Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth, presented results from the first phase III studies evaluating Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats) associated with menopause. These studies showed that women who took Pristiq experienced a reduction in both the number and severity of hot flashes. Additional analyses presented demonstrated that Pristiq reduced the number of nighttime awakenings and mood disturbances in postmenopausal women with hot flashes and night sweats and did not have a negative effect on sexual function.

The data were presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) in San Diego. Pristiq is currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and could be the first non-hormonal treatment for menopausal hot flashes and night sweats.

"Millions of women experience hot flashes and night sweats during menopause, but there are currently no effective non-hormonal treatment options approved by the FDA," says Joseph Camardo, MD, senior vice president, Global Medical Affairs, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. "The data indicate Pristiq has the potential to expand the range of effective treatment options by providing a non-hormonal choice for menopausal women with moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms."