Which class of drugs does fezolinetant belong to?

Fezolinetant is an innovative neurohormone modulating drug that is a NK3 receptor antagonist (Neurokinin 3 Receptor Antagonist). Its development background stems from the safety issues of traditional menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT), including the risk of stroke, venous thromboembolism, and hormone-dependent tumors, which prevent some patients from receiving conventional hormone therapy.

NK3 receptor plays a key role in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal hormone (HPG) axis, and its activation is closely related to symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats in menopausal women. By selectively antagonizing NK3 receptors, fezonatant can effectively regulate abnormal activities of the hypothalamic thermoregulatory center, thereby alleviating menopausal symptoms while avoiding the systemic risks caused by traditional hormone therapy.

Early stageNK3 receptor antagonists such as osanatant and talnetant have shown certain efficacy in clinical studies, but due to limited pharmacokinetic properties or brain barrier penetration ability, their regulatory effect on the HPG axis is not significant enough. Fazonatine has good oral absorption rate, stable blood concentration and effective blood-brain barrier penetration, allowing it to accurately act on the central neurons of the hypothalamus, regulate neuronal activity and gonadal hormone levels, thereby improving the symptoms of hot flashes and night sweats.

In addition, fezonatant has a good safety and tolerability profile and does not show significant cardiovascular risks or hormone-dependent tumor risks in long-term use, making it an important treatment option for menopausal women who are not suitable for hormone therapy. In clinical practice, fezonatant can provide an effective and controllable symptom management solution for women with underlying diseases or poor tolerance to hormone therapy, while reducing potential systemic side effects and bringing new treatment strategies to menopausal management.

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