A new endometriosis pill that could help over 1,000 women every year has been approved for use on the NHS in England.
The once-a-day pill, linzagolix, will soon be available for patients who have had previous treatment for endometriosis, following approval by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Women’s health minister Baroness Merron described it as ‘a game-changer for thousands of women battling endometriosis, which can be a debilitating and life-limiting condition’.
It is the second take-at-home treatment to be approved to treat endometriosis, after relugolix combination therapy – the first long-term pill licensed to treat the condition – was approved for NHS use in March.
Around 1.5 million women in the UK are living with endometriosis, which can cause chronic pain, heavy periods, and extreme tiredness when tissue similar to the womb lining grows elsewhere in the body.
Linzagolix will be available specifically for patients whose previous medical or surgical treatments for endometriosis have been unsuccessful.
The new endometriosis pill will be given alongside ‘add-back’ hormone therapy which involves using low-dose hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to prevent menopause-like symptoms and bone loss.
In clinical trials, linzagolix was shown to reduce painful periods and non-menstrual pelvic pain, compared with placebo.
Dr Sue Mann, national clinical director in women’s health for NHS England, said: ‘This is welcome news for women with endometriosis who haven’t found relief from previous therapies or surgery – it’s another treatment option which will help women take control of their health and better manage the symptoms of this often painful and debilitating condition.’
Last year, a report by NHS Confederation said that additional funding for women’s health services could provide a direct return on investment for the economy.
Analysis showed that an additional £1 invested in obstetrics and gynaecology services per woman in England could generate a £319 million return to the economy.
It found that absenteeism from work due to painful periods, endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts costs the UK economy nearly £11 billion every year.
