Astellas Pharma announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified the company that it is extending the original priority review Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date for fezolinetant, an investigational agent for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) due to menopause. Astellas was notified on February 17, 2023, that the FDA is extending the PDUFA goal date by three months, to May 22, 2023, to allow more time to complete their review.

"We remain confident in the clinical profile of fezolinetant and the potential benefits it could bring to women experiencing moderate to severe VMS due to menopause, and we will continue to work with the FDA on its review of the NDA for fezolinetant," said Ahsan Arozullah, M.D., M.P.H., Senior Vice President and Head of Development Therapeutic Areas, Astellas.

The impact of this matter on Astellas' financial results of the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, is expected to be minor.