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Scheduled for the end of 2023, a British clinical trial plans to test dichloroacetate, a drug already prescribed against cancer, on women suffering from endometriosis. And why not finally consider a treatment?
One in 10 women in the world suffers from endometriosis, including at least 1.5 million in France. The condition, which causes the development of the endometrium outside the uterine cavity, is notably the cause of disabling pain in 70% of them and fertility problems. However, to date, no treatment exists to cure or eliminate this pathology.
Two rather heavy options can nevertheless relieve affected women: hormonal contraceptive treatment, to stop the development of the lesions and surgery, to remove the existing lesions. A new trial could nevertheless change the game and offer a treatment option: dichloroacetate will be used in a trial on a hundred women in Edinburgh and London at the end of 2023.
What is this dichloroacetate? How can it help?
Dichloroacetate is a medication that has been used for a very long time to treat pulmonary hypertension. It is best known today for curing certain childhood metabolic disorders and certain cancers. But if it is being considered today for a clinical trial on endometriosis, it is because it benefits from interesting antecedents: in previous experiments carried out on endometriosis, in mice, in 2019 researchers from the University of Edinburgh demonstrated that the administration of dichloroacetate reduced the production of lactates, molecules normally produced by the muscles when they lack oxygen, but produced in an abnormally high way by the cells of the pelvic walls of women suffering from endometriosis.
By administering this dichloroacetate, not only did lactate production return to “normal levels“, but the size of the endometriosis lesions had also decreased.”The research we’ve done so far shows that dichloroacetate can make a huge difference“, said Dr. Lucy Whitaker, coordinator of the study.
The opinion of Dr. Odile Bagot, member of the Doctissimo expert committee
“Previous studies have shown that lactic acid, or lactate, is indeed produced by endometriotic lesions, activating inflammatory reactions. However, taking dichloroacetate seems to reduce lactate levels. But what is most interesting in my opinion, and revolutionary, is that it also seems to slow down the development of lesions, without hormonal treatment, whereas until now we only knew to block the cycle of woman so that the lesions do not evolve, or only slightly. This is a good hope, because hormonal treatments are not always well tolerated. Having an alternative is a good thing. Especially with a drug that is already known and that causes few side effects. This is great news for women who suffer from endometriosis”
A verdict at the end of 2023?
On the strength of this previous step, the British scientists will therefore launch their clinical trial called “EPIC2”, next fall. A hundred women with endometriosis will be recruited. Half of the participants will receive dichloroacetate and the other a placebo for 12 weeks. The team thus intends to confirm its initial hypotheses, and determine the optimal dose of dichloroacetate that will bring the most benefits, both in terms of combating the painful symptoms of endometriosis and limiting side effects.
If the tests are conclusive, this drug could well become the “first non-hormonal and non-surgical treatmentof endometriosis announces the press release.