Novel Non-Hormonal Targets for Endometriosis-Associated Pain – The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women’s Health
The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women’s Health shared on LinkedIn:
“Rounding out our editorial retrospective of our first year of publishing, Senior Editor Ben Burwood reflects on two Articles included in our third issue, reporting early clinical evidence for novel, non-hormonal targets for endometriosis-associated pain, which is notoriously difficult to treat, with most current options relying on hormonal suppression.
Lan Zhu and colleagues report a proof-of-concept phase 2 trial investigating the effect of HMI-115 – an antibody blocking the prolactin receptor – on endometriosis-associated pain. The study was done at 21 sites in China, Poland, and the USA and assessed the effect of three HMI-115 doses (60 mg, 120 mg, and 240 mg) administered subcutaneously every two weeks versus a matched placebo in women aged 18 – 49 years with surgically confirmed endometriosis.
240 mg HMI-115 met its efficacy endpoint with an acceptable tolerability profile, supporting further investigation of prolactin signalling in endometriosis-associated pain.
Lucy Whitaker and colleagues report the findings from EPiC1, a single-arm, 12-week feasibility study of dichloroacetate to treat endometriosis-associated pain. 86% of the 22 participants described the trial as a positive experience. Dichloroacetate was considered tolerable: although adverse events were common, most were mild. More work is needed; the authors call for assessment in a placebo-controlled trial and that suggest genotyping to inform dosage could have a positive effect on adverse events.
A linked Comment by Linda C Giudice places both studies in context, noting that although both trials are small and early, both therapies represent promising non-hormonal alternatives for the management of endometriosis-associated pain.”
Title: Safety and efficacy of subcutaneous injection with HMI-115 versus placebo in endometriosis-associated pain in premenopausal women: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, proof-of-concept phase 2 trial.
Authors: Lan Zhu, Zi-Jiang Chen, Haiyuan Liu, Guoyun Wang, Krzysztof Dynowski, Songying Zhang, Liehong Wang, Wenyan Wang, Xiaoqin Gan, Shunyu Hou, Ruixia Guo, Xinmei Zhang, Hongjie Ruan, Hong Xu, Shuping Zhao, Yu Zhang, Chongdong Liu, Yingjun Zhu, Haiyan Liu, Boqun Xu, Sun Fang, Sheng Tu, Xinli Hu, Xi Chen, Rui-Ping Xiao.
You can read the Full Article in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women’s Health.
Title: Dichloroacetate for the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain (EPiC1): a single-arm feasibility study.
Authors: Lucy H R Whitaker, Linda J Williams, Magda Koscielniak, Ann M Doust, Frances Collins, Priscilla Fernandez, Lauren C Sutherland, Prof Philippa T K Saunders, Prof Jane P Daniels, Marie-Christine Jones, Prof Andrew W Horne.
You can read the Full Article in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women’s Health.
Title: Novel targets for endometriosis-associated pain.
Author: Linda C. Giudice
You can read the Full Article in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women’s Health.
Stay informed with the latest updates in fertility and reproductive medicine on Fertility News.
-
Sep 30, 2026, 17:51Devyanshi Dixit: 11 Years of Knowledge, Connection, Advancing Women’s Health, Now Preparing for the 12th Edition
-
Sep 30, 2026, 17:48Ashley Evans: Infertility Isn’t Something You Can Simply Relax Your Way Out Of
-
Sep 30, 2026, 17:41Mark Trolice: New SIG: Independent Fertility Practices
-
Sep 30, 2026, 17:34Abdelrahman H. Daifalla: The Clinical Reality of IVF Is More Complex…
-
Sep 30, 2026, 17:24Nicole Homan: Ovulation Is Not the Endpoint in PMOS Fertility Care
-
Sep 30, 2026, 17:13Devyanshi Dixit: What Happens When Chronic Pelvic Pain Becomes a Brain Problem?
-
Sep 30, 2026, 16:52Tunzala Ibadova: A Successful IVF Case – Individualized Approach to HLA Compatibility and Embryo Transfer
-
Sep 30, 2026, 16:49Robert Borowczyk: An IVF Conversion Rate Can Jump from 40% to 50% without 1 Extra Patient Starting Treatment
-
Sep 30, 2026, 16:46Asma Khalil: Important Reassurance for Women Who Become Pregnant after Taking GLP-1 Medicines