Ferring unveils positive phase III degarelix data

Ferring Pharmaceuticals has announced the publication of positive phase III clinical data for its new GnRH blocker, degarelix.

According to the results presented at the annual congress of the European Association of Urology, the compound produced a significant reduction in testosterone levels within three days in over 96 per cent of patients.

This speedy reaction to degarelix was reportedly close to the effect achieved in patients by orchidectomy surgery.

Prostate cancer patients in the phase III study were administered monthly with either degarelix or LHRH agonist 7.5mg, with degarelix found to suppress serum testosterone and prostate specific antigen significantly faster, with the results sustained over 12 months.

Ferring reports that over 20 studies of the compound have found it to be safe and well tolerated, with no evidence seen of systemic allergic reactions.

John Anderson, consultant urological surgeon at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, said: “This new data shows that degarelix produced an extremely rapid impact, approaching the immediacy of surgery.”

He added that the goal in treatment of this nature is a quick and sustained reduction in the levels of testosterone.

Last month, Ferring announced that it had submitted applications for marketing authorisation for degarelix in Europe and the US.