The content of this webpage is for Australian healthcare professionals only.
As a first-of-its-kind combined contraceptive pill, assessing safety parameters was a key aim of the clinical trial program. See how the preclinical profile of estetrol (E4) + drospirenone (DRSP) translated to the studied patient population.1
Treatment related adverse reactions occurring in > 1% of women receiving NEXTSTELLIS in pooled Phase 2 and 3 studies1
| Adverse Reaction | Total Pooled Phase 3 studies n=3632, (%) |
Total Pooled Phase 2 & 3 studies n=3790, (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Any treatment-related adverse reaction | 986 (27.1) | 1056 (27.9) |
| Metrorrhagia | 160 (4.4) | 162 (4.3) |
| Acne | 112 (3.1) | 122 (3.2) |
| Headache | 109 (3.0) | 123 (3.2) |
| Vaginal haemorrhage | 103 (2.8) | 103 (2.7) |
| Dysmenorrhea | 85 (2.3) | 92 (2.4) |
| Weight increased | 64 (1.8) | 67 (1.8) |
| Breast tenderness | 64 (1.8) | 67 (1.8) |
| Breast pain | 60 (1.7) | 79 (2.1) |
| Libido decreased | 55 (1.5) | 56 (1.5) |
| Nausea | 48 (1.3) | 52 (1.4) |
| Menorrhagia | 51 (1.4) | 51 (1.3) |
| Mood swings | 47 (1.3) | 50 (1.3) |
NEXTSTELLIS VTE RATE
The rate of VTE in women taking NEXTSTELLIS was:
3.66 per 10,000 women-years.1
One VTE occurred in the EU/Russian trial; none were reported in the North American trial.1
Likelihood of VTE in women1
In the Phase 3 studies, NEXTSTELLIS demonstrated low rates of the side effects often associated with COCs, including acne, breast tenderness and libido changes.1
On average, women taking NEXTSTELLIS experienced less than a 0.7kg weight increase after 13 treatment cycles in the European study.25
WEIGHT CHANGE <0.7kg (N=1313)
Measures of lipid and glucose metabolism were compared at baseline, cycle 7 and cycle 14
Lipid Metabolism
Minimal change from baseline in cholesterol (HDL and LDL)
Minimal change from baseline in triglycerides
Glucose Metabolism
Minimal change from baseline in glucose
No change from baseline in glycated haemoglobin
Cardiovascular
Minimal change from baseline in blood pressure
Women who had diabetes mellitus and vascular involvement, diabetes mellitus of >20 years' duration, or dyslipoproteinemia requiring active treatment with anti-lipidemic agents were excluded from the study.23
Patients with any arterial hypertension (controlled and uncontrolled) were excluded from the studies.23
|
PBS Information: THIS PRODUCT IS NOT LISTED ON THE PBS. |
As NEXTSTELLIS contains estetrol, a new molecular entity, it qualifies for the TGA’s Black Triangle Scheme. ▼ This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring in Australia. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse events at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems
BMI=body mass index; COC=combined oral contraceptive; EU=European Union; HDL=high-density lipoprotein; LDL=low-density lipoprotein; LNG=levonorgestrel. EE=ethinylestradiol; DRSP=drospirenone
References
1. NEXTSTELLIS Product Information. 2. Gérard C, et al. Profile of estetrol, a promising native estrogen for oral contraception and the relief of climacteric symptoms of menopause. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology 2022; 15:2, 121-137. 3. Drovelis EMEA authorisation. European Medicines Agency (EMA). https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/drovelis#authorisation-details-section [accessed on 18 Jul 2022]. 4. Coelingh Bennink HJT, et al. Estetrol review: profile and potential clinical applications. Climacteric. 2008;11(suppl 1):47-58. 5. Lydisilka EMEA authorisation. European Medicines Agency (EMA). https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/lydisilka#authorisation-details-section [accessed on 18 Jul 2022]. 6. Foidart JM, et al. Unique vascular benefits of estetrol, a natural fetal estrogen with specific actions in tissues (NEST). In: Brinton RD, Genazzani AR, Simoncini T, Stevenson JC, eds. Sex Steroids’ Effects on Brain, Heart and Vessels. Volume 6: Frontiers in Gynecological Endocrinology. New York, NY: Springer International Publishing; 2019:169‐195. 7. Creinin M, et al. Estetrol-drospirenone combination oral contraceptive: North American phase 3 efficacy and safety results. Contraception. 2021; 104: 222–228 8. Douxfils J, et al. Evaluation of the effect of a new oral contraceptive containing estetrol and drospirenone on hemostasis parameters. Contraception. 2020;102(6): 396–402. 9. Arnal JF, et al. Membrane and nuclear estrogen receptor alpha actions: from tissue specificity to medical implications. Physiol Rev. 2017;97(3):1045-1087. 