Title

24-Week Efficacy & Safety Study of Brisdelle™ (Formerly Known as Mesafem) in the Treatment of Vasomotor Symptoms
A Phase 3, Twenty-Four Week, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Efficacy and Safety Study of Mesafem (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules in the Treatment of Vasomotor Symptoms Associated With Menopause
  • Phase

    Phase 3
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Intervention/Treatment

    paroxetine ...
  • Study Participants

    570
To assess the safety and efficacy of Brisdelle (paroxetine mesylate) Capsules 7.5 mg for treatment of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause
The study is a 24-week, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of Brisdelle (paroxetine mesylate) Capsules 7.5 mg in subjects with moderate to severe postmenopausal VMS, defined as follows:

Moderate VMS: Sensation of heat with sweating, able to continue activity
Severe VMS: Sensation of heat with sweating, causing cessation of activity

The study is comprised of a screening period, a run-in period, a baseline visit, and a double-blind treatment period.
Study Started
Mar 31
2010
Primary Completion
Sep 30
2011
Study Completion
Nov 30
2011
Results Posted
Apr 21
2014
Estimate
Last Update
Oct 15
2015
Estimate

Drug Brisdelle (paroxetine mesylate)

Eligible subjects will be randomized to receive either Brisdelle (paroxetine mesylate) Capsules 7.5 mg or placebo capsules in a 1:1 ratio.

  • Other names: Former Names: Mesafem Capsules or, LDMP (Low-Dose Mesylate salt of Paroxetine)

Drug Placebo capsules

Eligible subjects will be randomized to receive either Brisdelle (paroxetine mesylate) Capsules 7.5 mg or placebo capsules in a 1:1 ratio.

  • Other names: Sugar pill

Brisdelle (paroxetine mesylate) Experimental

Brisdelle (paroxetine mesylate)

Placebo capsules Placebo Comparator

Sugar pill

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Female, >40 years of age
Reported more than 7-8 moderate to severe hot flashes per day (average) or 50-60 moderate to severe hot flashes per week for at least 30 days prior
Spontaneous amenorrhea for at least 12 consecutive months
Amenorrhea for at least 6 months and meet the biochemical criteria for menopause
Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy >6 weeks with or without hysterectomy

Exclusion Criteria:

BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²
Known non-responder to previous Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) treatment for VMS
History of self-injurious behavior
History of clinical diagnosis of depression; or treatment for depression
History of clinical diagnosis of borderline personality disorder
Use of an investigational study medication within 30 days prior to screening or during the study
Concurrent participation in another clinical trial or previous participation in this trial
Family of investigational-site staff

Summary

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Placebo Capsules

All Events

Event Type Organ System Event Term Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules Placebo Capsules

Mean Change From Baseline in Hot Flash Frequency at Week 4 and Week 12.

Subjects recorded the number of hot flashes per week using an electronic diary. The results reported are not hot flashes per week. The results reported are: Mean Baseline frequency of moderate to severe VMS Mean change in frequency of moderate to severe VMS from baseline to Week 4 Mean change in frequency of moderate to severe VMS from baseline to Week 12

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Baseline

10.83
Hot flashes per day (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 3.86

Week 12

-5.31
Hot flashes per day (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 4.67

Week 4

-4.13
Hot flashes per day (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 4.02

Placebo Capsules

Baseline

10.9
Hot flashes per day (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 3.96

Week 12

-3.94
Hot flashes per day (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 5.13

Week 4

-2.71
Hot flashes per day (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 4.31

Mean Change From Baseline in Hot Flash Severity at Week 4 and Week 12.

Subjects recorded the number of hot flashes per week using an electronic diary. Severity score for hot flashes for each subject was calculated as the sum of 2 times the number of moderate hot flashes, plus 3 times the number of severe hot flashes, divided by the total number of moderate and severe hot flashes. Weekly Severity Score = (2•Fm +3•FS)/(Fm + FS) Daily Severity Score = {(2•F) m +3•FS)/(Fm + FS)}/7 Where, Fm= Frequency of Moderate Hot Flashes Fs = Frequency of Severe Hot Flashes

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Baseline

2.525
Hot Flash Severity Score per day (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.30

Week 12

-0.0126
Hot Flash Severity Score per day (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.31

Week 4

-0.092
Hot Flash Severity Score per day (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.24

