Nubeqa is a new pill approved by the FDA to treat two types of advanced prostate cancer in adults. One type is non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, which means the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body but is no longer controlled by standard hormone therapy. The other type is metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer, which means the cancer has spread but still responds to hormone therapy. For this second type, Nubeqa can be used alone or with a chemotherapy drug called docetaxel.
The drug works by blocking the action of male hormones that can fuel prostate cancer growth. It is taken as two tablets twice a day with food. Patients must also receive a hormone therapy shot or have had surgery to remove the testicles. When used with docetaxel, the first chemotherapy cycle should start within six weeks of beginning Nubeqa. Treatment continues until the cancer worsens or side effects become too hard to manage.
The approval for the non-metastatic type was based on a large study that showed a delay in cancer spread. Data for the metastatic type are not yet available in the drug label. This approval gives patients and doctors another treatment choice, but it is not a cure. Every patient is different, so talk with your doctor about whether Nubeqa is right for you.
