Ferring Pharmaceuticals announces immediate availability of prostate cancer treatment

PARSIPPANY, N.J. Ferring Pharmaceuticals announced Wednesday that its FDA-approved treatment for prostate cancer will be available immediately in the United States.

Degarelix, a new injectable gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), is designed for the treatment of hormone sensitive advanced prostate cancer. It is available for order through traditional and specialty pharmacy distributors.

“Degarelix, the lead product in our urology portfolio, demonstrated both a rapid onset of action and a profound long-term suppression of testosterone,” said Wayne Anderson, president, CEO Ferring Pharmaceuticals. “Now, advanced prostate cancer can be treated with a direct-acting GnRH receptor antagonist inducing rapid reduction of testosterone and sustaining those levels over time, meeting the goals of systemic therapy. We are excited to provide this effective new treatment option for men fighting advanced prostate cancer.”

Study findings showed that prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels were lowered by 64% two weeks after administration of degarelix, 85% after one month, 95% after three months, and remained suppressed throughout the one year of treatment. These PSA results should be interpreted with caution because of the heterogeneity of the patient population studied. No evidence has shown that the rapidity of PSA decline is related to a clinical benefit.

Approved by the FDA in December 2008, degarelix represents Ferring Pharmaceuticals' first global launch and the second urology product launch for Ferring Pharmaceuticals, USA. The European Commission granted marketing authorization for degarelix last month.