Ospemifene's effects on lipids and coagulation factors: a post hoc analysis of phase 2 and 3 clinical trial data

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of ospemifene 60 mg on the lipid and coagulation parameters of postmenopausal women using data from five phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. METHODS: Data for lipids and coagulation factors for 2,166 postmenopausal women were pooled from five randomized, placebo-controlled studies. Lipid and coagulation parameters included in this analysis were total cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), triglycerides, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen, antithrombin antigen, protein C Ag, and protein S Ag free. RESULTS: Mean percent changes in HDL and LDL were significantly greater with ospemifene versus placebo at month 3 (HDL: 4.4% vs 0.2%; LDL: −5.2% vs 2.4%), month 6 (HDL: 5.1% vs 1.5%; LDL: −6.7% vs 2.4%), and month 12 (HDL: 2.3% vs −1.9%; LDL: −7.0% vs −2.1%; P < 0.05, for all comparisons). Ospemifene significantly reduced total cholesterol at 6 months (−1.8% vs 1.6%; P = 0.0345 versus placebo), and changes in triglycerides with ospemifene were similar to placebo at all three time points. In subgroup analyses based on age, body mass index, and baseline triglyceride level, ospemifene increased HDL and decreased LDL, but had no significant effect on total cholesterol and triglycerides relative to placebo. Ospemifene significantly improved fibrinogen and protein C antigen levels relative to placebo at months 3 (−8.7% vs −0.8% and −2.7% vs 0.5%, respectively), 6 (−6.0% vs 6.7% and −3.6 vs 8.0%), and 12 (−8.7% vs 7.3% and −4.5% vs 6.6%; P < 0.01, for all). The levels of all coagulation factors remained within the normal range throughout the studies. CONCLUSION: Ospemifene 60 mg does not have a detrimental effect on lipid and coagulation parameters of postmenopausal women with up to 12 months of use.