Eligard

Eligard is a medication used in the treatment of prostate cancer. Available as an injection, it works by causing the pituitary gland to produce less testosterone. With less testosterone available, prostate cancer cells are not able to grow as readily and symptoms diminish. The drug is injected just beneath the skin every one, three, four, or six months, depending on what your healthcare provider recommends.

What Is Eligard?

Eligard® (leuprolide acetate) is a prescription medication approved to ease the symptoms of advanced prostate cancer. It is not a prostate cancer cure. Eligard is given by an injection just beneath the skin (subcutaneously) every one, three, four, or six months. It contains leuprolide, a synthetic form of the naturally occurring gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
 
Eligard contains the same active ingredient as Lupron® (leuprolide acetate) and Lupron Depot® (leuprolide acetate depot). All three medicines are approved for use in advanced prostate cancer, and are given as an injection. However, while Eligard and Lupron are given as a subcutaneous injection, Lupron Depot is given as an injection into the muscle (an intramuscular injection).
 
One of the main differences between these medicines is how often they are given. Lupron is given once a day; Eligard every one, three, four, or six months; and Lupron Depot every one month, three months, or four months.
 
(Click Eligard Uses for more information on this topic, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes This Medication?

Eligard is manufactured by Tolmar, Inc., for Tolmar Therapeutics, Inc. It is distributed by sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC.
 
Eligard Article Continues on Next Page >
Written by/reviewed by: Susan Lakey, PharmD, MPH
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
Other Articles in This eMedTV Presentation
Referring Pages Articles Health Topics Drugs & Supplements