Placebo Capsules

Baseline

2.532
Hot Flash Severity Score per day (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.32

Week 12

-0.066
Hot Flash Severity Score per day (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.26

Week 4

-0.059
Hot Flash Severity Score per day (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.22

Change in Frequency of Moderate to Severe Hot Flashes Frequency From Baseline (BMI <32 kg/m2, Week 4 and Week 12), Median

Subjects were weighed at each clinic visit and reported the number of hot flashes using an electronic diary. For the BMI <32 kg/m2 subgroup, the mean weekly reduction in frequency of moderate to severe hot flashes from Baseline was calculated for Week 4 and Week 12.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

-41.0
Hot flashes per week (Median)
Full Range: -150.0 to 119.0

Week 4

-28.5
Hot flashes per week (Median)
Full Range: -130.0 to 48.0

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

-27.0
Hot flashes per week (Median)
Full Range: -168.0 to 127.0

Week 4

-18.0
Hot flashes per week (Median)
Full Range: -151.0 to 119.0

Change From Baseline in Total Number of Awakenings Due to Hot Flashes, Median

Participants completed a electronic diary to report nightime awakenings. Subjects took study drug once daily at bedtime and they were instructed to complete daily hot flash and sleep diaries to record the number of hot flashes daily, the severity of each episode of hot flash and total number of awakenings due to hot flashes. The diary data was used to evaluate and compare the treatment groups, on the change from baseline to Week 4 and Week 12, in the total number of awakenings due to hot flashes. The total number of awakenings due to hot flashes in the run-in period was used as baseline.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

-13.15
Awakenings (Median)
Full Range: -80.1 to 49.0

Week 4

-8.5
Awakenings (Median)
Full Range: -78.1 to 46.0

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

-8.67
Awakenings (Median)
Full Range: -47.5 to 22.67

Week 4

-6.62
Awakenings (Median)
Full Range: -47.0 to 34.0

Change in Frequency of Moderate to Severe Hot Flashes Frequency From Baseline (BMI ≥32 kg/m2, Week 4 and Week 12), Median

Subjects were weighed at each clinic visit and reported the number of hot flashes using an electronic diary. For the BMI ≥32 kg/m2 subgroup, the mean weekly reduction in frequency of moderate to severe hot flashes from Baseline was calculated for Week 4 and Week 12.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

-31.5
Hot flashes per week (Median)
Full Range: -124.0 to 38.0

Week 4

-22.0
Hot flashes per week (Median)
Full Range: -118.0 to 30.0

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

-23.0
Hot flashes per week (Median)
Full Range: -93.0 to 57.0

Week 4

-17.0
Hot flashes per week (Median)
Full Range: -93.0 to 140.0

Change in Severity of Moderate to Severe Hot Flashes From Baseline (BMI <32 kg/m2, At Week 4 and Week 12), Median

Subjects were weighed at each clinic visit and reported the number of hot flashes using an electronic diary. For the BMI <32 kg/m2 subgroup, the mean weekly reduction in the severity of moderate to severe hot flashes from Baseline was calculated at Week 4 and Week 12. Subjects recorded the number of hot flashes per week using an electronic diary. Severity score for hot flashes for each subject was calculated as the sum of 2 times the number of moderate hot flashes, plus 3 times the number of severe hot flashes, divided by the total number of moderate and severe hot flashes. Weekly Severity Score = (2•Fm +3•FS)/(Fm + FS) Daily Severity Score = {(2•F) m +3•FS)/(Fm + FS)}/7 Where, Fm= Frequency of Moderate Hot Flashes Fs = Frequency of Severe Hot Flashes The calculated severity score is reported below.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

-0.045
Hot Flash Severity scores per week (Median)
Full Range: -1.0 to 0.89

Week 4

-0.033
Hot Flash Severity scores per week (Median)
Full Range: -1.0 to 0.5

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

Week 4

-0.004
Hot Flash Severity scores per week (Median)
Full Range: -1.0 to 0.7

Change in Severity of Moderate to Severe Hot Flashes From Baseline (BMI ≥32 kg/m2, Week 4 and Week 12), Median

