Makers of a new menopause drug claim it ends hot flashes after three days of use. And researchers say that it could offer a “much-needed alternative to HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)”.

The flashes and sleep disturbances can persist for years, and few treatments have been found to help relieve these symptoms without severe risks like breast cancer and blood clots.

The new drug is called M-L-E-4901 and is being tested in clinical trials.  It works by blocking the action in a receptor which has been linked to temperature control in the brain, and has separately been linked to flushing in menopause.

The study involved 35 postmenopausal women in England. You can read about the results in the Journal of The North American Menopause Society.