Ferring study shows cardiovascular risk benefits of Firmagon

Ferring has highlighted data from a newly-published study that demonstrates the safety and efficacy benefits associated with its cancer drug Firmagon.

The European Urology paper assessed the cardiovascular risk benefits of the gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist, via a pooled analysis of 2,328 men with prostate cancer from six prospective randomised trials.

It was found that Firmagon was able to half the relative risk of cardiovascular events and death in men with pre-existing heart disease, compared to treatment with commonly-prescribed luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonists.

This is a potentially important discovery, given that cardiovascular disease is among the most common causes of early mortality in men with advanced prostate cancer.

Dr Laurence Klotz of the division of urology at the University of Toronto said: "I believe this analysis provides insights which have the potential to help physicians better manage the cardiovascular health of their androgen deprivation therapy patients – particularly those with pre-existing cardiovascular disease."

Firmagon is a clinically proven therapy that has been approved for the treatment of advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer in both the EU and US since 2009.