Nilandron
® (
nilutamide) is a prescription medication approved to treat advanced
prostate cancer. It is used in men who have had surgery to remove the testicles (known medically as orchiectomy or surgical castration). It belongs to a class of medicines called antiandrogens.
Who Makes This Medication?
Nilandron is manufactured by sanofi-aventis U.S., LLC.
Nilandron is an androgen receptor inhibitor, or antiandrogen. Androgens are male sex hormones, such as testosterone. Prostate cancer grows in response to testosterone. Nilandron works by blocking androgen receptors, which prevents testosterone from binding to and activating prostate cancer cells. This helps slow down the growth of prostate cancer.
Nilandron is used after orchiectomy (surgery to remove the testicles). The testicles produce the majority of testosterone in the body, and removing them significantly reduces testosterone levels. Nilandron blocks the effects of the remaining testosterone.
In a clinical study, Nilandron was shown to extend life and improve symptoms of bone pain in men with prostate cancer who had their testicles surgically removed. In the study, men who received Nilandron survived approximately four months longer, on average, than men who received a placebo (a "sugar pill" that does not contain any active ingredients). In addition, 54 percent of men taking Nilandron experienced improvement in their bone pain, compared to 37 percent of those taking the placebo.
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