Ontario men gain access to new medication to reduce bone complications from prostate cancer

Ontario men with advanced prostate cancer now have access to an innovative treatment, XGEVA® (denosumab), for the prevention of debilitating bone complications, such as broken bones, spinal cord compression, or the need for radiation or surgery to the bone.

Ontario is the second province to provide access, following Quebec’s decision earlier this year.

Bone complications can occur when cancer spreads from the prostate to the bone (a common area for the cancer to spread in advanced disease), profoundly impacting a person’s quality of life and causing disability, pain and hospitalization.

Unlike most bone-targeted therapies, which are given intravenously, XGEVA is given as an injection under the skin once every four weeks. It is not cleared through the kidneys so dose adjustment for kidney impairment is not needed.

The Ontario Public Drug Programs and Cancer Care Ontario will make XGEVA available to patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer as determined by an elevated PSA level, or evidence of progressive bony disease, despite castrate serum testosterone levels (<1.7nmol/L or <50ng/dL).

If you have advanced prostate cancer and bone metastases, speak to your doctor about which treatment is right for you.