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Firmagon ‘shrinks prostate tumours’

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Two new studies presented at the 27th Annual European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress reported that FIRMAGON® (degarelix), a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor blocker, was non-inferior to the combination of goserelin (an LHRH agonist) plus bicalutamide at reducing total prostate volume in men with advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer, and offered better control of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

LUTS can include frequency, urgency and hesitancy in urination and have a major negative impact on quality of life for men with prostate cancer.

The Phase IIIb CS30 trial assessed the use of FIRMAGON® as neoadjuvant hormone therapy in men with intermediate to high-risk prostate cancer.

A review published recently shows that androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) prior to radiotherapy can improve disease-specific mortality and overall survival compared with radiotherapy alone in men with high-risk localised or locally advanced prostate cancer.

Week 12 results of the CS30 trial showed the non-inferiority of FIRMAGON® compared with goserelin plus bicalutamide at prostate shrinking (mean percent change in prostate volume: -36.0% for FIRMAGON® vs. -35.3% for goserelin plus bicalutamide).

In addition, FIRMAGON® demonstrated more pronounced LUTS relief compared with goserelin plus bicalutamide. The most common AEs were the expected consequences of ADT.1

The Phase IIIb CS31 trial assessed the ability of FIRMAGON® to decrease prostate volume in a range of prostate cancer patients.

Again, Week 12 results showed prostate volume reduction achieved by FIRMAGON® was non-inferior to the combination of goserelin and bicalutamide. In addition, FIRMAGON® had a significantly more pronounced positive effect on LUTS in symptomatic patients.2

“These new data show that FIRMAGON® is non-inferior to the combination of goserelin and bicalutamide at reducing prostate volume, and also offers the added benefit of better LUTS control,” commented Professor Malcolm Mason, Cardiff University, Institute of Cancer & Genetics, Velindre Hospital, Cardiff, UK.

“LUTS can have a significant impact on a man’s quality of life, so relief of these symptoms is hugely important to patients suffering from prostate cancer.”

EAU Annual Congress






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