Ferring Pharmaceuticals completes phase III degarelix study

Ferring Pharmaceuticals has completed its key phase III study of degarelix as a treatment for prostate cancer.

The firm reports that the safety profile of the compound was found to be in line with previously conducted trials of the drug, while it also met its primary objective of reducing testosterone levels in patients.

Degarelix is in the GnRH blocker class of prostate cancer treatments that can potentially provide significant benefits when compared to existing prostate cancer drugs.

The firm reports that it will submit the compound to regulatory agencies including the European Medicines Agency and US Food and Drug Administration during the first quarter of next year.

Dr Pascal Danglas, executive vice-president of clinical and product development at Ferring, said: “With the successful completion of this phase III study, degarelix has become one of the most studied molecules in development in the field of prostate cancer.”

He added that the firm is confident that the trial data gleaned for the drug will meet the requirements of European and American regulators, facilitating a speedy and successful review of the compound.

In May 2007, a study conducted by male cancer charity Everyman found that three-quarters of men are not aware of the signs of prostate cancer.