Antagonist vs Agonist

Firmagon® and leuprolide t suppression steps

Day 1: 52% achieved castrate levels vs 0% with leuprolide⁴

Day 3: 96% achieved castrate levels vs 0% with leuprolide⁴

Day 7: 99% of FIRMAGON patients achieved castrate levels⁴

By day 28, both groups achieved similar T levels⁴

Binds to and directly blocks pituitary GnRH receptors^2,3

Prevents release of LH/FSH

Rapidly decreases T production at its main source^2,3

By stopping T production quickly, prostate cancer cells are not stimulated to grow⁴

Binds to and stimulates pituitary LHRH receptors³

Promotes transient release of LH/FSH³

Significantly increases testosterone production^2,3

Promotes testosterone surge by ≥50%⁵

Increased T can lead to worsening of symptoms of prostate cancer⁵
T can stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells^4,6

Continued administration leads to decreased LH/FSH³

Decreases T production³

Day 1: 52% achieved castrate levels vs 0% with leuprolide¹

Day 3: 96% achieved castrate levels vs 0% with leuprolide¹

Day 7: 99% of FIRMAGON patients achieved castrate levels¹

By day 28, both groups achieved similar T levels¹

T = testosterone.

Monthly Matters

Help make the most of your patient's treatment experience

Make the most of monthly visits. Help your patients feel connected to their therapy through the reassurance of regular treatment and progress check-ins. Ferring is here to help enhance this connection at every step.

One-month depot is ideal for my patients. They love to come in, get checked, and see their nurse practitioner to ask questions and get updated data about their condition.

Actual physician quote

REFERENCES: 1. Mottet N, Bellmunt J, Briers E, et al. Guidelines on Prostate Cancer. European Association of Urology; 2015. http://uroweb.org/wp-content/uploads/09-Prostate-Cancer_LR.pdf. Accessed April 13, 2017. 2. Klotz L, Boccon-Gibod L, Shore ND, et al. The efficacy and safety of degarelix: a 12-month, comparative, randomized, open-label, parallel-group phase III study in patients with prostate cancer. BJU Int. 2008;102(11):1531-1538. 3. Lupron Depot^® [package insert]. North Chicago, IL: AbbVie Inc. 4. FIRMAGON^® [package insert]. Parsippany, NJ: Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. 5. American Cancer Society. Hormone therapy for prostate cancer; 2016. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/hormone-therapy.html. Accessed July 11, 2017. 6. Huggins C, Hodges CV. Studies on prostatic cancer. I. The effect of castration, of estrogen and of androgen injection on serum phosphatases in metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. Cancer Res. 1941;1(4):293-297.

REFERENCES: 1. FIRMAGON^® [package insert]. Parsippany, NJ: Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2. Klotz L, Boccon-Gibod L, Shore ND, et al. The efficacy and safety of degarelix: a 12-month, comparative, randomized, open-label, parallel-group phase III study in patients with prostate cancer. BJU Int. 2008;102(11):1531-1538. 3. Mottet N, Bellmunt J, Briers E, et al. Guidelines on Prostate Cancer. European Association of Urology; 2015. http://uroweb.org/wp-content/uploads/09-Prostate-Cancer_LR.pdf. Accessed April 13, 2017. 4. American Cancer Society. Hormone therapy for prostate cancer; 2016. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/hormone-therapy.html. Accessed July11, 2017. 5. Lupron Depot^® [package insert]. North Chicago, IL: AbbVie Inc. 6. Huggins C, Hodges CV. Studies on prostatic cancer. I. The effect of castration, of estrogen and of androgen injection on serum phosphatases in metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. Cancer Res. 1941;1(4):293-297.

Important Safety Information

FIRMAGON is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to degarelix or to any of the product components and in women who are or may become pregnant. FIRMAGON can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.

Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, urticaria, and angioedema, have been reported post-marketing with FIRMAGON. In case of a serious hypersensitivity reaction, discontinue FIRMAGON immediately if the injection has not been completed, and manage as clinically indicated. Patients with a known history of serious hypersensitivity reactions to FIRMAGON should not be re-challenged with FIRMAGON.

Long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) prolongs the QT interval. Physicians should consider whether the benefits of ADT outweigh the potential risks in patients with congenital long QT syndrome, electrolyte abnormalities, or congestive heart failure and in patients taking Class IA or Class III antiarrhythmic medications.

Therapy with FIRMAGON results in suppression of the pituitary gonadal system. Results of diagnostic tests of the pituitary gonadotropic and gonadal functions conducted during and after FIRMAGON may be affected. The therapeutic effect of FIRMAGON should be monitored by measuring serum concentrations of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) periodically. If PSA increases, serum concentrations of testosterone should be measured.

The most common adverse reactions (≥10%) during FIRMAGON therapy included injection site reactions (eg, pain, erythema, swelling, or induration), hot flashes, increased weight, fatigue, and increases in serum levels of transaminases and gamma-glutamyltransferase. The majority of adverse reactions were Grade 1 or 2; 1% or less were Grade 3/4. Injection site reactions were mostly transient, of mild to moderate intensity, occurred primarily with the starting dose, and led to few discontinuations (<1%).

Indication

FIRMAGON^® is a GnRH receptor antagonist indicated for treatment of patients with advanced prostate cancer.