Erleada is used to treat certain advanced prostate cancers. Like Xtandi and Nubeqa, it blocks testosterone and other male hormones from helping cancer cells grow.1-3 It may be used when the cancer has spread but still responds to testosterone-lowering treatment, or when the cancer keeps growing despite very low testosterone levels. Erleada is usually taken with testosterone-lowering treatment unless both testicles have been surgically removed.¹⁻³
Your healthcare team will consider the type and stage of the cancer, previous treatment, test results, kidney and liver function, overall health, and other medicines before deciding whether Erleada is an appropriate treatment for you.1-3
Erleada may be prescribed for adult men whose prostate cancer:
Testosterone and other male hormones help prostate cancer cells grow by sending signals through androgen receptors on cancer cells.1-3 Erleada blocks these hormones from attaching to the receptors and keeps the receptors from entering the cell’s command center, where they can turn on genes that help cancer cells survive and multiply.¹˒³
By blocking these signals, Erleada may slow cancer growth, lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and delay the cancer from spreading or getting worse. PSA is a protein made by prostate cells that is measured in the blood to help track prostate cancer.1,3
Erleada is taken once daily, with or without food. Swallow the tablets whole and do not crush or split them.
What Does Research Show?
The TITAN study included 1,052 men whose prostate cancer had spread but still responded to testosterone-lowering treatment. After four years, about 65% of men who received Erleada lived, compared with about 52% of men who received testosterone-lowering treatment alone⁴˒⁵
The SPARTAN study included 1,207 men whose prostate cancer was growing despite very low testosterone levels, and no evidence of spread detected on scans. The typical time before cancer spread or death was 40.5 months in the Erleada group, compared with 16.2 months in the group that did not receive Erleada.7
Black men were underrepresented in the major Erleada trials, so there is limited evidence about treatment results specifically among Black patients. This does not mean that the medicine is less effective for Black men. It shows why equal access to treatment and stronger Black participation in prostate cancer research remain important.4-6
Possible side effects include:
Seek immediate medical treatment for:
Fertility
Men with partners who could become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for three months after the last dose. Erleada may also affect male fertility.¹˒²
Liver problems
Men with liver problems may need a lower dose. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for exact instructions.¹
What Should You Discuss With Your Doctor?
Ask the healthcare team how Erleada may affect other medicines, blood pressure, heart, bone strength, thyroid function, and your ability to have children.
Bring a complete list of all prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and supplements. Erleada may lower the amount of some medicines in the body and make them less effective. Other medicines may increase Erleada levels and raise the risk of side effects. This can be important for medicines used to treat blood clots, seizures, infections, heart problems, high cholesterol, and other long-term conditions.¹⁻³
Ask your healthcare provider whether any medicines need to be changed, which symptoms need urgent medical attention, and how your health history, insurance coverage, transportation needs, and ability to attend follow-up visits may affect your care.
Before taking Erleada, tell your doctor if you have:
Erleada may raise blood pressure and has been linked to heart and blood-vessel problems, including heart attack and stroke.7 Men with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, or a past stroke should discuss these conditions with their healthcare team before and during treatment.7
This may be especially important for Black men. More than half of Black men have high blood pressure or take medicine to control it, and about 1 in 9 has been diagnosed with diabetes.8,9 Black adults are also nearly twice as likely as White adults to have a first stroke, and heart disease is a leading cause of death among Black men.8-10 Regular blood pressure checks and close monitoring for chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden weakness, or trouble speaking can help the healthcare team find problems early.8
Patients with advanced prostate cancer can find access to Erleada through several ways, including commercial insurance, Medicare Part D, state-sponsored programs and through an access program (J&J withMe). The program offers insurance and access guidance, savings for eligible patients with commercial insurance, information about independent financial-assistance resources for patients with government-funded coverage, and patient assistance for eligible patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Learn more about access to Erleada.
Enter your name and email to receive the download link.
