The HRT market peaked in 2001 at $3.5 billion across the seven major markets. The Women's Health Initiative findings released in 2002 showing that HRT use was associated with an increased breast cancer and cardiovascular disease risk precipitated a major decline in HRT use and sales. This report identifies the impact this trial has had on HRT prescribing and looks at efforts to reposition HRT.

• Analysis of WHI study outcomes, design, limitations and implications in the market. R&D Focus, Medline
• Secondary resources include IMS MIDAS sales data across the seven major markets, IDdb3, IMS
• In-depth primary research interviews with key opinion leaders from the US and Europe to add insight on market developments and unmet needs

Opinion leaders believe that hormone therapy is still the only proven, effective treatment for menopause symptom management, and has an important role for many women suffering significant or bothersome symptoms.

Delivery method remains an important consideration in hormone therapy R&D with innovation in non-oral formulations evident in the pipeline and in recent product launches scoring highly with key opinion leaders.

The ability to individually tailor estrogen and progestogen doses could represent a key trend in the HRT market with physicians already adapting marketed products, such as patches and IUD's, in an attempt to cater to patient's needs and minimize unwanted side effects and risks.

• Understand limitations of WHI findings, impact on the market and effect this has had on unmet needs in hormone therapy prescribing
• Prioritize R&D strategies through an understanding of the importance of novel HRT product attributes
• Identify areas in which to improve physician and patient awareness of hormone therapy benefits and risks