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Abstract
Background: Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are structurally different compounds that interact with intracellular estrogen receptors in target organs as estrogen agonists and antagonists. These drugs have been intensively studied over the past decades and have proven to be a highly versatile group for the treatment of different conditions associated with menopause, including hormone-responsive cancer and osteoporosis. However, currently available SERMS are also responsible for side effects such as thromboembolic disorders, or gynecological symptoms (especially vaginal dryness and hot flushes). Objective/methods: The purpose of this article is to review the clinical trials of ospemifene, a new SERM in Phase III development for the treatment of vulvar and vaginal atrophy. The medical literature was reviewed for appropriate articles containing the terms ‘ospemifene’ and ‘SERMs’. Results/conclusions: The recently released results from a pivotal Phase III study in postmenopausal women demonstrated statistically significant improvements of ospemifene 60 mg/day in symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy over the use of non-hormonal vaginal lubricant. Ospemifene also appeared to be well tolerated, with few patients experiencing side effects. The additional positive results on bone and the breast observed in preclinical studies need to be clinically confirmed to extend the therapeutic potential of this new SERM.