(036) Characterizing flibanserin’s safety profile among postmenopausal women with HSDD: An Exploratory Analysis
Authors: Kingsberg S , Faragasso A , Donatucci S , Patel S , Brown L 
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Flibanserin is approved in the United States (US) for premenopausal women and in Canada for pre and naturally postmenopausal women, ≤60 years of age, to treat acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Clinical trials suggest that flibanserin's safety profile is similar among pre-and postmenopausal women. During a Phase 3 postmenopausal study, the most frequently reported adverse events (AEs) were dizziness (10%), somnolence (9%), nausea (8%), and headache (6%). This study explores postmarketing AEs received from postmenopausal women and their clinicians during flibanserin treatment.

Objective

The primary objective of this safety study is to further characterize flibanserin's safety profile among postmenopausal women with HSDD treated in a clinical setting.

Methods

This study is a retrospective exploratory analysis of AEs captured in a global safety database (August 15, 2015, to May 12, 2022). The database was queried for US reports of AEs in postmenopausal women using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities Search Strategy Version 21.1. Preferred Term (PT) “Product use in unapproved indication.” This PT was selected as postmenopausal use is an unapproved indication in the US. Reports were filtered to identify and exclude non-postmenopausal unapproved usages, such as use in males and premenopausal women with non-HSDD conditions. All reports stating postmenopausal use are included in this analysis. If reproductive status was not specified, age was used as an indicator. If age was unknown, the report was excluded. The age range used in this study was 51-75 years. Adverse events were categorized using PTs, and descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results. Dispensing data from a sample of 30,000 scripts filled over the past year at one pharmacy were used to estimate the percentage of flibanserin prescriptions filled by women ages &gt;50 years. No incidence data were calculated as AE reporting is voluntary and true exposure is unknown.

Results

We identified 195 unique reports of postmenopausal use with at least one AE during the study period. There were 656 reported AEs, 16 (2.4%) were serious, and no fatalities. Adverse events occurring in ≥5 postmenopausal women excluding events not related to a body system are summarized in the Figure. Approximately 18% of scripts filled over the past year at one pharmacy were for women ages &gt;50 years. It is important to acknowledge that this pharmacy’s findings may not represent all pharmacies.

Conclusions

The postmarketing safety profile of flibanserin among postmenopausal women is similar to that observed with premenopausal women and during clinical trials. Excluding PTs not related to a body system such as unapproved use and drug ineffective, the most frequently reported postmarketing AEs included dizziness, nausea, and insomnia. No safety signals specific to postmenopausal women have been identified to date. Although informative, the lack of information on medical history, concomitant medications, and other potential interacting products limit the ability to make inferences on causality in most reported cases.

Disclosure

Yes, this is sponsored by industry/sponsor: Sprout Pharmaceuticals, Inc

Clarification: Industry initiated, executed and funded study

Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Sprout Pharmaceuticals, Inc.