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Prescrire Adds Four Medicines to Its 2026 ‘To Avoid’ List in France

The independent review says the harms outweigh the benefits, prompting debate among specialists over limited alternatives.

Overview

  • Fezolinetant (Veoza) for menopausal hot flashes, gefapixant (Lyfnua) for refractory chronic cough, chondroitin (notably Chondrosulf) for osteoarthritis, and andexanet alfa (Ondexxya) are the new entries.
  • Prescrire cites disproportionate adverse effects relative to absent, uncertain, or modest clinical benefit as the basis for the additions.
  • Fezolinetant is flagged for a risk of severe hepatitis; gefapixant for very frequent taste disturbances and a suspected risk of pneumonia; chondroitin for unproven efficacy with rare serious allergic reactions; andexanet alfa for potential cardiovascular complications.
  • None of the four medicines is reimbursed in France, and andexanet alfa is not marketed there.
  • Specialists offer mixed views, with a menopause expert suggesting fezolinetant only as a last resort and a pulmonologist noting chronic cough lacks alternatives and disputing concerns about pneumonia risk.