Since there seems to be some interest in this....
jb
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J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Nov;89(11):5429-34. Related Articles, Links
Intramuscular testosterone undecanoate: pharmacokinetic aspects of a novel testosterone formulation during long-term treatment of men with hypogonadism.
Schubert M, Minnemann T, Hubler D, Rouskova D, Christoph A, Oettel M, Ernst M, Mellinger U, Krone W, Jockenhovel F.
Klinik II und Poliklinik fur Innere Medizin der Universitat zu Koln, Germany.
In an open-label, randomized, prospective trial, we investigated pharmacokinetics and several efficacy and safety parameters of a novel, long-acting testosterone (T) undecanoate (TU) formulation in 40 hypogonadal men (serum testosterone concentrations < 5 nmol/liter). For the first 30 wk (comparative study), the patients were randomly assigned to receive either 10 x 250 mg T enanthate (TE) im every 3 wk (n = 20) or 3 x 1000 mg TU im every 6 wk (loading dose) followed by 1 x 1000 mg after an additional 9 wk (n = 20). In a follow-up study, observation continued in those patients who completed the comparative part and opted for TU treatment (8 x 1000 mg TU every 12 wk in former TU patients and 2 x 1000 mg TU every 8 wk plus 6 x 1000 mg every 12 wk in former TE patients) for an additional 20-21 months. Here we report only the pharmacokinetic aspects of the new TU formulation for the first approximately 2.5 yr of treatment. At baseline, serum T concentrations did not significantly differ between the two study groups. In the TE group, mean trough levels of serum T were always less than 10 nmol/liter before the next injection, whereas in the TU group, mean trough levels of serum T were 14.1 +/- 4.5 nmol/liter after the first two doses (6-wk intervals) and 16.3 +/- 5.7 nmol/liter after the 9-wk interval at wk 30. The mean serum levels of dihydrotestosterone and estradiol also increased in parallel to the serum T pattern and remained within the normal range. In the follow-up study, the former TU patients (n = 20) received eight TU injections at 12-wk intervals, and the TE patients (n = 16) switched to TU and initially received two TU injections at 8-wk intervals (loading) and continued with six TU injections at 12-wk intervals (maintenance). This regimen resulted in stable mean serum trough levels of T (ranging from 14.9 +/- 5.2 to 16.5 +/- 8.0 nmol/liter) and estradiol (ranging from 98.5 +/- 45.2 to 80.4 +/- 14.4 pmol/liter). The present study has shown that 1000 mg TU injected into male patients with hypogonadism at 12-wk intervals is well tolerated and leads to T levels within normal ranges, using four instead of 17 or more TE injections per year. An initial loading dose of either 3 x 1000 mg TU every 6 wk at the beginning of hormone substitution or 2 x 1000 mg TU every 8 wk after switching from the short-acting TE to TU were found to be a adequate dosing regimens for starting of treatment with the long-acting TU preparation.
Age Ageing. 2005 Mar;34(2):125-30. Epub 2004 Dec 13. Related Articles, Links
Effect of 12 month oral testosterone on testosterone deficiency symptoms in symptomatic elderly males with low-normal gonadal status.
Haren M, Chapman I, Coates P, Morley J, Wittert G.
University of Adelaide, Department of Medicine, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
BACKGROUND: relative androgen deficiency in ageing males is assumed to have adverse health effects. This study assessed the effect of 12 months' standard dose, oral testosterone, on symptoms attributed to testosterone deficiency in older men with plasma testosterone levels in the low-normal range for young men. METHODS: testosterone undecanoate (TU, 80 mg bid) or placebo was administered for one year to 76 healthy men, 60 years or older, with a free testosterone index (FTI) of 0.3-0.5 and significant symptoms on a questionnaire designed to evaluate androgen deficiency (ADAM). The ADAM was completed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Hormone and safety data were collected at baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: after 12 months, plasma total testosterone was unchanged in both groups and sex hormone binding globulin decreased in the testosterone group (P = 0.01). FTI and calculated bioavailable testosterone (cBT) were greater in the testosterone group as compared with the placebo group (P = 0.021 and 0.025, respectively). There was no significant difference in total symptom score between testosterone and placebo groups after 12 months of oral TU. However, there were trends toward improvements in sadness/grumpiness (P = 0.063), reduced erection strength (P = 0.059) and decreased work performance symptoms (P = 0.077), particularly in men with baseline cBT levels below 3.1 nmol/l. CONCLUSIONS: this study concludes that 80 mg bid oral TU does not improve overall ADAM questionnaire scores in older men with low-normal gonadal status. Oral TU may preserve mood and erectile function, as assessed by this questionnaire, particularly in men with the lowest testosterone levels.
