UPDATE - Issue 14 - April 2003
Benign prostate enlargement
An improved drug treatment
A new drug, Avodart, has recently been introduced for the effective treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Commenting on the launch of Avodart by GlaxoSmithKline, Tom McNicholas, Consultant Urological Surgeon, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, said "This is good news for BPH sufferers as it provides patients with an effective treatment option, which addresses more than just symptom control. Clinical trials have proven that Avodart is not only effective with a good safety profile, but reduces the risk of acute urinary retention by 57 per cent, and BPH-related surgery by 48 per cent, over two years."
BPH is one of the most common health problems in ageing men. It is estimated that over 20 million European men suffer from BPH. Current worldwide sales of treatments for BPH are over £1.5 billion
For the technically minded, Avodart is a novel 5-alpha reductase inhibitor which inhibits the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the prostate. DHT is the primary hormone causing prostate growth and BPH progression. Avodart has been shown to suppress DHT levels by 90 per cent at two weeks and shrinks the prostate continuously over the two year study period.