Our Story
The story of CleopatraRX™ and PearlPAK™ was born out of thoughtful consideration to empower women to take control of their brain health during menopause.
MEET RHONDA R. VOSKUHL, M.D.
Rhonda R. Voskuhl, M.D. has spent her professional career dedicated to finding solutions in neurodegenerative diseases.
Her commitment and tenacity to helping women improve cognition and decrease brain atrophy during menopause led to the launch of PearlPAK™.
As a result of her extensive research, Dr. Voskuhl found an answer to fill the gap in cognitive deficits in menopausal women. See her recent publication in the prestigious journal Nature Communications (September 29, 2023).
It was during her years of research on cognitive decline and brain atrophy in women with multiple sclerosis that Dr. Voskuhl discovered that treatment with a novel estrogen could induce cognitive improvement and prevent atrophy of regions of the brain involved in cognition. She is the inventor on numerous UCLA patents in the U.S. and Europe, licensed by CleopatraRX, for her treatment to improve cognition in neurodegenerative conditions.
Estrogen normally protects the hippocampus region of the brain – the area of the brain responsible for memory and information processing. At the onset of menopause, estrogen sharply declines throughout the body with loss of stimulation of estrogen receptors that preserve brain health. This loss of estrogen can cause brain fog, hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings. Brain fog affects verbal memory and information processing speed.
PearlPAK™ is a unique solution. PearlPAK uses a different estrogen than what is in standard Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to reduce hot flashes, where estradiol is the estrogen used.
The estrogen in PearlPAK™ is estriol, and it binds differently to estrogen receptors as compared to estradiol. By binding to an estrogen receptor in the brain, estriol offers brain protection. Estriol is considered a safe form of estrogen. While estradiol binds strongly to the estrogen receptor expressed in the breast, estriol binds weakly to the estrogen receptor in breast. Indeed, estriol has been safely used by menopausal women throughout Europe and Asia for over four decades to reduce hot flashes.
Timing is important. Neurologists know that one must begin treatment early during mild cognitive impairment to prevent further cognitive deficits. Our goal is to offer treatment at the onset of perimenopause, with the hope of preventing cognitive decline and brain atrophy -before it happens.
We are deeply thankful to inventor Rhonda Voskuhl, M.D. for her long-term commitment and expertise in the research of cognitive health for women and men with multiple sclerosis and for women in menopause.
THE STORY OF CLEOPATRA
The names CleopatraRX and PearlPAK were inspired by the 1st century BCE story of Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Cleopatra, the Pharaoh of Egypt, was highly praised for her intelligence in science, philosophy, math, and debate. Fluent in nine languages, she broke boundaries as a female leader, even learning Egyptian to communicate with her armies.
As the story goes, Cleopatra bet Mark Antony she could host the most expensive dinner ever. During dinner, she dissolved a large pearl in her wine and drank it, making it the costliest meal ever served. Clever. Pearls, known as “The Queen of Gems,” symbolize integrity, balance, serenity, luck, and wisdom, offering protection to those who wear them.
The combination of Cleopatra and the Pearl represents a powerful synergy of strength, making them perfect for our own story.
Menopause is inevitable, but we have choices in how we manage the symptoms.
Together, we are on a mission…
…to empower women to take control of their menopause journey, and to feel confident having conversations with other like-minded and strong women who choose to control their health.
…to empower women to take control of their menopause journey, and to feel confident having conversations with other like-minded and strong women who choose to control their health.