Subjects were weighed at each clinic visit and reported the number of hot flashes using an electronic diary. For the BMI ≥32 kg/m2 subgroup, the mean weekly reduction in the severity of moderate to severe hot flashes from Baseline was calculated at Week 4 and Week 12. Subjects recorded the number of hot flashes per week using an electronic diary. Severity score for hot flashes for each subject was calculated as the sum of 2 times the number of moderate hot flashes, plus 3 times the number of severe hot flashes, divided by the total number of moderate and severe hot flashes. Weekly Severity Score = (2•Fm +3•FS)/(Fm + FS) Daily Severity Score = {(2•F) m +3•FS)/(Fm + FS)}/7 Where, Fm= Frequency of Moderate Hot Flashes Fs = Frequency of Severe Hot Flashes The calculated severity score is reported below.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

-0.052
Hot Flash Severity scores per week (Median)
Full Range: -0.57 to 0.97

Week 4

-0.039
Hot Flash Severity scores per week (Median)
Full Range: -0.94 to 0.81

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

-0.051
Hot Flash Severity scores per week (Median)
Full Range: -1.0 to 0.71

Week 4

-0.036
Hot Flash Severity scores per week (Median)
Full Range: -0.56 to 0.71

Change From Baseline in Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS) at Week 4 and Week 12, Total Score, Median

The Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS) was used for this measurement. The scale has 21 questions and measures symptoms in 4 areas; these are psychological (anxiety and depression), physical, vasomotor, and libido. The severity of the symptom was scored as: 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, and 3=severe. Anxiety was determined by using the sum of scores 1 to 6, and depression was determined by using the sum of scores 7 to 11. Physical aspects were determined by using the sum of scores 12 to 18; vasomotor aspects were determined by using the sum of scores 19 to 20; and libido was determined by using the score for question 21. The total GCS score ranges from "0" to "63" which is the sum of all the scores for the 21-symptom assessment questions in this scale. Each subject's total GCS score at baseline and at Week 4 and Week 12 were used to calculate change from baseline in these symptoms. The change from baseline is reported below.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

-4.0
units on a scale (Median)
Full Range: -33.0 to 14.0

Week 4

-3.0
units on a scale (Median)
Full Range: -36.0 to 16.0

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

-3.0
units on a scale (Median)
Full Range: -32.0 to 48.0

Week 4

-3.0
units on a scale (Median)
Full Range: -37.0 to 13.0

Percentage of Responders

Participants reported the number of hot flashes using an electronic diary. Participants who hd a ≥50% reduction in hot flash frequency were defined as responders. The percent of responders is presented below.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

49.3
percentage of participants

Week 4

35.56
percentage of participants

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

33.8
percentage of participants

Week 4

25.35
percentage of participants

Percent Daytime and Nighttime Responders, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)

Subject's overall improvement in VMS from Baseline assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) The NRS is measured on a scale of 0 to 10 on how bothered the subject was by her VMS (0=not bothered at all and 10=very much bothered). Responders: Subjects with NRS Score of 5 Or Less. Non-Responders: Subjects With NRS Score of Greater than Or Equal to 6.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

46.62
percentage of total number of subjects

Week 4

35.48
percentage of total number of subjects

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

37.72
percentage of total number of subjects

Week 4

25.27
percentage of total number of subjects

Change From Baseline in Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX, Week 4 and Week 12) Total Score, Median

The Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) is a 5-item rating scale that quantifies sex drive, arousal, vaginal lubrication/penile erection, ability to reach orgasm, and satisfaction from orgasm. Possible total scores range from 5 to 30, with the higher scores indicating more sexual dysfunction.The sum of the scores for all 5 items was calculated at Week 4 and Week 12.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

Week 4

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

Week 4

Effect of Paroxetine Mesylate Capsules on Percent Improvement of Hot Flash Interference From Baseline at Week 4 and Week 12, Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS)

Interference of hot flashes was measured by using the hot flash-related daily interference scale (HFRDIS). The HFRDIS is a 10-item scale that measures the degree to which hot flashes interfere with 9 daily activities and the tenth item measures the degree to which hot flashes interfere with each of the other items. Subjects can score for each item on a scale from 0 to 10 where 0 = Do not interfere and a score of 10 = Completely interferes. The measure being reported below is percentage of responders who had an improvement in HFRDIS score at Week 4 and Week 12 compared to baseline. A responder is defined as a subject who had an improvement in the HFRDIS score. An improvement is defined as a score ≤3 on each question.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

15.89
Percent of participants

Week 4

26.03
Percent of participants

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

21.32
Percent of participants

Week 4

30.51
Percent of participants

Percent Responders Improvement in VMS From Baseline Using the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale.