Drugs R D. 2004;5(6):368-9. Related Articles, Links
Testosterone Undecanoate-Schering AG.
[No authors listed]
Schering AG is developing a formulation of testosterone undecanoate [Nebido] for the treatment of testosterone deficiency or hypogonadism. This deficiency can lead to decreased muscle mass, impaired muscle function, osteoporosis, reduced sexual function and mental degeneration.Schering claims that its new formulation provides superior control of blood levels of the drug and permits a longer period of application. Nebido requires only four injections per year, and represents a major improvement for men with testosterone deficiency.Schering AG received approval of its testosterone undecanoate formulation in its first European country, Finland, in November 2003 for the treatment of hypogonadism in men. In July 2004, Schering's testosterone undecanoate formulation completed approval of the European mutual recognition procedure. This approval clears the way for marketing the product (as Nebido) in the large pharmaceutical markets like Germany, France and the UK. The initial phase of the product launch will occur in Finland in October 2004, and in Germany in November 2004. Other European countries will follow in 2005, and following receipt of approval, it will be introduced in the first Latin American and Asian countries.In its 2002 Annual Report, Schering predicted that testosterone undecanoate has the potential to reach peak sales of euro 100 million, 3 years after launch-launch in Europe was at the time anticipated in 2004.
jb
====================
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Nov;89(11):5429-34. Related Articles, Links
Intramuscular testosterone undecanoate: pharmacokinetic aspects of a novel testosterone formulation during long-term treatment of men with hypogonadism.
Schubert M, Minnemann T, Hubler D, Rouskova D, Christoph A, Oettel M, Ernst M, Mellinger U, Krone W, Jockenhovel F.
Klinik II und Poliklinik fur Innere Medizin der Universitat zu Koln, Germany.
In an open-label, randomized, prospective trial, we investigated pharmacokinetics and several efficacy and safety parameters of a novel, long-acting testosterone (T) undecanoate (TU) formulation in 40 hypogonadal men (serum testosterone concentrations < 5 nmol/liter). For the first 30 wk (comparative study), the patients were randomly assigned to receive either 10 x 250 mg T enanthate (TE) im every 3 wk (n = 20) or 3 x 1000 mg TU im every 6 wk (loading dose) followed by 1 x 1000 mg after an additional 9 wk (n = 20). In a follow-up study, observation continued in those patients who completed the comparative part and opted for TU treatment (8 x 1000 mg TU every 12 wk in former TU patients and 2 x 1000 mg TU every 8 wk plus 6 x 1000 mg every 12 wk in former TE patients) for an additional 20-21 months. Here we report only the pharmacokinetic aspects of the new TU formulation for the first approximately 2.5 yr of treatment. At baseline, serum T concentrations did not significantly differ between the two study groups. In the TE group, mean trough levels of serum T were always less than 10 nmol/liter before the next injection, whereas in the TU group, mean trough levels of serum T were 14.1 +/- 4.5 nmol/liter after the first two doses (6-wk intervals) and 16.3 +/- 5.7 nmol/liter after the 9-wk interval at wk 30. The mean serum levels of dihydrotestosterone and estradiol also increased in parallel to the serum T pattern and remained within the normal range. In the follow-up study, the former TU patients (n = 20) received eight TU injections at 12-wk intervals, and the TE patients (n = 16) switched to TU and initially received two TU injections at 8-wk intervals (loading) and continued with six TU injections at 12-wk intervals (maintenance). This regimen resulted in stable mean serum trough levels of T (ranging from 14.9 +/- 5.2 to 16.5 +/- 8.0 nmol/liter) and estradiol (ranging from 98.5 +/- 45.2 to 80.4 +/- 14.4 pmol/liter). The present study has shown that 1000 mg TU injected into male patients with hypogonadism at 12-wk intervals is well tolerated and leads to T levels within normal ranges, using four instead of 17 or more TE injections per year. An initial loading dose of either 3 x 1000 mg TU every 6 wk at the beginning of hormone substitution or 2 x 1000 mg TU every 8 wk after switching from the short-acting TE to TU were found to be a adequate dosing regimens for starting of treatment with the long-acting TU preparation.