10. Nextstellis Approval FDA. U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&varApplNo=214154 [accessed on 18 Jul 2022]. 11. Stanczyk FZ, et al. Ethinyl estradiol and 17β-estradiol in combined oral contraceptives: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and risk assessment. Contraception. 2013;87(6):706-727. 12. Jensen JT, et al. Pooled efficacy results of estetrol/drospirenone combined oral contraception phase 3 trials. Contraception. 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2022.07.009. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35921870. 13. Abot A, et al. The uterine and vascular actions of estetrol delineate a distinctive profile of estrogen receptor α modulation, uncoupling nuclear and membrane activation. EMBO Mol Med. 2014;6(10):1328-1346. 14. Ascenzi P, et al. Structure-function relationship of estrogen receptor alpha and beta: impact on human health. Mol Aspects Med. 2006;27(4):299-402. 15. Coelingh Bennink HJT, et al. Oral bioavailability and bone-sparing effects of estetrol in an osteoporosis model. Climacteric. 2008;11(suppl 1):2-14. 16. Benoit T, et al. Estetrol, a fetal selective estrogen receptor modulator, acts on the vagina of mice through nuclear estrogen receptor α activation. Am J Pathol. 2017;187(11):2499-2507. 17. Fruzzetti F, et al. Estetrol: A New Choice for Contraception. J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 5625. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10235625. 18. Visser M, et al. In vitro effects of estetrol on receptor binding, drug targets, and human liver cell metabolism. Climacteric. 2008;11(suppl 1):64-68. 19. Nextstellis Approval Health Canada. Health Canada, Government of Canada. 25 April 2012. https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info.do?lang=en&code=100241 [accessed on 18 Jul 2022]. 20. Kestemont P, et al. 2020. Poster 0175 presented at the Society of Family Planning Virtual Annual Meeting October 9 10, 2020. 21. Apter D, et al. Bleeding pattern and cycle control with estetrol-containing combined oral contraceptives: results from a phase II, randomised, dose-finding study (FIESTA). Contraception. 2016;94(4):366-373. 22. Regidor PA, et al. Antiandrogenic and antimineralocorticoid health benefits of COC containing newer progestogens: dienogest and drospirenone. Oncotarget. 2017;8(47):83334-83342. 23. Data on file – Mithra Pharmaceuticals from MIT-ES0001-C301; MIT-ES0001-C302. 24. Kaunitz AM, et al. Pooled analysis of two phase 3 trials evaluating the effects of a novel combined oral contraceptive containing estetrol/drospirenone on bleeding patterns in healthy women. Contraception. 2022 Jul 31:S0010-7824(22)00218-9. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.07.010. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35921872. 25. Gemzell-Danielsson K, et al. Estetrol-Drospirenone combination oral contraceptive: a clinical study of contraceptive efficacy, bleeding pattern and safety in Europe and Russia. BJOG. 2022; 129: 63-71. 26. Klipping C, et al. Endocrine and metabolic effects of an oral contraceptive containing estetrol and drospirenone. Contraception. 2021;103(4): 213–221. 27. Mawet M, et al. Unique effects on hepatic function, lipid metabolism, bone and growth endocrine parameters of estetrol in combined oral contraceptives. Eur. J. Contracept. Reprod. Health Care 2015, 20, 463–475. 28. NEXTSTELLIS ARTG ID 341876 available at http://www.ebs.tga.gov.au [accessed on 21 June 2021]. 29. Chen M, et al. Submitted Manuscript 2022. 30. Duijkers I, et al. Effects of an oral contraceptive containing estetrol and drospirenone on ovarian function. Contraception 103 (2021) 386–393. 31. Holinka CF & Gurpide E. In vivo effects of estetrol on the immature rat uterus. Biology of Reproduction. 1979;20:242-246. 32. Gérard C, et al. Estetrol is a weak estrogen antagonizing estradiol-dependent mammary gland proliferation. Journal of Endocrinology 2015; 224, 85–95. 33. Lee A & Syed YY. Estetrol/Drospirenone: A Review in Oral Contraception. Drugs. 2022 Jul 4. doi: 10.1007/s40265-022-01738-8. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35781795. 34. Holinka CF, et al. Estetrol: A unique steroid in human pregnancy. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2008; 110(1–2): 138–143. 35. Warmerdam EG, et al. A new route of synthesis of estetrol. Climacteric. 2008; 11(suppl 1): 59–63. 36. YAZ Product Information. 37. SLINDA Product Information.
