Degarelix 80mg Injection

Degarelix 80mg Injection is a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist used as androgen-deprivation therapy in adult men with hormone-dependent prostate cancer. In the UK, the electronic Medicines Compendium lists FIRMAGON 80mg and Degarelix Ferring 80mg powder and solvent for solution for injection.

Degarelix works by directly blocking GnRH receptors, reducing luteinising hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone production. Unlike GnRH agonists, degarelix does not produce the initial testosterone surge associated with agonist therapy.

Product Information

Generic Name

Degarelix

Active Ingredient

Degarelix acetate

Drug Class

GnRH Receptor Antagonist

Therapeutic Class

Androgen-Deprivation Therapy / Hormonal Anticancer Medicine

Brand Reference

FIRMAGON®

Manufacturer/Marketing Authorisation Holder

Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Strength

80mg

Dosage Form

Powder and solvent for solution for injection

Route

Subcutaneous injection

Indication

Hormone-dependent prostate cancer

UK Legal Category

Prescription Only Medicine (POM)

Degarelix 80mg and Firmagon 80mg

Degarelix is the active pharmaceutical ingredient, while FIRMAGON® is a branded product containing degarelix.

UK medicines information currently lists both FIRMAGON 80mg Injection and Degarelix Ferring 80mg Powder and solvent for solution for injection under degarelix acetate products. Therefore, product-specific regulatory and manufacturer information should be checked before describing an individual degarelix product as a generic equivalent of Firmagon.

Degarelix 80mg Injection Formulation

The UK 80mg product is supplied as a powder and solvent for solution for injection. The cited UK formulation contains 80mg degarelix per vial; after reconstitution, the solution contains 20mg of degarelix per mL. The solvent is water for injections and the powder contains mannitol.

UK pack information includes a vial, pre-filled solvent syringe, plunger rod, vial adapter and injection needle. One-tray and three-tray presentations are listed, although not every pack size may be marketed.

Degarelix 80mg Injection Availability

Degarelix 80mg is a prescription cancer medicine with country-specific regulatory and supply requirements. UK eMC currently contains active product information for FIRMAGON 80mg and Degarelix Ferring 80mg. Australia also lists degarelix 80mg injection under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, with Firmagon 80mg identified as an available brand.

Availability, pricing, prescription requirements and permitted supply channels differ between the UK, Australia, Thailand, Russia, UAE/Dubai, South Korea and USA. Buyers should verify the regulatory status and dispensing requirements applicable to their country.

How it works

Degarelix directly blocks the GnRH receptor in the pituitary gland. This suppresses LH and FSH secretion and consequently reduces testosterone production.

This mechanism differs from GnRH agonists because degarelix does not produce the initial LH-driven testosterone surge associated with agonist initiation. The UK SmPC describes rapid suppression of testosterone following treatment and sustained suppression during maintenance therapy.

In the UK, degarelix is indicated for adult male patients with advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer. The UK SmPC also includes use in high-risk localised and locally advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer in combination with radiotherapy, and as neoadjuvant treatment before radiotherapy in specified patients.

Degarelix is therefore used as a form of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) where lowering testosterone is an important component of prostate cancer management.

Degarelix should be prescribed and administered under appropriate medical supervision.

Common and very common adverse reactions include hot flushes, injection-site reactions, weight increase, dizziness, headache, fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms and changes in liver transaminases. Injection-site reactions can include pain, erythema, swelling, induration and nodules.

Long-term androgen-deprivation therapy can affect cardiovascular and metabolic health and may be associated with prolongation of the QT interval. Patients with cardiovascular risk factors or medicines that can prolong QT should be assessed appropriately by their healthcare professional.

The UK SmPC also advises caution in patients with severe renal or hepatic impairment and notes that testosterone suppression can affect bone density and glucose tolerance over time.