FDA approves new prostate cancer drug

December

The first new treatment in years for prostate cancer has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Degarelix is intended to treat patients with advanced prostate cancer. It belongs to a class of agents called gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor inhibitors. These agents slow the growth and progression of prostate cancer by suppressing testosterone, which plays an important role in the continued growth of prostate cancer.

Hormonal treatments for prostate cancer may cause an initial surge in testosterone production before lowering testosterone levels. This initial stimulation of the hormone receptors may temporarily prompt tumor growth rather than inhibiting it. Degarelix doesn’t have the same effect, says the “FDA”:http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01935.html.

Degarelix is manufactured for Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc., Parsippany, N.J., by Rentschler Biotechnologie Gmbh, Laupheim, Germany.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 at 4:16 pm by Jane Lerner. Print This Post | Email This Post

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