Ulipristal Acetate for Treatment of Uterine Leiomyomas: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To assess the efficacy and tolerability of ulipristal acetate, a selective progesterone receptor modulator, for treatment of symptomatic uterine leiomyomas.

This phase 3, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled trial randomized premenopausal women (18-50 years) with uterine leiomyomas and abnormal uterine bleeding to once-daily 5 mg ulipristal, 10 mg ulipristal, or placebo in two 12-week treatment courses separated by a drug-free interval of two menses. Coprimary end points were rates of and time to amenorrhea during course 1. Change from baseline to end of course 1 in the Revised Activities subscale of the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire was a secondary end point. A sample size of 400 was planned to compare separately each ulipristal dose with placebo.

From January 2014 through November 2016, 432 women were randomized. Demographic characteristics were similar across treatment groups. In course 1, 68 of 162 (42.0% [97.5% CI 33.3-51.1]) and 86 of 157 (54.8% [97.5% CI 45.5-63.8]) patients treated with 5 mg and 10 mg ulipristal, respectively, compared with 0 of 113 (0.0% [97.5% CI 0.0-3.8]) patients treated with placebo achieved amenorrhea (P<.001 for each dose); most women who achieved amenorrhea did so within 10 days (time to amenorrhea, P<.001 for each dose). Significantly greater improvements in Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Health-Related Quality of Life Revised Activities subscale scores were reported with 5 mg and 10 mg ulipristal compared with placebo (least squares mean change from baseline: 48.3, 56.7, and 13.0, respectively; P<.001 for each dose). Both ulipristal doses were well tolerated; in course 1, hot flush occurred in 7.5%, 11.6%, and 1.7% of patients treated with 5 mg ulipristal, 10 mg ulipristal, and placebo, respectively.

Treatment with 5 mg or 10 mg ulipristal was superior to placebo in achieving amenorrhea and generally well tolerated for the medical management of symptomatic uterine leiomyomas.

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02147158.