BICALUTAMIDE

Bicalutamide is a hormone therapy. Its combination with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists like leuprolide or goserelin Bicalutamide is used to treat metastatic prostate cancer, a cancer that originates in the prostate and spreads to other parts of the body. Bicalutamide belongs to a family of drugs called nonsteroidal antiandrogens, that block the effect of androgen, the male hormone, which stops the growth and spread of cancer cells. It is classified as an "anti-androgen" and is often given in combination with "LHRH agonist," another type of hormone therapy. Bicalutamide is sold as Casodex® amongst other brand names. Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) discovered Bicalutamide in the 1980s, and first patented it in 1982, following medical use in 1995. It was selected for development from a group of over 2,000 synthesized compounds. In the U.K. it was launched in 1995, it was subsequently approved for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Dosage Forms & Strengths

Bicalutamide is available in the form of a tablet. For treating Prostate cancer, the usual recommended adult dose is 50 mg in combination with LHRH analogue. In the treatment of Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer, the usual recommended adult dose is 150 mg a day as monotherapy.

The price of Bicalutamide

In the USA, consumers have to pay an average retail price of $133 for a supply of 30 tablets of 50mg strength.

How does Bicalutamide Works:

Hormones are chemical substances which are produced by glands in the body and enter the bloodstream and cause effects in other tissues. Male hormones called androgens (primary testosterone) stimulates prostate cancer. This cancer is treated through a hormone therapy, which works by reducing the amount of these hormones in a man with prostate cancer, eventually helping to fight the disease. Testosterone, produced by testicles is responsible for male characteristics like deepening voice and body hair. Hormone therapy works on the principle that receptors for specific hormones that are needed for cell growth are on the surface of tumor cells. This therapy thus aims to stop the production of hormones, block hormone receptors, or substitute chemically similar agents as the active hormone, making it unavailable for use by the tumor cell. Bicalutamide is an Antiandrogen, a substance that blocks the effects of testosterone. Prostate Cancer depends on the male hormone testosterone for its growth, so by reducing it, it is possible to slow down or shrink cancer.

Finding Bicalutamide Manufacturers and Suppliers