that patients who received linzagolix had less bleeding than those taking the placebo.

Those who were treated with linzagolix but did not take add-back therapy had at least a 50% response.

The researchers concluded that linzagolix with or without add-back therapy “significantly reduced heavy menstrual bleeding,” noting that the drug “potentially provides a unique option for the chronic treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids in women who cannot or do not want to” take add-back therapy.

“The hope is that linzagolix will give better long-term control than anything we have today, but also prevent the fibroids from growing so we don’t have to kick the can down the road and deal with the problem later on when the fibroids are bigger,” Taylor said.

What Are Uterine Fibroids?

What Are Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop from the muscle tissue of the uterus. They’re the most common growth found in the pelvis of people with a uterus. They can cause uncomfortable symptoms, including:

Uterine fibroids that are small or don’t cause symptoms may not need to be treated. Others may be treated with medication like hormonal birth control pills, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, GnRH antagonists with hormonal add-back therapy, a progestin-releasing IUD, or tranexamic acid.

Fibroids may be removed via surgery known asmyomectomyand, in more severe cases when no other treatments have worked, patients may consider having a hysterectomy.

Why a Medication Like Linzagolix Is Needed

Linzagolix is a GnRH antagonist, and there are already GnRH antagonists on the market. However, doctors can tailor how much estrogen is blocked with linzagolix to meet a patient’s needs without putting them into menopause. Induced menopause is a common with other GnRH antagonists and can lead to complications like bone loss, Taylor said.

How Uterine Fibroids Are Treated

The drug also doesn’t need to be used with hormone add-back therapy.

“It still does a pretty good job of controlling the bleeding without it,” Taylor said. “For those women who don’t need those extra hormones, it could be a real advantage.”

The drug is “very promising,” said women’s health expertJennifer Wider, MD. “Having a medication that can help lessen heavy bleeding is a great addition to the options to treat and manage uterine fibroids,” she said.

Linzagolix is currently approved for use in the European Union but not in the U.S. However, Taylor said he is anticipating that, at some point, it will get FDA approval.

What This Means For YouUterine fibroids are a painful and disruptive condition. If you struggle with fibroids and heavy bleeding, talk to a healthcare provider about your treatment options to see if there is a way to get your symptoms under better control.

What This Means For You

Uterine fibroids are a painful and disruptive condition. If you struggle with fibroids and heavy bleeding, talk to a healthcare provider about your treatment options to see if there is a way to get your symptoms under better control.

2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Donnez J, Taylor HS, Stewart EA, et al.Linzagolix with and without hormonal add-back therapy for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids: two randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials.Lancet. 2022;400(10356):896-907. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01475-1American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Uterine fibroids.

2 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Donnez J, Taylor HS, Stewart EA, et al.Linzagolix with and without hormonal add-back therapy for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids: two randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials.Lancet. 2022;400(10356):896-907. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01475-1American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Uterine fibroids.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Donnez J, Taylor HS, Stewart EA, et al.Linzagolix with and without hormonal add-back therapy for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids: two randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials.Lancet. 2022;400(10356):896-907. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01475-1American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Uterine fibroids.

Donnez J, Taylor HS, Stewart EA, et al.Linzagolix with and without hormonal add-back therapy for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids: two randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials.Lancet. 2022;400(10356):896-907. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01475-1

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Uterine fibroids.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?