Proportion of NRS Responders: Subject's overall improvement in VMS from Baseline was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) The Clinical Global Impression - Severity scale (CGI-S) is a 7-point scale that requires the clinician to rate the severity of the patient's illness at the time of assessment, relative to the clinician's past experience with patients who have the same diagnosis. Considering total clinical experience, a patient is assessed on severity of mental illness at the time of rating 1, normal, not at all ill; 2, borderline mentally ill; 3, mildly ill; 4, moderately ill; 5, markedly ill; 6, severely ill; or 7, extremely ill. Responders: Subjects Achieving a Score of "Very Much Improved" Or "Much Improved" Or "Minimally Improved". Non Responders: Subjects with a Score of "No Change" Or "Minimally Worse" Or "Much Worse" Or "Very Much Worse".

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

69.88
percentage of participants

Week 4

67.88
percentage of participants

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

59.74
percentage of participants

Week 4

53.58
percentage of participants

Effect of Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules on Anxiety and Depression

Depression & anxiety were measured by using the Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale (HADS). The HADS was developed to assess anxiety & depression. It is meant to differentiate symptoms of depression with those of anxiety. Number of items: 14 (7 questions relating to anxiety; 7 questions relating to depression). Responses are based on the relative frequency of symptoms over the past week, using a four point scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (very often indeed). Responses are summed to provide separate scores for anxiety and depression symptomology with possible scores ranging from 0 to 21 for each scale. The results presented below are the percentage of participants with abnormal HADS Scores for both Abnormal Anxiety & Abnormal Depression at Week 4 and Week 12.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

4.13
Percentage of participants

Week 4

5.65
Percentage of participants

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

5.24
Percentage of participants

Week 4

2.44
Percentage of participants

Assessment of Mood

Mood was measured by using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire. The Profile of Moods States (POMS) is a 65-item multi-dimensional measure that provides a method of assessing transient, fluctuating active mood states. Key areas that are measured include: tension-anxiety, anger-hostility, fatigue-inertia, depression-dejection, vigor-activity, confusion-bewilderment. Responses to questions are scored with the following numerical values: Not at all = 1, A little = 2, Moderate = 3, Quite a bit = 4, Extremely = 5. A total score for a domain was obtained by summing the responses of individual items in the domain. The total POMS score can range from "65" to "325." Each subject's total POMS score at baseline and at Week 4 and Week 12 were used to calculate the percent of participants with less disturbance in mood at Week 4 and Week 12 compared to baseline. The percent of participants with less disturbance in mood is reported below.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

37.16
Percent of participants

Week 4

37.4
Percent of participants

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

44.23
Percent of participants

Week 4

42.39
Percent of participants

BMI Change From Baseline (kg/m2), Median

Subjects were weighed at each clinic visit and reported the number of hot flashes using an electronic diary. Assessment of the effect of Brisdelle compared with placebo on body mass index.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Week 12

0.15
kg/m2 (Median)
Full Range: -2.33 to 2.1

Week 4

Placebo Capsules

Week 12

0.11
kg/m2 (Median)
Full Range: -2.56 to 9.7

Week 4

0.08
kg/m2 (Median)
Full Range: -3.08 to 9.15

Percent Persistence of Benefit, Statistically Significant Difference in Having 50% or More Reduction Compared to Baseline at Week 24.

Persistence of treatment benefit to 24 weeks post treatment was assessed by using the following responder analysis. Responders were defined as those subjects who achieved ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in moderate to severe hot-flash frequency at Week 24; the percent change in hot flash frequency is calculated using the formula: Percent reduction at week 24 = [(number of moderate to severe hot flash frequency at baseline - number of moderate to severe hot flash frequency at week 24) / number of moderate to severe hot flash frequency at baseline ]*100%.

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

47.54
percentage of total number of subjects

Placebo Capsules

36.27
percentage of total number of subjects

Total

570
Participants

Age, Continuous

54.4
years (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 5.60

Age, Categorical

Region of Enrollment

Sex: Female, Male

Overall Study

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Placebo Capsules

Drop/Withdrawal Reasons

Brisdelle (Paroxetine Mesylate) Capsules

Placebo Capsules