Xtandi (enzalutamide)

Antiandrogen Oral Capsule; Oral Tablet

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data

Overview

Enzalutamide, a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, is an antineoplastic agent.

Enzalutamide, a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, is an antineoplastic agent. Like conventional nonsteroidal antiandrogens (e.g., bicalutamide, flutamide, nilutamide), enzalutamide competitively inhibits androgen binding to androgen receptors; blockade of androgen receptors may result in growth arrest or apoptosis of prostate cancer cells through inhibition of nuclear translocation of the activated androgen receptor and through inhibition of androgen-dependent binding of the androgen receptor complex to DNA. In vitro, enzalutamide has been shown to reduce tumor growth and induce apoptosis of tumor cells; the drug also has been shown to induce tumor regression in mouse models of castration-resistant prostate cancer.

The binding affinity of enzalutamide at the androgen receptor is 5-8 times greater than that of bicalutamide. The main circulating metabolite of enzalutamide, an N-desmethyl derivative, has been shown to have activity similar to that of the parent drug in vitro.

In castration-resistant prostate cancer, alterations in androgen receptor signaling (e.g., androgen receptor gene mutation or amplification and androgen receptor overexpression) have been shown to result in persistence of androgen receptor signaling and to contribute to disease progression despite castrate levels of androgens. Androgen receptor overexpression has been associated with resistance to conventional antiandrogens. In cells that overexpress the androgen receptor, conventional antiandrogens (e.g., bicalutamide, flutamide, nilutamide) have been shown to have partial agonistic effects on the androgen receptor, which results in continued activation of the androgen receptor signaling axis despite castrate levels of androgens; this paradoxical effect has been attributed to alterations in the androgen signaling cascade (e.g., androgen receptor gene amplification or mutation).

Unlike these conventional antiandrogens, enzalutamide appears to lack agonistic effects in cells that overexpress the androgen receptor, which may result in retained antagonism of the androgen receptor despite overexpression of the receptor.

Pharmacokinetics of enzalutamide are dose proportional over a dosage range of 30-360 mg daily. Following oral administration, the median time to peak plasma concentrations is 1 hour. Steady-state concentrations of enzalutamide are achieved after 28 days of once-daily dosing and the accumulation ratio is approximately 8.3-fold.

Administration of enzalutamide with a high-fat meal did not affect the extent of absorption. Following a single 160-mg dose of enzalutamide in healthy males, the extent of absorption was comparable between the tablet and capsule formulations; however, mean peak plasma concentration following administration of the tablet formulation was 10-28% lower than that of capsules. Peak plasma concentration and AUC of enzalutamide and N-desmethyl enzalutamide at steady state were comparable between the tablet and capsule formulations.

Enzalutamide is metabolized by cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzymes 2C8 and 3A4. Major metabolites of the drug include an active N-desmethyl derivative and an inactive carboxylic acid derivative; formation of N-desmethylenzalutamide is mediated principally by CYP2C8. Enzalutamide and N-desmethylenzalutamide are 97-98 and 95% bound, respectively, to plasma proteins.

The terminal half-lives of enzalutamide and N-desmethylenzalutamide following a single oral dose of the drug are 5.8 and approximately 7.8-8.6 days, respectively. Following oral administration of a radiolabeled dose of enzalutamide, about 71% of the dose is recovered in urine (including only trace amounts of unchanged drug and N-desmethylenzalutamide) and 14% of the dose is recovered in feces (0.4% as unchanged drug and 1% as N-desmethylenzalutamide).

In a dose-finding study, the maximum tolerated dosage of enzalutamide was 240 mg daily; decreases in serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentrations were dose dependent at dosages of 30-150 mg daily, but reached a plateau at dosages between 150-240 mg daily.

The pharmacokinetics of enzalutamide do not appear to be affected by age, body weight, or race (Asian versus non-Asian).

USES: Enzalutamide is used to treat prostate cancer. This medication belongs to a class of drugs known as anti-androgens (anti-testosterone). It works by blocking the effects of testosterone to slow the growth and spread of prostate cancer.

Generic name: enzalutamide
Pronunciation: (EN-za-LOO-ta-mide)
Drug class: Antiandrogen
Therapeutic class: Antineoplastics

Reference product & biosimilars

No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.

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Indications

The following indications are listed for Xtandi:

  • Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
  • Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer
  • Non-Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer With Biochem Recurrence At High Risk For Mets

Also known as: Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer, Metastatic Hormone Sensitive Prostate Cancer.

Dosing

Enzalutamide is commercially available in capsule and tablet formulations; these formulations are equivalent on a mg-per-mg basis.

Drug interactions

In vivo studies indicate that enzalutamide is a strong inducer of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzyme 3A4 and a moderate inducer of CYP isoenzymes 2C9 and 2C19; enzalutamide does not induce CYP1A2 at clinically relevant concentrations. Enzalutamide also induces CYP2B6 in vitro. In vitro studies show that enzalutamide and its 2 major metabolites (an active N-desmethyl metabolite and an inactive carboxylic acid metabolite) are inhibitors of CYP isoenzymes 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4/5; enzalutamide also causes time-dependent inhibition of CYP1A2 in vitro. In vitro, N-desmethylenzalutamide is not a substrate of CYP isoenzymes 1A1, 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C18, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, or 3A4/5. In vitro studies indicate that neither enzalutamide nor its 2 major metabolites are substrates of P-glycoprotein (P-gp); however, both enzalutamide and N-desmethylenzalutamide are inhibitors of P-gp. Enzalutamide is metabolized by CYP isoenzymes 2C8 and 3A4; formation of the active N-desmethyl metabolite is mediated principally by CYP2C8.

Contraindications

*None.

Adverse reactions

Adverse effects reported in 10% or more of patients receiving enzalutamide for the treatment of prostate cancer and at an incidence that is at least 2% higher than that reported with placebo include musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, hot flush, constipation, decreased appetite, diarrhea, hypertension, hemorrhage, fall, fracture, and headache.

Precautions

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ICD codes

CodeTypeDescription
Castration-resistant prostate cancer
C61ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of prostate
Metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer
C61ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of prostate
Z19.1ICD10CMHormone sensitive malignancy status
Non-metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer with biochem recurrence at high risk for mets
C61ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of prostate

ICD code information from First Databank (FDB).

Formulary status

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data