Age Ageing. 2005 Mar;34(2):125-30. Epub 2004 Dec 13. Related Articles, Links
Effect of 12 month oral testosterone on testosterone deficiency symptoms in symptomatic elderly males with low-normal gonadal status.
Haren M, Chapman I, Coates P, Morley J, Wittert G.
University of Adelaide, Department of Medicine, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
BACKGROUND: relative androgen deficiency in ageing males is assumed to have adverse health effects. This study assessed the effect of 12 months' standard dose, oral testosterone, on symptoms attributed to testosterone deficiency in older men with plasma testosterone levels in the low-normal range for young men. METHODS: testosterone undecanoate (TU, 80 mg bid) or placebo was administered for one year to 76 healthy men, 60 years or older, with a free testosterone index (FTI) of 0.3-0.5 and significant symptoms on a questionnaire designed to evaluate androgen deficiency (ADAM). The ADAM was completed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Hormone and safety data were collected at baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: after 12 months, plasma total testosterone was unchanged in both groups and sex hormone binding globulin decreased in the testosterone group (P = 0.01). FTI and calculated bioavailable testosterone (cBT) were greater in the testosterone group as compared with the placebo group (P = 0.021 and 0.025, respectively). There was no significant difference in total symptom score between testosterone and placebo groups after 12 months of oral TU. However, there were trends toward improvements in sadness/grumpiness (P = 0.063), reduced erection strength (P = 0.059) and decreased work performance symptoms (P = 0.077), particularly in men with baseline cBT levels below 3.1 nmol/l. CONCLUSIONS: this study concludes that 80 mg bid oral TU does not improve overall ADAM questionnaire scores in older men with low-normal gonadal status. Oral TU may preserve mood and erectile function, as assessed by this questionnaire, particularly in men with the lowest testosterone levels.
Drugs R D. 2004;5(6):368-9. Related Articles, Links
Testosterone Undecanoate-Schering AG.
[No authors listed]
Schering AG is developing a formulation of testosterone undecanoate [Nebido] for the treatment of testosterone deficiency or hypogonadism. This deficiency can lead to decreased muscle mass, impaired muscle function, osteoporosis, reduced sexual function and mental degeneration.Schering claims that its new formulation provides superior control of blood levels of the drug and permits a longer period of application. Nebido requires only four injections per year, and represents a major improvement for men with testosterone deficiency.Schering AG received approval of its testosterone undecanoate formulation in its first European country, Finland, in November 2003 for the treatment of hypogonadism in men. In July 2004, Schering's testosterone undecanoate formulation completed approval of the European mutual recognition procedure. This approval clears the way for marketing the product (as Nebido) in the large pharmaceutical markets like Germany, France and the UK. The initial phase of the product launch will occur in Finland in October 2004, and in Germany in November 2004. Other European countries will follow in 2005, and following receipt of approval, it will be introduced in the first Latin American and Asian countries.In its 2002 Annual Report, Schering predicted that testosterone undecanoate has the potential to reach peak sales of euro 100 million, 3 years after launch-launch in Europe was at the time anticipated in 2004.
