Indenza (enzalutamide) 40 mg capsules, 112 capsules: profile, composition and research
Reference page for Indenza (enzalutamide) 40 mg capsules, 112 capsules. Active substance: Энзалутамид / Enzalutamide.
- What it is: enzalutamide, an oral next-generation antiandrogen for prostate cancer.
- Presentation: 40 mg capsules, 112 capsules per pack.
- Status: prescription-only medicine.
- Research: the PREVAIL and PROSPER trials, links below.
- Where to buy: APV Pharmacy (price and availability there).
Key facts
| Active substance | Enzalutamide |
|---|---|
| Form | Capsules |
| Strength | 40 mg per capsule |
| Pack size | 112 capsules |
| Category | Prescription medicine |
| Article (SKU) | INDZ-40-112 |
What enzalutamide is
Indenza is an oral anticancer medicine whose active substance is enzalutamide. It is used in prostate cancer under the supervision of an oncologist.
The medicine is supplied as 40 mg capsules; a pack holds 112 capsules. Enzalutamide belongs to the group of next-generation antiandrogens.
This is a prescription product. It is meant for long-term use, and the dose must not be changed nor the treatment interrupted without medical advice.
How enzalutamide works
The target, the androgen receptor
Enzalutamide blocks the androgen receptor, the protein through which testosterone and its derivatives give tumour cells a signal to grow.
Action on several levels
The medicine prevents androgens from binding to the receptor, hinders the receptor's movement into the cell nucleus and makes its binding to DNA more difficult.
The effect on the cell
Without that signal tumour cells lose the stimulus to multiply and die more often. The mechanism still operates when the testosterone level has already been lowered by hormonal therapy.
Approved uses
The prescribing information names prostate cancer. The medicine is used in metastatic castration-resistant disease, both before and after chemotherapy, and in non-metastatic castration-resistant disease at high risk of progression.
Treatment is usually combined with continued suppression of androgen production. The indications and the moment to start are decided by an oncologist on the basis of laboratory tests and imaging.
The length of treatment and the monitoring of tolerability are the physician's task. Changing the regimen without medical advice is not acceptable, because this is long-term anticancer treatment.
What the research shows
The PREVAIL trial showed a survival advantage for enzalutamide in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who had not yet received chemotherapy.
The PROSPER trial and the subsequent survival analysis confirmed that in high-risk non-metastatic castration-resistant disease the medicine delays progression and improves survival.
As with any anticancer agent, resistance develops over time in some patients and the effect weakens. The data concern disease control and survival rather than the complete removal of the tumour.
Published research
Primary sources, verified against PubMed:
- Enzalutamide in Men with Nonmetastatic, Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer., PubMed 29949494 (The New England journal of medicine, 2018).
- Enzalutamide in metastatic prostate cancer before chemotherapy., PubMed 24881730 (The New England journal of medicine, 2014).
- Enzalutamide and Survival in Nonmetastatic, Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer., PubMed 32469184 (The New England journal of medicine, 2020).
- Enzalutamide: a new indication for nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer., PubMed 30460933 (Asian journal of andrology, 2019).
Listed for reference. Publication of a study is not a claim about this particular product.
Precautions
- This is a prescription medicine. Prescribing, dosing and monitoring belong to an oncologist.
- Increased fatigue, hot flushes, a rise in blood pressure and a higher risk of falls are possible during treatment.
- Enzalutamide can cause seizures, so a history of such episodes must be reported to a doctor.
- Treatment affects the liver, so its laboratory values are checked regularly.
- The medicine is not used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Tell your doctor about every medicine you take and about any disease of the liver or kidneys.
Frequently asked
Is Indenza a prescription medicine?
Yes. It is a prescription anticancer medicine and is not intended for use on one's own.
In which cancer is enzalutamide used?
In prostate cancer, both metastatic and non-metastatic castration-resistant disease. The indications are decided by an oncologist.
Why does this page not give a dosing schedule?
The dose and the length of treatment are set by an oncologist, taking test results and tolerability into account. A reference page does not prescribe treatment.
Where does the order ship from?
Shipping and customs handling are described on the APV Pharmacy delivery page.