There are many different types of drugs used for hormone therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer. One of the newer classes of drugs include the GnRH antagonists. Degarelix (aka Firmagon) is the one drug in this class that is currently approved for prostate cancer. Degarelix, like the other hormone therapy drugs, was developed to [...]
The newest gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist therapy drug, degarelix (aka Firmagon) has become more commonly used in everyday clinical practice as an alternative hormone therapy treatment drug (ADT). Given that its use has become common it is important to understand both its safety and efficacy as compared to our older standard drugs. The best way [...]
There has been much conversation surrounding the use of intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) as opposed to continuous androgen deprivation (CAD) in men with prostate cancer who need hormone therapy (ADT). The question that has been at issue is if either method is superior to the other. There have been studies that have concluded that they [...]
There are a number of different flavors of hormone therapy (ADT) used to treat advanced prostate cancer. However, they could be summed up and put into two different categories. 1- The use of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist therapy (drugs like Lupron and Zoladex) along with short term antiandrogen (AA) flare protection 2- Degarelix, a [...]
Degarelex (Firmagon) (approved by the FDA in December of 2008) is a hormonal therapy drug used to treat advanced prostate cancer that has become metastatic and castrate resistant (mCRPC). Degarelix is a GnRH receptor that binds to the pituitary GnRH receptors, reducing the release of gonadotropins leading to a quick and profound onset that blocks [...]
Prostate cancer is commonly associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The use of GnRH agonists or antagonists (first line ADT) is widely used as the primary treatment for advanced prostate cancer (pc) and/or to reduce prostate volume (TPV). It is thought that the ADT contributes to the development of LUTS. Researchers pooled multiple other [...]
According to findings from a long term study, men with prostate cancer (PCa) who are treated with degarelix (a newly approved gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRH) blocker) have a lower risk of PSA failure or death compared with those treated with leuprolide. […]
Firmagon, the newly FDA approved gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor blocker should perhaps be considered as a better alternative to the traditionally used ADT drugs like lupron and zoladex (GnRH agonists) which are the current standard of care. Recent data released from the ongoing five-year Firmagon (degarelix) extension study (CS21a) has demonstrated the long term efficacy [...]
When Degarelix (FIRMAGON) which is a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor blocker was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) I contacted Ferring Pharmaceuticals and spoke with their medical director. I asked if Degarelix could be used as a second line hormone therapy drug after the traditional first line GnRH agonist drugs (Lupron etc.) [...]
