Ferring submits application for prostate cancer treatment

Ferring Pharmaceuticals has announced that it has submitted applications in Europe and the US for the marketing authorisation of its prostate cancer treatment degarelix.

The drug is a new GnRH receptor blocker which is indicated for patients in whom androgen deprivation is warranted.

Ferring’s submission is based on the successful completion of a pivotal phase III study, in which degarelix was investigated for the speed of suppression in levels of testosterone.

The study also assessed the maintenance of the reduction during the one-year study period as well as prostate-specific reduction.

Dr Pascal Danglas, Ferring’s executive vice-president of clinical and product development, stated the company’s belief that the data for degarelix was “convincing” and demonstrated the benefits that the drug can offer patients suffering from the most common cancer in men.

“Subject to approval by regulatory bodies, we plan to start launching globally in 2009,” he said.

Last month, Ferring Pharmaceuticals announced the launch of a new international biennial research grant scheme open to either research units and departments or individual researchers, with the first awarded projects to be completed by January 2010.