Health Canada has approved elinzanetant, sold under the brand name Lynkuet, to treat moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats in women with breast cancer.
The drug, made by Bayer, was already approved in Canada in 2025 to treat menopause symptoms. The latest approval follows research showing it can also help breast cancer patients experiencing these symptoms while undergoing treatment.
Many breast cancer patients take hormone-blocking medications for five to 10 years. These treatments can cause hot flashes and night sweats by lowering estrogen levels.
Because hormone replacement therapy is generally not an option for women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer, treatment choices have been limited. Some patients have used medications such as gabapentin and certain antidepressants to manage their symptoms.
Dr. Christine Brezden-Masley, medical director of the cancer program at Sinai Health in Toronto, said severe hot flashes can interfere with sleep and daily activities. In some cases, patients may stop taking their cancer medication because of the side effects.
The approval was supported by the Phase 3 OASIS-4 study, which involved 395 women between 18 and 70 who were receiving hormone-blocking treatment for breast cancer.
Participants taking elinzanetant experienced fewer hot flashes, night sweats and sleep problems than those who received a placebo.
The most common side effects included daytime drowsiness, fatigue and diarrhea.
The drug is not currently publicly funded in Canada.
