What is "degarelix"

n. A hormonal therapy used in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Degarelix ( INN) or degarelix acetate ( USAN) (tradename Firmagon) is a hormonal therapy used in the treatment of prostate cancer. During development it was known as FE200486.

Testosterone is a male hormone that promotes growth of many prostate tumours and therefore reducing circulating testosterone to very low ( castration) levels is often the treatment goal in the management of men with advanced prostate cancer. Degarelix has an immediate onset of action, binding to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptors in the pituitary gland and blocking their interaction with GnRH. This induces a fast and profound reduction in luteinising hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and in turn, testosterone suppression.