Tokyo: The drug finerenone, which is used to treat chronic kidney disease and heart failure, may also be effective in treating premature ovarian insufficiency. This is according to research scientists. The study was conducted by researchers from Juntendo University in Japan and Hong Kong University. Researchers hope that this discovery could be developed as a new therapy for treating infertility. Professor Kazuhiro Kawamura of Juntendo University said that the team’s goal is to improve ovary stimulation and discover more effective medications. In women affected by premature ovarian insufficiency, periods stop before the age of 40. In this condition, ovarian fibrosis often develops, which stops follicle growth. Finerenone is known to prevent fibrosis in kidney and heart tissue, and now the same drug has been shown to be capable of preventing a similar process in the ovary.
In clinical trials, women with this condition were given finerenone, along with other medications for ovary stimulation and ovum maturation. As a result, a fertilized egg was obtained through in vitro fertilization (IVF), strengthening the potential of this therapy. Before the clinical trial, researchers conducted experiments on mice to determine whether finerenone promotes follicle growth. The results clearly showed that mice given the drug gave birth to more offspring than normal, and no abnormalities were found in the newborns.
It is noteworthy that in 2013, Professor Kawamura developed a new infertility treatment technique called “in vitro activation.” In this technique, a portion of the ovary is removed through laparoscopy, follicles are activated with the help of medical agents, and then they are transplanted beneath the ovarian membrane. Although this method is effective, it requires general anesthesia, which is not suitable for many patients. For this reason, the scientific team was searching for an oral drug that could produce a similar effect.
