Prostate cancer drug probed by FDA

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The drugs suppress testosterone, which aids the growth of prostate cancer tumours and is also occasionally used by women to treat pain for uterine fibroids.

Slightly higher rates of diabetes and heart disease in patients taking the drugs have been shown in preliminary data from six studies, but the FDA says it has not conclusively linked the drugs to health problems.

It told doctors to be on the lookout for early signs of heart disease and diabetes in patients.

Drugs under scrutiny include AstraZeneca’s Zoladex, Pfizer’s Synarel and Abbott Laboratory’s Lupron, among others.

Copyright Press Association 2010
US Food and Drug Administration