WILMINGTON, Del., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AstraZeneca today
announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
granted an additional six-month period of exclusivity to market CASODEX(R)
(bicalutamide) for its licensed advanced prostate cancer indication until
April 1, 2009. AstraZeneca has been working with the FDA in the
investigation of the safety and effectiveness of CASODEX in a pediatric
setting but will not be seeking an indication in this population.
CASODEX is currently approved in the US at a dose of 50 mg daily tablet
for use in combination with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog
(LHRH-A) for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (metastatic Stage
D2).
AstraZeneca has a well-established prostate cancer portfolio including
hormonal treatments CASODEX, launched in 1995, and ZOLADEX(R) (goserelin
acetate implant), launched in 1989. Three Phase III clinical research
trials (ENTHUSE program) are currently underway to evaluate the safety and
effectiveness of an investigational compound, ZD4054, in non-metastatic and
metastatic hormone-resistant prostate cancer.
About Prostate Cancer
Over 186,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the U.S. in
2008, making it the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men.(1) After lung
cancer, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men,
with an estimated 28,660 deaths in 2008.(2) One in six men will develop
prostate cancer in his lifetime.
About CASODEX(R) (bicalutamide) Tablets
CASODEX at a dose of 50 mg daily is a prescription medication approved
for use in combination with an injection of a luteinizing hormone-releasing
hormone analog (LHRH-A) for treatment of advanced prostate cancer
(metastatic Stage D2).
CASODEX at a dose of 150 mg daily is not approved for use alone or with
other treatments. See full Prescribing Information under the section on
"CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY-Clinical Studies-Safety Data from Clinical Studies
using CASODEX 150 mg" for additional important safety information regarding
CASODEX 150 mg.
Important Safety Information about CASODEX
There have been reports of liver function problems during treatment
with CASODEX. Therefore, your doctor will monitor your liver function with
a blood test before you start treatment with CASODEX, at regular intervals
during the first 4 months of treatment, and at regular times after that.
The most common side effects that occurred during treatment with
CASODEX plus an injection of an LHRH-A were hot flashes (53%), pain (21% to
35%, including pelvic, back, and general), weakness (22%), and constipation
(22%). Other side effects (reported in 12% to 18% of patients) were
urination at night, blood in urine, diarrhea, swelling, shortness of
breath, nausea, and infection.
For more information about CASODEX, including full Prescribing
Information please visit http://www.PROSTATEinfo.com.
About ZOLADEX(R) (goserelin acetate implant)
ZOLADEX 3.6 mg depot and 10.8 mg depot are prescription medications
approved for use in combination with flutamide (an antiandrogen) plus
radiotherapy for locally advanced prostate cancer. Treatment with the
combination should start 8 weeks prior to starting and continue during
radiation therapy.
ZOLADEX 3.6 mg depot and 10.8 mg depot are also approved to use alone
for patients with advanced prostate cancer. ZOLADEX may help reduce the
size of the cancer and reduce symptoms (palliative treatment).
Important Safety Information about ZOLADEX
ZOLADEX, like other luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs
(LHRH-As), may cause an initial rise in testosterone. When used alone,
there may be a temporary worsening of prostate cancer symptoms at the start
of therapy.
Common side effects that occurred during treatment with ZOLADEX
(goserelin acetate implant) plus flutamide and radiation therapy or ZOLADEX
alone included hot flashes, decrease in sexual desire and/or ability to
have erections, diarrhea, pain (general, pelvic, and bone), lower urinary
tract symptoms, fatigue, nausea, breast growth, swelling, rash, upper
respiratory infection, and sweating.
For more information about ZOLADEX, including full Prescribing
Information for ZOLADEX 3.6 mg Depot and ZOLADEX 10.8 mg Depot visit
http://www.PROSTATEinfo.com.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the
research, development, manufacturing and marketing of meaningful
prescription medicines and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is
one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales
of $29.55 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular,
neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infectious disease medicines. In
the United States, AstraZeneca is a $13.35 billion dollar healthcare
business with 12,200 employees committed to improving people's lives.
AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as
well as the FTSE4Good Index.
For more information visit: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com.
(1) Cancer Facts & Figures 2008. American Cancer Society publication.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/content/STT_1x_Cancer_Facts_and_Figures_2
008 .asp. Accessed July 8, 2008.
(2) Cancer Facts & Figures 2008. American Cancer Society publication.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/content/STT_1x_Cancer_Facts_and_Figures_2
008 .asp. Accessed July 8, 2008.
(Due to the length of these URLs, please copy and paste into your
browser.)
SOURCE AstraZeneca
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Related links:
http://www.astrazeneca-us.com
http://www.PROSTATEinfo.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/985887.html/
CONTACT:
Laurie Casaday of AstraZeneca LP,
+1-302-885-2699, Laurie.Casaday@AstraZeneca.com
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