Relugolix

Thousands of men with prostate cancer will be offered a life-extending drug on the NHS within weeks. For the first time patients whose prostate cancer has not spread will be able to receive the drug in England, known as abiraterone, as the health service widens access to the treatment. Around 2,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the last three months whose cancer has not spread will get access to the treatment if it is of clinical benefit. An additional 7,000 men are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and will be eligible for the drug, which stops the cancer spreading by starving the disease of the hormones it needs to grow, such as testosterone. Research has shown that for these earlier stage patients, the survival rate after six years is improved – with trials showing that the proportion of men alive after six years on abiraterone was 86% compared to 77% on standard treatment (hormone therapy with or without radiotherapy). NHS England has been able to give the green light to the drug for thousands more eligible patients thanks to the health service buying and delivering treatments at better value, following the clinical advice to roll this out last year. The NHS has set a target to save over £1 billion on clinically effective biosimilar drugs during this parliament – more than eight in 10 drugs the NHS now prescribes are lower cost biosimilar or generic drug – creating available funding for other treatments. The NHS in England already commissions abiraterone, a drug now available as a lower cost generic medicine, for advanced prostate cancer, having introduced a policy to commission the treatment in December 2024 – nearly one year ahead of positive NICE guidance recommending it in November 2025. National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, Professor Peter Johnson, said : “For thousands of men with prostate cancer, this treatment option could be life-changing by helping keep their cancer at bay for several years. “The life-extending treatment available on the NHS within weeks will mean thousands of men can kick-start their year with the news that they will have a better chance of living longer and healthier lives. “The NHS will continue to work hard to offer people the most effective and evidence-based treatments, with several new prostate cancer drugs rolled over the last five years.” NHS England has worked with campaigners including Prostate Cancer UK to secure this rollout. In the past five years alone, the NHS in England has also commissioned new innovative targeted prostate cancer therapies, including the branded drugs enzalutamide, darolutamide, relugolix and apalutamide. National Director of Specialised Commissioning at NHS England, John Stewart said : “I am delighted that we are today able to confirm that we can move ahead and offer this important treatment to thousands more men, which I hope comes as welcome news for those that could benefit from this drug, as well as their families and friends. “I want to put on record my thanks to Prostate Cancer UK for their collaboration and partnership, supporting the health service to start offering this drug which could make a real difference to the lives of men with this type of prostate cancer.” Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said : “When you’re living with prostate cancer, every day with your loved ones matters. I’m delighted the NHS have taken the steps needed to make the drug available, giving thousands of men access to abiraterone – a treatment that significantly improves survival rates and can give patients precious extra years of life. “We’re backing the best clinical evidence, making smart funding decisions, and ensuring patients get the care they need when they need it most. “We’re serious about improving prostate cancer outcomes – treating it faster and giving loved ones more time together.” In parallel to the commissioning of abiraterone being confirmed, NHS England will also offer blood plasma treatment for people with the rare condition, Clarkson’s Syndrome, and genetic testing for parents with pre-existing conditions going through IVF as outcomes following clinical advice and enabled by long-term funding. Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

None\n Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a leading cause of death among patients with prostate cancer. Yet for years, the mainstay treatments for this condition, namely GnRH agonists have themselves been associated with CV risks, especially in men already vulnerable to heart disease.Meanwhile, millions of men experience acute urinary retention (AUR) a sudden, painful inability to urinate often caused by an enlarged prostate and face limited non-surgical options to prevent it from coming back.Teverelix, a novel investigational therapy being developed by Medicus Pharma could offer a new approach to both of these persistent men’s health challenges.How Teverelix WorksTeverelix is a GnRH antagonist, which means it binds to gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors in the pituitary gland, preventing the release of two hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This rapidly reduces testosterone levels an important step in slowing the growth of prostate cancer.Importantly, Teverelix also consistently suppresses FSH, which is under increasing study for its possible role in cardiovascular and metabolic health. This aspect of Teverelix’s mechanism could help patients with elevated CV risk, a population underserved by current therapies.Why a New Therapy Is NeededWhile other GnRH antagonists like degarelix (injectable) and relugolix (oral) are on the market, they have limitations and neither is currently approved specifically for prostate cancer patients with high CV risk.In the AUR space, the standard of care involves emergency catheterization and bladder decompression, followed by use of alpha blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs). However, adherence to these chronic therapies can be poor, and side effects including sexual dysfunction and mood changes can be persistent. Further, 5-ARIs take a significant amount of time to shrink the prostate.What Makes Teverelix DifferentTeverelix has the potential to become the first GnRH antagonist specifically developed for prostate cancer patients with high cardiovascular risk. Its target label will focus on this subpopulation.In AUR, Teverelix may become the first pharmacologic therapy aimed at preventing recurrence after a first episode a significant innovation in an area that currently offers limited approved solutions for relapse prevention.Clinical Status and Regulatory PathwayTo date, Teverelix has completed around ~14 clinical studies involving over 400 patients. These trials have yielded detailed pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data and a consistent safety profile.Looking ahead:A Phase 2b trial is planned for 2026 to establish the optimal dosing for a future cardiovascular outcomes study in high CV-risk prostate cancer patients.In parallel, a randomized, three arm trial will begin evaluating Teverelix for the prevention of AUR recurrence, addressing a substantial unmet need.These trials will inform pivotal studies intended to support potential future regulatory filings in both indications.A Platform for the FutureBeyond men’s health, Medicus is exploring how Teverelix could be valuable in women’s health applications, such as endometriosis, a condition where hormonal control plays a central role. Early clinical work is underway, including collaborations in emerging global innovation ecosystems.Meanwhile, the company continues to invest in AI-driven development aimed at accelerating and de-risking clinical development.Final ThoughtsTeverelix is not just another hormonal therapy. With its potential cardiovascular friendly profile, exploratory utility in benign urology, and platform potential, it represents a compelling and differentiated approach in endocrine-driven diseases.