19.01.2024 – 08:35
Gedeon Richter Pharma GmbH
Cologne (ots)
Urgent need for action on endometriosis: Around 10 percent of women of reproductive age are affected – to date, the disease cannot always be treated successfully. This could now change: A proven drug from myoma therapy has recently been approved for endometriosis pain and represents a promising option for many sufferers. An important prerequisite for treatment: Do not accept pain or side effects of previous therapy, but communicate clearly !
Painful periods, abdominal cramps, discomfort during sexual intercourse: all of these signs can indicate endometriosis. Although the disease affects around one in ten women of reproductive age, it often takes many years until a diagnosis is made, which leads to considerable physical and psychological suffering.[1,2] But even once endometriosis is diagnosed, conventional treatment methods cannot always sufficiently relieve the pain or cause side effects.[1] This is exactly where the newly approved drug can come into play – provided that previous treatments were not sufficiently successful. The Endometriosis Association Germany e. V. offers those affected advice and assistance. She is committed to educating patients and has summarized the most important information about the new therapy option on her website: https://www.endometriose-vereinigung.de/relugolix-combinationstherapie/
Suffering in silence doesn’t help
Endometriosis is a benign, chronic disease in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterine cavity in the abdominal cavity (very rarely outside the abdominal cavity) – for example on the ovaries, the fallopian tubes or even on the bladder and intestines. When these so-called “endometriosis foci” become inflamed, it causes symptoms such as abdominal pain during menstruation, but also in other phases of the cycle.[1]
Many sufferers believe their pain is unavoidable or is not taken seriously; In addition, the symptoms are often non-specific. Sometimes menstrual problems are considered a taboo topic and are shamefully kept secret.[3] “Even young girls are taught to endure their suffering as discreetly as possible and under no circumstances to be sniveling,” says Prof. Dr. Sylvia Mechsner, head of the Endometriosis Center at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, describes a social injustice that makes early endometriosis detection extremely difficult. Their urgent appeal: “‘Heroic endurance’ does not solve the problem. It is absolutely necessary to communicate the symptoms openly to doctors.” This is all the more important because the waiting times for appointments with specialists are often very long.
If endometriosis is suspected, an ultrasound and, if necessary, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be performed. For a long time, confirming the diagnosis also required laparoscopy – a small operation in which tissue is removed through an abdominal incision and analyzed. Nowadays, there are signs of a paradigm shift: more and more often, the invasive procedure is no longer considered absolutely necessary, since the diagnosis of most types of endometriosis is possible through anamnesis and ultrasound and, if necessary, an MRI and therefore a laparoscopy is not absolutely necessary.[4]
After diagnosis: Treat
To date, endometriosis cannot be cured – therapeutic approaches are therefore primarily aimed at alleviating the symptoms. Which treatment is used depends primarily on the personal situation of those affected, for example with regard to family planning. Doctors and patients make a decision together.[5]
In addition to surgical removal of the endometriosis lesions and painkillers, hormonal treatments are primarily used.[2] These suppress ovulation and thus the hormonal fluctuations during the monthly cycle as well as menstruation. Gestagens are considered the first choice here. Another option is now available that has been used successfully in the treatment of uterine fibroids for over two years. The combination preparation is based on a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist and can represent an alternative therapy for those affected for whom previous drug or surgical therapy did not lead to sufficient treatment success or was not tolerated. “If those affected still suffer from endometriosis-related pain or side effects despite treatment, then we should not accept this. Our stated goal is that as many women with endometriosis as possible can lead a symptom-free life. We are making a big difference to this with the new treatment option Step closer,” comments Mechsner.
___
About endometriosis
Endometriosis affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age.[1] In endometriosis, tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found outside the uterine cavity, usually in the lower abdomen or pelvis and on the ovaries, which causes inflammation. Symptoms associated with endometriosis include painful periods and chronic pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, heavy bleeding, and infertility.[1] Endometriosis can also affect overall physical, mental and social well-being.[1]
The currently available therapy options do not always succeed in adequately treating endometriosis-associated pain. This highlights the major unmet need in this disease.[1]
About Gedeon Richter
Gedeon Richter Plc. headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, is a major pharmaceutical company in Central Eastern Europe with a growing direct presence in Western Europe, China, Latin America and Australia. With a market value of EUR 3.9 billion (USD 4.1 billion) at the end of 2022, Richter’s consolidated sales in the same year were around EUR 2.0 billion (USD 2.1 billion). The product portfolio covers many broad therapeutic areas, including gynecology, diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and the cardiovascular system. With the largest research and development department in Central and Eastern Europe, Gedeon Richter’s original research program focuses on diseases of the CNS. Due to his widely recognized steroid chemistry expertise, Gedeon Richter plays a significant role in women’s health worldwide and is also active in the area of biosimilar product development. Further information at: www.gedeonrichter.de
credentials
WHO 2023. Endometriosis fact sheet. Online at: last accessed: December 2023 Robert Koch Institute. Overview of women’s health in Germany. 2020. Mechsner S. 2021; Endometriosis. The underestimated disease. ZS-Verlag, Munich Chapron C et al. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2019;15(11):666-682. Endometriosis Association Germany e. v.; online at: last accessed: December 2023
Press contact:
AIDGENCY GmbH
Anke Westerhoff
Dachauer Strasse 36
80335 München
Tel.: 0173 8357048
Fax: 089 461 36130
E-Mail: [email protected]
Gedeon Richter Pharma GmbH
Dr. with. Birte Eberhardt
Ettore Bugatti Street 6-14
51149 Köln
Tel. 02203 9688 444
E-Mail: [email protected]
Original content from: Gedeon Richter Pharma GmbH, transmitted by news aktuell