Ferring initiates prostate cancer trial

Swiss drugmaker Ferring Pharmaceuticals has initiated a Phase IIIb trial of degarelix, an injectable gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor  antagonist for the treatment of hormone-sensitive advanced prostate  cancer.

This will investigate the use of degarelix for intermittent androgen  deprivation therapy in patients with advanced prostate cancer who have  rising serum levels after previous therapies. The study will compare  IADT to continuous androgen deprivation therapy for 14 months with  either leuprolide or degarelix. The trial evaluates whether IADT  minimizes the negative effects of ADT and maximizes quality of life.

"Intermittent androgen deprivation therapy is a commonly-employed  treatment for men with biochemical failure, however, it needs to be  evaluated in a randomized clinical trial," said trial investigator David  Crawford. "There is potential value in combining the rapid, sustained  suppression of testosterone that degarelix offers in this treatment.  IADT appears to improve patient quality of life and that will also be  evaluated," he added.