Health Canada approves elinzanetant for breast cancer symptom relief

Health Canada has authorized the use of elinzanetant, marketed under the brand name LYNKUET, to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, in breast cancer patients. This non-hormonal medication is specifically intended for patients undergoing adjuvant endocrine therapy.

Because approximately two-thirds of breast cancers are hormone-receptor positive, oncologists often use endocrine therapies like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors to block estrogen. These treatments can trigger medically induced menopause, leading to significant side effects that impact sleep, work productivity, and daily activities.

Unlike standard hormone replacement therapies, which are often unsuitable for this patient population, elinzanetant works by directly targeting neurons that become hyperactive due to a lack of estrogen. This authorization expands on a previous approval for the drug to treat symptoms associated with general menopause.